The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-06-06

must order court martial, which must
pass a death sentence on this boy, who,
after all, was doing the hardest and
most undesired duty a soldier is called
upon TO do.
General Alton broke the silence Il
have decided, Colonel Curtis. TO offer
this prisoner his life on condition that
he reveals all that he knows about
these papers"
Colonel Curtis rose, feeling the inter
view was over
we will make the hearing at $50
tomorrow morning, if you please. colo
pel, and / will have Captain Lavton
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
long. empty hall, and General Alton
was again alone. 1t had been a hart
day, and he was glad it 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 light. Now this must
prove a solution of what had never
been understood.
Can It be-" he thought wonderlngiy.
that In all the world there is Il man
so base as TO sell for money the infor-
nation u soldier would die TO pre-
serve?'
Then he fell TO thinking Of the t"-
whose life lay In his hands and Of a..
the stern justice of war. InvoluEtaril,
his hand rested on letter with :.
northern postmark. 1t had come - h!lr
from Princeton that morning. Eefor,
him passed the eager pleading word.
of his son, urging, imploriug his fat1.
TO let him give up coi.sr' AID 90 %
The front. The soldier blood" the la.-
ter ran. the blood OF all the ATOMS Is
calling TO me day and night max .ar
study impossible. | DO not desire T.
grieve YOU by giving UP my work with
out your consent. but i am 10 lalc-r
sure OF myself. Let Lie - what "a.
conscience urges re 70 do. VIE
peace is declared Will take up nv
profession II You desire IT.
lie must consent, OF course Richard
was man now AID must make a
mans fight FOR the cid flag Perhaps
some day IN the fortunes Of war his
only son, his Eae. brilliant Richard.
would stand as this boy stood today
under the shadow of Cp.lth.
The prisoner. IN his well guarded
tent. had spent one Of those never to
be forgotten nights that most IF Us
can remember somewhere Ia life
There was little doubt Of his fate, and
with a 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 he
| made him and felt that il was only a
preliminary of his death warrant. He
longe1. with u boyish longing. for his
uniform 10 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 Lawtun were talking earnest
" when the orderly announced the
prisoner and his guard.
"How young, pitifully young" was
the thought thnt WAS in their minds as
the prisono- courteOusly saluted and
stood nj attention. The excitement of
the moment had brought back faint
color In the cheeks ana taken the
Weariness from the face.
General Alton faced the boy with
keen scrutiny You understand, do
you, that you are under She gravest
charge IN military law" the general
began. his voice full Of the stern com
mand of the soldier.
4 DO. General Alton. the boy replied
quietly.
The young officer. acting rs the gen
erals secretary, prepared to take his
notes, The examination had com
meAced.
What is your nameE
Seton Dabney, sub
Where do you live:"
My home is in Pulaski. sub
The general paused IN the eXamina-
| ton. There was something Il trifle dis
concerning in the frank. boyish face
| strangely suggesting that other boy in
a northern town. restless for the life
which had brought ta.5 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
theirs name Edwin Dabney, and was he
| first lieutenant IN the old Sixteenth
| Virginia In the Mexican war;"
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 ali
my heart 10 60 with my father in the
| Ninth Tennessee. | was only eighteen