The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-06-13

"thai Ia all the world there is man
~ base as 10 sell for mouey the infor
nation soldier would die 10 pre-
sefNeT'
Then be fell 10 thinking OF the boy
whose life lay Ia his hands aud of all
the stern justice OF war. lnyoluntariiy
; his hand rested on a letter with
northern postmark II had come 10 him
from Princeton that morning Before
him passed the eager, pleading words
OF his son. urging. imploring his father
TO LET him give up college and go to
the front THE soldier blood" the let
ter ran. the blood OF all the Aitons. Is
calling 10 me day and night, making
study impossible. do not desire TO
grieve you by giving up my work with.
out your consent. but I 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 H."
He must consent, OF course. Richard
was man now and must make
mans fight for the old flag, Perhaps
some day In the fortunes Of war his
only son, his fine, brilliant Richard.
would stand as this boy stood today
under the shadow Of death.
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 a
preliminary OF his death warrant. He
longed, with 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. pltifully young" was
the thought that was In their minds IA
the prisoner courteously saluted and
stood at attention. The excitement of
the moment had brought bnck faint
color In the cheeks and taken the
weariness from the face.
| General Alton faced the boy with
keen scrutiny. "You understand, do |
you, that you are under the gravest
charge In military lawi" the general
began, his voice full Of the stern com
mand Of the soldier.
II 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
menced.
"What Is your nameT
"Seton Dabney, sub"
where do you liver"
my home is In Pulaski suh."
The general paused in the examina-
ton There was something trine dis.
concertlng IN the frank, boyish face
strangely suggesting that other boy In
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 lmpersonality. When General Al
ton chose to take that tone 1t was diff
cult to resist him always.
"Mr. Dabney, may | ask, IL 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
smile OF pleasure warmed his face.
"Yes, sub; his name Is Edwin Dabney.
and he belonged to the old Sixteenth
Virginia. II was the delight Of ny
childhood to hear him tell those stories
of army life. When the trouble came
between the states begged with all
my heart to go with my father In the
Ninth Tennessee. I was only eighteen
and the only son, and father wished
me to continue my studies at the Viz
ginia Military institute and so be with
mother while he was away. At the end
Of year he found 1t was no use. ]
tould not study. had to be soldier.
Il was In the battle Of Shiloh" the
boyish voice went on, "and | did III!
best for honorable mention. did not
get II then, but II could live / felt my
chance would come. This attempt to
gain certain details was necessary.
volunteered for the task knew the
country well, for l had hunted all over
every inch OF II. Perhaps for many
reasons II seemed wise to let me try
and was given my chance. Gid my
best, general" and the voice broke n
little, "but-I failed; that Is all"
The boy stopped abruptly.
"Mr. Dabney"-it was the general
speaking In the same courteous voice
still--'lt Is q sad thing, these fortunes
OF war. You have only tried 10 do your
duty, and as soldiers we must do ours.
The plans for the forti6cations Of Cor.
inth, all details OF supplies, are founl
In your possession and you In dis
guise.
Colonel Curtis. Captain Lawton and
myself feel confident that the work OF
details Is not yours or any other inex
perienced hand, and II was literally q
matter Of lmpossibility for you TO gain
without aid the information given In
these papers Tb@e has been treachery
somewhere.
I'm my capacity OF division com.
mander | am prepared 20 offer ynu
your life on the condition that you re-
veal everything names, rank aiid
amount Of bribe-for which this infor
nation was sold
Il knew your father, Mr.. Dabney. ,
We were both young soldiers In the
days Of the old Sixteenth Virginia.
bonored him greatly. do not believe
bis son would do less than despise the
man. whatever the needs or considera-
ton, who sells a soldiers informs ton.
II may be that II Is Tsnnessesnn In :
Union ranks either masking as a Fed. /.