Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-02-10
CHAPTER XVI.
Under Death Sentence.

OHucr bcdtn sentence.
II was dreary waiting. for every un.
usual sound reaching me brought with
1t a throb OF fear. That my fate was
already practically settled knew. but
how long the delay might be remained
problem. Fox, / felt convinced.
would use whatever influence he pos.
sessed to delay action, and there was
q faint hope in my mind also that No
reen might even make plea to higher
authorities in my behalf. dare not
believe she would. but the vague
dream OF such a thing required again
and again to my mind.
To learn all 1 could | dragged the
box to position below the window,
and standing on II, managed to gain
narrow glimpse without, the vista
revealing flap of dirty tent cloth
and part Of an army wagon backed up
against the building, leaving barely
enough space for the guard to pace
back and forth the length of his beat
! could see his blue-clad legs, with the
white stripe, cross and recross in
front of me. l tested the strength of
the iron grating with my hands. but
the bars were firmly imbedded and
immovable.
The sun must have been well down
in the west when Fox returned. l
had been expecting him. trusting to
his friendly interest. and with fleet
ing hope that Noreen might commits
sion him to bring me some further
message. Yet the moment / looked
into his face, Swallowed by the fading
light, ] realized that he brought no
encouraging news. My heart sank,
but kept a smile on my lips.
Il expected to be out of here be-
fore now" l said meaningly; yet
Judge from your expression there ia
no reprieve."
"And no hope of one, Wyatt" he an.
swered regretfully. "The evidence
against you Is too strong. The delay
in convening court has been caused
by the scarcity of officers in camp.
Our forage trains are just beginning
| to return, but 1t is now so late that
Colonel Pickney has decided to hold
you prisoner until morning. I waited
until the order was issued before com.
ing here. The court-martial is set for
eight o'clock"
Il am thankful for even that delay.
There is, | presume no doubt as to
the result?"
None, so far as can learn. You
are soldier, Wyatt, and may as well
face the truth. l have urged mercy
on Colonel Pickney. until he finally
ordered me to drop the subject. He
is a strict disciplinarian, a bit of a
martinez. indeed, and inclined to take
the advice Of a regular army officer
in such matters. rather than rely on
volunteers. Has Raymond any spe-
cial reason to dislike your"
"Only that impersonated him IL,
this masquerade"
Bah! that was mere chance, the
selection of his name from the army
list. The fellow is naturally vindic-
tive enough, but surely could not har-
Dor personal dislike over SO small a
matter" He paused hesitatingly, as
though doubtful of the propriety of
pressing an inquiry. Il trust you will
pardon me, Wyatt, but l have won
dered If there was not some trouble
existing between you relative to the
friendship of Miss Harwood."
THAT would appear impossible"
replied, somewhat surprised, "for my
being with her was entirely acciden-
tai"
YES, so she insists; but ! know
Raymond is deeply interested in the
girl. Someone told me he actually
proposed to her at West Point, and
sought this detail in hope of meeting
her again. The occurrence which
aroused my suspicion that he felt a
personal grudge against you was this
Il know he promised her to use his
influence to have you sent to Charles
ton. for trial, but instead he urged
Colonel Pickney to exercise his own
authority. CHANGED to be in the next
room, and overheard. I have not seen
the young lady since"
My mind worked rapidly. That
Raymond was treacherous was prob.
ably true. Noreen had treated him
with marked coldness. There could
be no great degree of intimacy between
them, or she would have chosen him
in this emergency rather than Captain
Fox. But she had revealed to neither
officer the fact of our marriage; Il