The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-08-02

picture SET most ostentatiously in Jewels and cor
SANITY wore IL on his person; and his enemies say
that he showed it with more freedom than tho del
cacy OF his situation with respect to Matilda should
have warranted.
| Albert made no complaint He acknowledged
the merit of his rival eagerly, the more eagerly as
the rivalshiP was suspected The scene must now
change The action at Quare Bras has taken Mace
The principal body Of the British troops are at Brus
sells, and the news of the rapid advance of the
French is brought to Wellington and the forces
are, before the break of day moved forward Blu,
where is Horace The column OF troops to-xhich
ne belongs is on the line Of march, but Albert, and
not he, is at its head. The enemy are in sight
Glorys sunbrght face CLEANS in front, whilst dis
honor and nfamy scowl in the rear. The orders
TO charge are given, and tho very moment ,ha, the
battle is about to join, the foaming faded, breath
less courser of Horace, strains forward as if with
last effort, and seems to have but enough strength
to wheel with his rider into his station. A faint
huzza from the troops welcomed their leader On.
We brave, on
The edges of the battle join. The scream--the
shout-the groan, and the voIleying thu nder Of ar
tillery. mingled in one deafening roar. The smoke
cleared away-the charge is over-the whirlwind
has passed. Horace and Albert are both down,
and the blood wells away from their wounds, and
is drank up by the thirsty earth
But few days after the eventful battle of Wa
tsrloo, Matilda and Sir Oliver were alone in the
drawing room. Sir Oliver had read to his daugh,
ter, who was now resting in brealhless agitation,
the details OF the battle, and was now reading
down slowly and silently the liss of the dead and
wounded,
Scan you, my dear girl, said he, tiemulousIy
'bear to hear very bad news
She could reply in no other way rilas by laying
her head on her fathers shoulder and obbing
out the almost inau dbe word ''read."
'tHorace IS mentioned to have been seen early
in the action, badly wounded, and Is returned miss
ing"
"Horribe." exclaimed the shuddering girl, and
embracing her father moro closely.
stAnd our poor friend, Albert, is dangerously
wounded too" said the father.
Matilda made no reply, but a mass of snow
slips down from It's supporting-as silent, as pure,
and almost cold, fell Matilda from her fathers
arms insensibly upon the foor Sir Oliver was
not surprised but much puzzled. He thought she
had felt quite enough for her lover blu much for
her friend.
A few days after, Belgian officer was introdu
ced by mutual friend, and was pressed to dine by
Sir Oliver. AS he had been present at the battle,
Matilda would not permit her grief to prevent her
meeting him at her fathers table. Immediately
she entered the room, the officer started, and took
every opportunity of gazing upon her lntenily,
when he thought himself unobserved AT last he
did so, so incautiously, and a so particu
lar, that when the servants had Withdrawn Sir Oh.
liver ask ed him if he had over seen his daug Ter
before.
"Assuredly not but most assuredly her resem
bIance," said he, and he Immediately produced the
min iature that Horace had obtained from his mis-.
tress
The first impression of both father and daug h ter
was, that Horace more, and that the token
had been entrusted TO the hands of the officer by
the dying lover; but he quickly undeceived tn EN-,
by informing them that he was lying desperately,
but not dangerously, wounded, at farm house on
the continent. and that in fact he had suffered Sc
amputation
ssThen IN the name of all that is honorable, how
came You by the miniature ?''exclaimed Sir Oliver.
go, he had lost it TO notorious sharper, at a
gaming house at Brussels, on the of Battle,
which sharper offered it to me, as he said he sup
posed the gentleman from whom he won it would
never come to repay the large sum of money for
which it was left in pledge. Though had no per
sonal knowledge of Col onel Horace, yet, as 1 adj
mired the painting and saw that the jewels were
worth than be asked for them, purchased it
really with the hope Of retu rning it to the first pro
preor, il he should feel any value for it, either as
family picture pledge OF affection but
have not yet had an opportunity of meeting with
him"
"Wbat an insult - thought Sir Oliver.
"What an escape !" exclaimed Matilda, whom
the officer had insed his relation
need not say that Sir Oliver Immediately re pur
chased the picture, and thar he had no further
thoughts of marrying his daughter to gamester
"TaIkng of miniatures" resumed the officer, ga
very extraordinary has just taken place.
A miniature has actually saved the life of gallant
young officer Of the regiment as Horaces, as
fine fellow as ever bestrode charger"
ssHis name % exclaimed Matilda and Sir Oliver
together.
ais Albert, and is the second in command a
high fellow that same Albert"
sPrav sir do me the ia yor to relate the particu,