Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-07-12

| must order ~Olrt martial. which must
pass a death s~stence on this boy, who.
after all. was doing the hardest and
most nndeslred duty a soldier Is called
upon 10 do.
General Alton broke the silence. Il
have decided. Colonel Curtis. 10 offer
this prisoner his life on condition that
be reveals all that he knows about
these papers"
Colonel Curtis rose, feeling the inter
View was over.
"We will make the hearing at 80
tomorrow morning. II you please. colo
mel. and | will have Captain Lawtou
also present. In the meantime detail
a special guard for the prisoner and
see that he has comfortable care.
Good night"
The footsteps died away down the
was again alone. II had been hard
day. and he was glad II was over The
gravity OF this last complication made
his face unusually old and worn For
some weeks strange things OF this kind
had come To ilght..--Now this must
prove a solution Of what had never
been understood.
Can II be-" he thought wonderingly,
that In all the world there is a man
50 base as to sell for money the infor-
nation soldier would die to pre-
serve!"
Then he fell TO thinking OF the boy
whose life lay ia his hands and Of all
the stern justice OF war. Invoiuntarily
his hand rested on letter with a
northern postmark. II had come TO him
| from Princeton that morning. Before
him passed the eager. pleading words
Of his son, urging. imploring his father
the front. The soldier blood" the let
ter ran, the blood of all the Altons, Is
calling to me day and night. making
study impossible. do not desire TO
grieve you by giving up my work with
out your consent. but l am no longer
sure Of myself. Let me do what my
| conscience urges me to do. When
peace Is declared | will take up my
profession II you desire It,"
He must consent, Of course Richard
was q man now and must make a
mans fight for the old iag. Perhaps
some day In the fortunes Of war his
only son. h's fine. brilliant Richard,
would stand as this boy stood today
| unter ~. .tasf. y NJ taa
The prisoner. in his well guarded
tent had spent one OF those never to
be forgotten nights that most OF us
| can remember somewhere in life.
There was little doubt of his fate, and
with strange, awed look on his young
face, telling of the nights conflict, he
waited for the hour Of the interview.
He knew nothing Of the offer to be
made him and felt that II WAS only Il
preliminary Of his death warrant. He
longed. with a boyish longing. for his
uniform TO wear this morning. In that
gray and all II stood for he felt he
could better face the worst.
| General Alton, Colonel Curtis and
Captain Lawton were talking earnest
ly when the orderly announced the
prisoner and his guard.
How young, pitifully young was
the thought that was in their minds as
the prisoner courteously saluted and
stood at attention. The excitement of
the moment had brought back a faint
color In the cheeks and taken the
WEAKNESS from the face.
General Alton faced the boy with
keen scrutiny you understand, do
you, that you are under the gravest
charge In military law!" the general
began, his voice full Of the stern COM
mand Of the soldier.
Il do, General Alton" the boy replied
quietly.
The young officer, acting as the gen
erals secretary, prepared to take his
notes. The examination had com.
msnced.
what ID your nameT
"Seton Dabney, sub"
where do you live?"
MY home is In Pulaski. suh."
The general paused III the examlna-
ton. There was something triie dis
concerting In the frank, boyish face
strangely suggesting that other boy in
q northern town, restless for the life
which had brought this one to grief.
When the general spoke next his
voice had lost much Of the sternness
and impersOnality. When General Al
ton chose to take that tone 1t was diff
cult to resist him always.
mfr. Dabney. may ask, is your IA.
TIERS name Edwin Dabney, and WAS he
first lieutenant in the old Sixteenth
Virginia In the Mexican WARP"
The prisoner looked surprised: then a
smile Of pleasure warmed his face,
"Yes, sub; his name Is Edwin Dabney
and he belonged to the old Sixteenth
Virginia. 1t was the delight of my
childhood to hear him tell those stories
of army life. When the trouble came
between the states begged with all
my heart to 60 with my father in the
Ninth Tennessee. ! was only eighteen
and the only son. and father wished
me to continue my studies at the Vir
ginia Military institute and so be with
mother while he was away. At the end
Of a year he found 1t was no use.
| ao,,t1 MT study I had RI hn "a soldier