Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-05-13

A STORY FROM REAL LIFI
CHAPTER |.

Ii was III the autumn OF the year 1900,
when the Republican army under Ney,
Moreau, Lamb, Cyr, and other of its
bravest generals, was pursuing its victo-
rious career, and laying waste some of
the most important towns in Germany,
that the circumstances we are about 10
relate took place.
The frequent want of stores, ammu-
milton and money, in the Republican ar
mics, and the hope of plumber, then so
frequently held out TO the French sol
dlers as the reward of victory, caused
no inconsiderable alarm in the breasts OF
the more peaceful inhabitants of those
places which were considered likely to
become the theatre OF hos,lities.
Among these, the inhabitants of a
German town of considerable impor-
tance-and which for distinction we will
call Ebristien-had ample reason for
their misgivings; the daily, almos; hour
Iy approach of the French being ex-
pec,ed.
The family of Paul Kinmayer, a mer.
chant citizen of great wealth, was among
those most agitated by the afilicting in
telligence. His household consisted OF
his wife, and an only daughter. and a
few domestics in whom he could place
confidence. His daughter was the spring
which regulated every action OF the mer-
chants life. She was the apple of his
eye, the sunshine of his shady places,
for her he had accumulated his wealth,
that her rare beauty might win with i. a
station of rank and influence, and the
hope Of whole lifetime might be wreck.
ed in few brief hours.
His wife was the first to suggest a
plan of concealment of their treasures.
Their mansion was situated near the ex-
tremlty of the town, and from it a secret
passage communicated with a bower in
the garden adjoining; from thence in the
evening, man nigh: easily steal unper-
ceived to the adjacent woods, and there
she proposed that the merchant should
at night time bury his treasure. or, at any
rate, that he should proceed through the
forest and deposit j; with relation who
was TO be trusted, who would not be
suspected of possessing SO much wealth,
and who resided about two days journey
from the place.
For time, Paul Kinmayer resisted
every importantly of his wife. Who
would protect them should the anticipa-
ted attack take place in his absence!-
The domestics were old and infirm, and
they would be too much alarmed for
THEN own safety TO care much for others
not akin to them. But when his wife
spoke upon the future; when she impress
sed on him that i, was wealth only that
would be required of them, and that, de-
prived of that for which they had so
struggled, all would be scattered in a mo-
men,, his resolution gave way.
81 Co. said he, "and leave you in the
trus. of one whose all powerful hand
will protect you; unless, indeed, in his
infnite wisdom, he deems it fitting that
the innocent shall fall as an example aud
terror to the guilty"
Collecting all that was most valuable
into small packet, as the evening ap-
proaced, the merchant was prepared to
depart. One jewel only, remained be-
hind--it was his own miniature, set in a
locket, with diamonds of great value
i was his wedding gift TO Amelia, and
with it he hesitated to part, and he pla-
ced it again around her neck with the
same fervor and affection that he felt
when he first presented it. TO her and
to his daughter, the namesake of her
mother, he gave some necessary direc.
ton for their welfare during his absence.
and taking an affectionate farewell he de
parted, unknown to any but themselves.
1t was in the evening o: the fourth
day after the merchant had departed, that
the roll of the drum, the shrilI voice of
the trumpet among the inhabitants with
out, proclaimed 10 the inmates of the
mansion that the enemy was fast ap-
preaching. The town was indeed filled
with Austrian troops; but these had been
so often harrassed and defeated by the
victorious arms of the French, that il
was not without reason the citizens felt
Stranu mi suiu uipcs in thar ,rn,ya,S