Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-10-21
a LOVE THAI
NEVER DIED
lOriginal.]

only thrilling, but which contained a
romance.
One evening two officers, one In the
uniform OF Mexican colonel, the other
that of captain, rode into the advance
Mexican camps and asked to be con-
Quoted to the tent of the commanding
officer. Arriving there, they FOUND Ma
jor Fourtado, to whom they presented
an order purporting to be signed by
General Santa Anna directing that
they he afforded every facility to in
spect the camps. ThiSswas given them.
They rode over the ground, noted the
approaches, and as they were about to
depart they were arrested and taken to
Major FOurtado, the commandment. On
them were found sketches and memo
randa that proved them to be spies.
They confessed and were informed
that they would be shot at daylight the
next morning.
The men were Lieutenant Colonel
Otis Winchester and Lieutenant War.
rem Holmes of the American army.
Colonel Winchester, knowing that GER
tain information was extremely neces-
sary TO his general, had volunteered
to make bold attempt to secure it.
Lieutenant Holmes was sent with
him, it being hoped that if Winchester
was taken Holmes might get through
and back with the information. The
uniforms had been obtained from Mex
lean officers, prisoners of war. Santa
Annals signature had been forged from
a dispatch which had been captured |
on the messenger who bore 1t.
Neither slept during the night and |
shortly before dawn wrote brief letters |
to their homes, which they were told |
would be forwarded under flag of truce |
to General Taylor. Winchester, much
the older man, was composed, but |
Holmes suffered from all the depres.
sion to be expected in one about to be |
shot.
"Are you related" asked Winchester,
Ito Edward G. Holmes of the class of
1872, at West Points"
"He was my father" replied Holmes.
Winchester said nothing, but looked
at the young man with melancholy
stare. At the moment messenger
from Major Fourtado entered.
"The commandant" lie said, "is es-
pecially reluctant to take the lives of
two such brave men. He deems one
sufficient to satisfy the military law
common in such cases and directs me
to inform you that you are permitted
to draw lots, the one losing to be ex-
ecuted at once, the other to be eX-
Winchester again turned his glance
on young Holmes, and sight might
have been of relief-escaped him. The
two officers exchanged letters to their
families. to be taken north
by the one escaping death. Then they
were conducted to Fourtado's head
quarters.
The commandant placed two stones
in his hat. the one black, the other
white. Colonel Winchester claimed
Dy right of seniority to draw, the first
stone drawn being decisive. He STEP
bed up to Fourtado, who sat at a table
holding the hat, put in Lis hand and
it tossed a black stone
IN the table.
"YOu have lost" said the major, lay
ng down the hat. Then, turning to
he guard he directed that the pris- {
ners be taken away. \ few minutes
ater volley was heard without, and
)tis Winchester had been executed.
Major Fourtado took up his hat and
efore placing it on his head put in his
and to withdraw the remaining stone. | {
was not there.
"IIas any one touched the hat" he G
sked, surprised, "since l laid it on v
he table" {
Every one present disclamed having I
one so. l.
Gentlemen" said the major, 1--WE q
ave shot noble man. He took both f
lances, sparing his companion" n
\ month later Lieutenant Holmes n
as exchanged. Before taking his de- o
arturo for the American lines he was Z,
to Major FourtadO's head !,
uarterS. T.
what bond was there between you
nd your cOmrade" asked FOurtado.
"NOne that / know of. General Tay- :,
r called for volunteers to attend an :,
iicer OH hazardous enterprise. | :.
)lunteered and was accepted"
Lieutenant. | will tell you secret =,
s,I,
S hand from the hat that decided !"
,tT fate and his he took both stones" =,
The information weighed heavily up
Holmes. He remembered Winches-
RS mention of his father, who had y. ~
ed some years before, and as soon as -. =,
returned TO his home went straight VI
his mother to ask her to enlighten VI
NJ.
Mother" he asked. "who was Otis y"
inchester?' -.
WHY do you ask. my boy?' replied "
Q lady. starting. 4"
The young man gave his mother the
he had received from the
,Xican. 1t was some time before she qt
llu Hlu Her voice 10 speak. linen III
e said: DO
Otis Winchester was your fathers tn
al. They were classmates at West &c
int and | was guest of the super &c
cndent. | decided for your father" sc
The last five words were spoken al w
'st in whisper, after which there CO
IS a silence between the two, a ST. nj
ice which it would have been pro- I'll
10 to interrupt and the impressive pr
IS of which no word could depict da
en- the son went TO his mother and la
his arms about her. sol
i supposed" he said chat this the fin
attest Of all sacrifices was for me, pc
| | could not understand how ii sal
I'D be so. see now that it was for in
l." +. 4. mitchell. I
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