The Colonel's Wife — page 47: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

40 THE BIRD FLOWN. pretty Mollie need not worry long over the incum- brance forced upon her by the fortunes of war.’’ At once the drum-head court convened. All was conducted with the utmost decorum governing such ghastly tribunals, and yet it seemed a hollow mock- ety, «Lhe end did not surprise John—he was sen- tenced to be hanged at the break of day. a a Ee CHAPTER VII. THE BIRD FLOWN, John heard his sentence calmly. He was endowed with a remarkable faculty for concealing his feelings, _ just as the American Indian in times gone by was wont to sing and taunt his enemies while they were engaged in torturing him at the stake. Four hours to live! It was not a very long time, but a man with an active mind may consider his whole life in less than that. He was placed under guard, and just as he ex- _ pected soon faced his cousin. ‘The other was a man whose face could hardly be taken as an index to his character, for it was that of a human sphinx. fey, GLY dear fellow, believe me I’m sorry to find you in such a trap,’’ remarked Crockett. “But you voted with. the rest,’’ said J ohn, quickly. ‘It would have made no difference—the te eae was against you, and——’’ looking around cautiously — —‘‘T had an object in making them believe we were old-time foes.’? - His words and manner might wigs deceived some men, and aroused hopes that would never be ful- filled; but Colonel John remembered this cousin of old, remembered that he never acted without some comicbhooks.com