Year: 1868

readily that on more than on one occasion, where
desperate valor alone could carry the day, Brack
had stood by him at his gun, fighting like hero
with unfaltering devotion to the last, when there
seemed scarce hope of turning the tide Of battle
or escaping the jaws of destruction. He thought
on these things while Victor was speaking to him,
and the recollection sofened bis heart and excited
all his generous nature.


'sLead me to Miss Devere, It once," said he to
Victor; 1T wish few words With her before she
appears in the Generals presence. They were
standing but few feet from the carriage in>which
Miss DeVere still sat, and Victor hastened to pre-
sent him to the beautiful woman who was suffer
ing an agony of mind scarcely less keen than that
| felt by the condemned man, who was painfully
numbering the minutes that interviewed between
him and fate. -


Colonel Giles soon announced that the general
was ready to receive them. A scarcely perceptble
flush of excitement kindled upon the cheeks of L
solette as she descended ecariage steps, andean-
ing upon the profered arm Of McGregor, went
to plead for the life of an humble but despised out
cast, with ten fold the earnestness and strength Of
purpose with which she would have plead for her
own.


Victor felt that his presence could contribute
nothing towards obtaining pardon for the unfor'
tunate man, and he did not wish to occupy, even
in appearance the position Of IN idle and curious
auditor. He well knew that if two such advocates
as Lieutenant McGregor and Isolette should be in
sufficient, Bracks cause could not be aided by any
consideration which he might advance. Theirear
nest and united efforts might fail, and it was vel
that the doomed man should know nothing Of the
exertious that were being made in his behalf Il
would indeed be torture of the most e1cruciatine
character to awaken in his heart hope Of escape
from death, and keep his mind in an agony Of sus
pense at this late hour, when all his thoughts
should be fixed on eternity and his heart nerved
for the worst that might befall And yet, it was
desirable that he and his child should meet before
| it became too late.


Influenced by these considerations, Victor Offered
to conduct Nellie to the tent where her father wa:
confined. She eagerly and gladly caught at the
hope of seeing him again, as though, in an houl
like this it were the one poor satisfaction left hel
in life. The carriage was driven around to TEN
somewhat apart from the others, strongly guarded
where the doomed man lay with those unutterable
thoughts crowding upon him that can only bt
family conceived of by those on whom the shadow
of o violent death has never fallen. Cautionine
the agonized girl to let no hint escape her, thai
might awaken delusive hopes in the bosom Of hel
parent, Victor conducted her to the door OF the
tent, where whispered explanation procured hel
ready admittance. He heard her wild burst o.
agony as she fell weeping on the neck Of her par
ent, and quickly withdrew to shut it out from hii
ears.


The coachman was directed to return to hi
stand near the Colonels marquee, while Victor
sought to escape his painfully oppressive Thoughts
by strolling away from the spot. ''-, ~-,~-- '-.'
i He soon encountered Harvey Haley, whom hi
had not met since the day he went on picket, anc
the two extended their walk far beyond the limits
Victor had at first proposed. When they wert
returning and had nearly reached the camp, the
drums were beating and the troops were turning
out as if for review. Forming rapidly into compa
nies they came marching towards the spot whert
Victor and his companion stood.
"What can this mean ?" asked Victor in sur
prise.


"See, there" rejoined Harvey Haley, pointing
to couple of workmen who had just set up pos
some four feet, high fixing it firmly in the ground
This is the spot where the execution is to take
place, and the troops are ordered out under arml
to attend it. It's gone case with Brack, now,
Judge. 1t will be over with the poor fellow soon.


Victor did not trust himself to speak. Hi
hopes died within him, and be now doubted no
that the application of Isolette had been in vain
Unwilling to reoin her under circumstances Sc
painful, he quietly withdrew to one side with Har
vey Haley, concluding to remain near the spot, ye
reluctant to witness the sad spectacle.


The troops marched on and formed on three
sides of square, the stake for the prisoner being
in the middle of the fourth side. The spot choser
for the execution was but a short distance from
the camp. The troops soon reached the position
assigned them, and after short silence was heare
the beat of mufied drum approaching. Looking
in the direction from which the sounds came, Vic
tor saw detachment of perhaps ten or twelve
men conducting the unhappy man to the place ap
pointed for the execution. The prisoner marched
on foot, his head covered with small mllitar.
cap. No priest or chaplain came with him to ad
minister words of comfort in that dread hour, bu
clinging to his arm with convulsive grasp, as i
resolved that not even the terrible fate which
seemed 30 near, should separate them from ont
another his terror stricken-daughter walked by nj
side oblivious and regardless of everything else
but the fearful scene in which she bore so con
spicuousa part Brack seemed calm, and resigned
to his fate. Sympathy and compassion for thu
fail creature that clung to him with the desperate
energy of undying affection, seemed to usurp the
place of all other emotions and to absorb even those
terrible and painful feelings that might supposed
to be particularly busy at his heart in an hour hkt
this He frequently turned to speak to her, ane
from the softened expression OF his face one coult
gather that his words were not those Of complain
or bitterness, but such as might tend to sooth'
and comfort the child who cung to him so un
shrinkingly in that dark hour Of shame.


Even when they were placing him by the fata
stake, she hung upon his neck convulsively, ant
the stern soldiers who were performing their pain
full but necessary duties, around him, shrank from
the task of removing her from his side. The agon!
of his child overmastercd, in his bosom, the pang
and terrors of death.


He soothed her at one moment with some kindl!
word, and at another, in tones so low as to escape
her ears, besought some of the guard around hin
to remove her as gently as possible.


Victor's attention was 30 absorbed by the sac
sight that he noted not rider who came skim
( ming along at rapid gallop towards the place o.
execution. A detachment of perhaps dozen mer