The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-09-05
CHAPTER Xxx.

The friends of Henry Wharton had
placed so much reliance on his innocence,
that they were unable to see the full dam
ger of his situation. As the moment of
trial. however. approached. the uneasiness
Andre. and the Importance of the meas
ures he was plottins, together with the
powerful intercessions that had been made
in his behalf. occasioned his execution to
be stamped with greater notoriety than
the ordinary events of the war. But spies
were frequently arrested; and the in
stances that occurred of summary punish
ment for this crime were numerous.
These were facts that were we'll known
to both Dunwoodie and the prisoner; and
70 their experienced judgments the prep
arations for the trial were alarming.
The moment at length arrived, and the
different actors in the approaching inves-
tigation assembled. Frances experienced
a feeling like suffocation, after taking
her seat in the midst of her family. The
judges, three in number, sat by them
selves. clad in the vestments of their pro-
fession. and maintained a gravity wor-
thy of the occasion In the center was
a man of advanced years, whose whole
exterior bore the stamp of early and long
tried military habits. Tbs was the pes
ident of the court.
Before these arbiters of his fate Henry
Wharton was ushered, under the custody
of armed men, Two of the judges sat in
grave reserve, fixing their inquiring eyes
on the object of their Investigation but
the president continued gazing around
with uneasy, convulsive motions of the
muscles Of the face. that indicated a rest
lessness foreign to his years of duty. 1t
was Colonl Singleton. who, but the day
before. had learned the fate of Isabella.
Bring forth the prisoner" he said,
with a wave of the hand.
The sentinels dropped the points of their
bayonets, and Henry Wharton advanced.
Frances turned fo- a moment in grateful
emotion. as the deep and perturbed
breathing of Dunwoodie reached her ears
but her brother again concentrated all her
interest in one feeling of intense care.
you are said" continued the presi-
dent, ito be Henry Wharton. a captain
In his Britannia Majesty's Goth Regiment
of Foot"
ut would be prudent" said one Of his
companions, Ito advise the prisoner that
he is bound to answer no more than he
deems necessary"
A nod of APPRECIATION from the silent
members was bestowed on this remark,
and the president proceeded with eau
ton.
1T is an accusation against you that.
being an officer of the enemy, you passed
the pickets of the American army at the
White Plains. in disguise, on the 10Th of
October last"
81 retract nothing that is true said
Henry, proudly.
Your sentiment Is noble, sir. / only
regret that youthful soldier should so
far be misled by loyalty as to lend him
self to the purposes of deceit"
Deceit, ~ echoed Wharton; II thought
it prudent to guard against capture By
my enemies"
"A soldier, Captain Wharton, should
Fever meet mis- enemy but openly, and
with arms in his hands. I have served
two kings of England, as I now serve my
native land; but never did / approach
a foe unless under the light Of the sun,
and with honest notice that an enemy was
Nigh"
II am the son of this aged man before
you," continued Henry. 1T was to visit
him that I encountered the danger. Be
sides, the country below is seldom held by
your troops, and its very name implies
a right to either party to move at pleas
ure over its territory"
Its name, as neutral ground, is IN
authorized by law; it is an appellation
that originates with the condition of the
country. But wherever an army goes,
it carries its rights along"
Il am no casuist, SIR returned the
youth but / feel that my father is en-
titled to my affection, and 1 would en-
counter greater risks to prove 1t to him
In his old age"