Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-10-17

A SOLDIERS FAITH.

Never shall l forget their bridal
earth scarce contained aught moro
lovely than Maria, as she passed the
portal OF the village church, aud has
tened to escape the adniring gaze Of
the rustic crowd. Maria was bare.
ly eighteen; the light Of beauty danced
in her deep blue eye: but on this, her
bridal morn, its long silken lash hid
more than half its brightness, and the
snowy veil which fell over her auburn
tresses, was not pslcr than her cheek.
had loved her ere leGt my fathers
roof: but had no patrimony except
q proud name and a soldiers fortunes /;
aud Maria was a prize too great for one
so portioned. looked upon her bride
groom--eyery feature Was Ieplete with
manly beauty, aud each weli-knit limb
might have formed a study for the fas.
tidious statuary; and yet l gazed upon
him till my heart swelled almost TO
bursting, aud l turned once more to
lock upon Maria, aud wished that day
had Chosen her another lord. Never
shall l forget that dark, deep, earth
turned eye, or the naughty lip with its
triumphant and fearful smile! l left
my native village; 1 sighed not one
farewell to Maria. After her marriage
we feared To meet: she felt that 1 loved
her, and her own heart, more stubborn
than her nature, resisted even yet the
harsh mandate Of an unyielding parent;
she knew il, and she shrunk not from
her duty. Again left my home, and
the sun Of Spain darkened my brow,
and her wars nerved my spirit to grea-
ter daring; but I retired FROM her
naughty daughters with ckening soul,
for thought OF Maria, and her fatal
destiny. and chung to her remem-
branee as If my hopeless truth could 10
aught avail her. Years sped on, and
my heart yearned To revisit the home
Of my childhood-,he birthplace Of my
FIRST hopes: trod its path with firm
step, but the sun-rsy which glanced on
me in the home of my father, rested
on the Scared features of a war.seath.
ed soldier; ! shrunk from the reHec-
ton" Should Maria now look on me,
how would she deem me changed ~
II was n foolish thought, and in the
DtAN WOWcuk biueuGn loE AtS NOUNFp-
ton. My stay was brief, yet, ere
again became a wanderer, ] once more
beheld Maria: she had been the mother
Of two blooming boys, but they bad
withefed, like roses deVoured by the
foul worm which feAsts on beauty. /
saw her lord, too the voice Of murmur
was on lis tongue, and his eye scowl.
ell reprOaehfolly as he threw Il on his
young bride--the pale cheek grew yet
paieT beneath the glanCe-the soft blue
eye swslled With tie drop Of silent
sutfering--the heaVing bosom struggled
TO repress the Sigh which threatened
TO escape il--and fed ere my tongue
gave uiteranee 60 tie curse NY heart
engendeTed. I became lOudest in the
revsl, but could net drown the mem
cry Of that lev siIlled sigh mingled
10 the train Of beauty, bet the deep
eye with its large tear was ever in the
thrOng, and every pale cheek on which
gszsd IN my wandeFipga recalled The
memory Of Mara! Again the tented
hcid was my abode, tbe green s~aTd
my resting plaee-sgan my night.
slumber vas amidst the brave, aud
my day dream ~ conquest snd 81 gle
~; many . bold and huoy ant heart
slept 10 death ere the field was iOUgh,
many an ardent spirit BONDED no
more 70 the battles bat the death Dol