Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1844-11-16


iect Of his love : he bro't his person
only, leaving his tho'ts and his heart
behind him, and was absent from him.
self in the noise aud hustle Of the day.
as in silent midnight watch, or when
stretched upon his bed atnight. They
communicated their situation to each
other, and took the fatal resolution to
desert. Thus winged by love- and
urged by fear, the hills of Scotland
dew from their heels and they had
arrived at a village within a mile OF
their own town, when they were over
taken by horse pursuit, and recon-
Quoted to their camp. A courtmartial
was held and they were condemned to
die, but the General ordered, as is usu-
al in such cases, that they should cast
lots, and only one of lhcm suffer. At
the appointed time the ring was form
ed, the drum placed;n the centre, with
the box and dice upon it's head, and
the delinquents made to enter.
The horrors which sat brooding on
their souls, the preceding nigh, and
were now overwhelming them, ut the
awful crisis, were strongly painted in
their wan and pallid countenanccs.-
Their friendship was real and sincere,
but not of that fabulous and heroic
kind as to wish to die for each other ;
each wished to live and was disquiet-
cd ut the tho't, that his safety must be
built on the welfare of his friend
They alternately requested each other
10 begin. The lover looked earnestly
at tho little instruments Of death, took
them in his trembling hand. and quick
~ laid them down. The officer was
obliged to inicrpose and command the
volunteer TO throw: he lifted the box
in the right hand, then shifted it into
the left, and gave to his right again
and as if ashamed of weakness or su-
perstition, cast his eyes upwards for
moment, and was in the act to throw.
when the shrcks Of female sorrow
struck his ear, and in burst from an OPP
positc part of the circle, the widow
and the maid--their hair dishcvelled
and their garments by travelling soilcd
and torn.
What sight was this ! the mother
and son on one side Of the drum, and
the maid and lover on the other! The
first transports Of their frantic JOY, at
finding them alive, were soon abatcd by
the dreadful uncertainty of what must
follow. The officer was man who
did not hurry the volunteer to throw.
lie put his hand to the box Of his own
accord, his mother fell PROSTATE upon
the earth, ms did also the maid +; and
both, with equal consistency and fer
vor poured forth their different pray
crs.
He threw nine CLEAN OF empcrfcct
joy lighted upon the widows face and
she looked as you mightsupposc her to
have done, if standing on the shore she
had seen her son shipwrecked, buffet
ing the waves; when presently he gains
raft and is padding to the shore and
already she thinks to feel his fond en-
brace but still is anxious, lest even
yet some cnvious billow should snatch
him forever fromhcr eyes. Meanwhile
the lovers giving up all for lost, were
locked in each others arms, and entrea-
tod to be killed thus together on the
spot. She was held from him by force.
lie advanced towards the drum with
much the same air ms he would have as
sendcd ladder for execution. He
threw tcn the maid sprang from the
ground as ifshc would leap TO heaven
he caught her in his arms they tainted
on each others neck and recovered on
ly to faint again. The volunteer was
the least effected Of the four; and all
his attentions were employed about his
mother, whose head was on his lap:--
but she was insensible TO his CARE
Soon after the women had rushed into
the ring IAN officer had run to the Dukes
tent to inform him Of the uncom-
mon tenderness of the scene. He ac-
companicd the officer TO the spot, and
standing behind the first rank, was an
unobscryed spectator of the whole
transaction. lie could hold out no
longer, he came into the circle, raised
the widow, and echoing in her car.
- lac is pardoncd, " restored her life and
happiness, together. Then turning to
the lovers he commanded them to go
Immediately to the CHI plain, to be uni
ted by that tie which death only could