Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-08
*NORTHERN *LIGHTS+
FROM The ROMANTIC AMERICAN DRAMA.
THE NOVELIZATION BY A. D. HALL.

Il cannot, Salu tne coioiei, 1hu Ills
tone implied rather that he would not
Your questions carry me back to
period of my life wish to forget"
Pardon me, colonel" said Swift
wind, disinclined to hurt the splendid
old fellow as he knew he was going tc
do, but seeing no way out Of 1t, "bu,
a word or two more. 1t is my duty"
Not another question Of my past,
said the colonel, forbiddingly. Il will
not answer it."
1T Is not that. The court-martial-
1: takes place tomorrow. He will be
condemned?"
II think he will
This conversation was torture to
Colonel Gray, and he was beginning to
show the strain to which he was sub
jected.
HE Is still weak" said Swiftwind
trying to touch this apparently un-
yielding father. but feeling very much
as If he were butting his head against
a stone. "A harsh punishment would
either result in his death or an utter
loss Of reason"
The colonel rose to his feet, feeling
very close to the end of his tether
He had managed to keep his control
but all this discussion was torture to
him and he could not endure much
more.
John Swiftwind," he said, sternly,
II am a soldier. So are you. I recog-
nize my duty and recall you to yours. y
But Swiftwind was not to be stop
ped. He was not pleading for himself,
but for others-his old friend and the
woman who that very afternoon had
appealed to him in a frenzied note.
And will the other soldier forget his
higher duties, of mercy and fraternal
love?"
BE careful, sir" cried the colonel,
but there was a break in his voice
which he could not control. You are
questioning your superior officer!"
The Indian saluted respectfully.
Yes, sir" he said, my command
ing officer whom every soldier loves
and honors, whose heart is larger than
his body, but whose pride is greater
than BOTH"
At these bold words, the colonel was
at first inclined to be angry. But this
inclination passed almost Immediately.
He knew that Swiftwind meant neith-
er reflection nor insult, and with char
acteristic fairness he accepted the
words as from man to man, not from
inferior to superior.
There, John, there" he said, mildly.
II cannot be angry at what 1 know to
be an honest motive on your part. h''t
once for all, discipline must be main
tanned and the guilty punished"
Swiftwind recognized the colonefs
softened mood. and took advantage OF
it, although he was little ashamed
of doing so.
1.-The prisoner has a request to make
of you," he said. Something he would
not confide to me. Will you see him."
Instantly Colonel Gray became stiff
as a ramrod.
mo, sir-certainly mott" he answer
ed, with the utmost decision.
But 1t was too late. He was forced
to see him. even though he might re-
fuse to listen to him. For even at
that moment his son was in the room.
He had entered from the laboratory,
whittier Swiftwind had brought him,
and advanced slowly to his father un-
til he confronted him face to face.
Swiftwind retired hurriedly. His
preliminary work, unsatisfactory
though it had proved. was accomplish
ed, and now there was nothing for him
to do save to leave father and son
alone together and to hope for the
best.
Colonel Gray started back in anger
and dismay as he saw his son before
him and felt that he had been tricked
into this meeting.
"Aha!" he exclaimed between his
teeth; 80 this was a trap. You are
prisoner, sir. Retire!"
"One moment, sir!" pleaded Wal
lace. extending his hands in piteous
entreaty.
"Retire!" repeated the colonel, in
exorably.
And then an extraordinary change
came over the accused man. He
Strengthened himself up, and with
look which brought out in wonderful
degree the resemblance between him
self and the stern old man before him,
he answered defiantly:
"I will mott"
What" thundered the colonel,
amazed at this bold front from one
whom unquestionabe evidence had
proved to be a coward.
But Wallace never fiinched. There
was a new expression upon his face,
an expression far different from that
shrinking acknowledgment of guilt II
had once worn. 1t was as II all the
best and strongest in him had sudden
~ come to the front, driving back into
the shadows all the weakness, all the
criminality of the past.
My punishment for this disobedi-
ence cannot be greater than what al
ready awaits me-" he said, steady. y
must speak with you"
The colonel, with this his own flesh
and blood before him, the only son OF
whom he had been so fond and had
hoped so much. first wavered and then
partially surrendered.
We'll, sir, in what respect do you
wish to profit by this Vancouver
Colonel Gray" said Wallace. ad-
vancing just a step nearer tomorrow
am to be tried for a grave crime.
have no defence to offer. In fact,
confess my crime"
THAT is not necessary" replied the
colonel, monOtonously, studiously
averting his eyes; your guilt Is
known to every man at the post. RI
dicule is on every tongue, contempt
in every heart"
Well deserved although he knew the
words to be, every one Of them stune
the miserable young man to the quick