The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1854-05-06

say it--n lover! for though her patriotic feel
ings made her cast him oil, her affection still
retained his image in her heart On all sides
columns were charging, engaging, rctreating
and the tide of battle, now rolled this way and
that, and still came in the direction of the road
that leads past the cottage.
Annette was part of the time fearfully watch
ing the clouds Of smoke that marked the pro-
gress of tho combatants, and part Of the time
on her knees for those she loved--and was Geo
Lee excluded from that petitiony Let cacl
maiden's own heart answer.
Nearer and nearer came the sound Of artc
ry and the roar of battle? She stood with hcI
aged mother and gathered ncghbors, upon the
green beneath the elm, in painful expectation
The smoke Of the battle, rolled onward, and
now they could hear the shout Of the soldiers
In the fight. Their position commanded q
view of mile along the road. and soon they
beheld scattering troops flying across II, Mt it,
extremity, and disappearing in the woods
Then came squadron of horses, broken and
rc,reatng, and then artillery drawn in full gal
lop came into tho road.
The American flag flew from stnifs and stucl,
on the gun carriages, and Annette knew that
her coutrymen were defeated. Louder and
moro fearful now grew the uproar Of the bat.
ment broken and terrified, filed tho road and
were retrcating along il towards Chester, and
past the cottage. Annettc's anxiety for her
countrymen, and for her father and brother,
would not let her quit her post, and the tide
of battle came rolling past hcr--a terrible
spectacle The dragons gallopcd by, each
horseman riding by himself with his reins
thrown upon his saddle-bow. then came the
artillery laundering along followed by null
titudo Of soldiers, without order or discipline,
flying at the top of their speed.
"Oh shame !" she cried, with hot tears in
her eyes; ooh that were a man, md in the
saddle, mcthinks my single arm would retrieve
the day Where is Washington Hc certain.
ly cannot fly"
As she spoke, she heard on her right down
the road, loud, commanding voice. calling on
the re',eating men to rally. She turned aud
heheld Washington himself, who, hearing of
the giving way Of the right wing, had come
up OH the head of n regiment to sustain it,
HIS voice and presence now instilled new life
into the flying soldiers, and some they rallied
in the road, and presented front to the col
umns of the British who were pursuing Gen.
Howe, seeing this demonstration of resistance,
and knowing Washington to be there in per-
son withdrew from pursuit, satisfied with
having routed the wing. The American troops
then slowly retreatcd, in good order, towards
u strong position on tho heights not far Of.
Annette was delighted to see that among
those who odswcre neither her father nor
brother, but she was panied TO discover among
the pursuers her own false lover, who seeing
her at n distance, reigncd up his horse and
turned aside hoping to escape her notice.
When she saw this, she resolved she would
not only Danish him forever from her heart,
but from her thoughts. But the resolution OF
maiden in loye arc made only to be broken,
especially when the lover is the object Of
them.
II was almost eight o'clock, the evening of
the battle, when Annette was seated in her
door, listening TO every footstcp, expecting her
ihthcr and brother. II was pleasant night,
but the time was n sad one. She fanccd the
winds waited to her the means Of the dying
and wounded, from the woods and fields
around where tho fight had becn and her
heart was full Of forebodngs of evil to those
so dear TO her. All at once she heard the ap-
proach Of horses feet, and started up with so.
iici,ous eapeotation--for she knew neither her
father or brother were mounted; she waited
ncrvously the advance of the horscman along
the road. lie came at slow pace, and as he
drew nearer, shc discovered by tho light Of
tho moon that he was an officer, and that his
horse was wounded. Instead of passing the
house towards the town. he turned up at the
door and rode towards her. She was too fa.
miliar with scenes Of danger, and the incidents
oi those warlike times, to feel alarm, and
quietly waited the spproach to tho door stone.
Coed evening maidyn,' he said, with
foreign accent; 81 prag .hee give mc your
brief space--l and my horss are
both wounded, andhe viii carry mo no far
ther, fear"
There was something in the general tones Of
the stranger, as well a. in his nonc figure aud
engaging address, that immediately interestcd
Annette IN him; and withou, asking whether
he saw friend or focman, she invited him 10
aligh, and enter the dwelling. With some
difficulty he got ,o the ground, snr his lex WAS
ptiIf with his wound She assis,sd him, and
received his grateful thanks, lie then exam.
lned fin, his hcrse's woandt and with her aid
dressed u, and had him pa, into the shed and
protected nom the night air, with plenty ofI
hay, When this was done, he wen, with her
Into the hoase and Submitted hss sco, and an.
kle, which had hecn injured hy eopnon shot.
10 lhe skill Of the mother and daughter.
Aaaslte then provided him with .eircsh-
taents and tried 60 make HIN ~ comfortable
ss pnSsihls, without knowing whether he WAS
enc of her coaatryS invaders OF defenders
b0s his fAssisn accen, lSsi hes 10 suspect that
ke was the fwtaeF. hat Annetle wea n Chris
sssn. and she remembered aal eheysd the IN,
ianssiar II our sSstS.r-s4" IL tasne enemy hun.
geF, fsei hiia u hs lhlrss, giss him ,isink"
The ensuing Fnosning lhe Eseiesal stranger
eas Aixsss 10 leave. Ills hogsc pee ~ ihe dcef
nsaeh isapsusesl, a. sel ss hls MASTER.
My sweet nt.ia. said The oi'sses, "yesI
saasi take eeld, fw can Tvpey Thy hospitality
ia NO ether wss,"
aCesse 70 gght sgains, say oeanirs, q sll y
ssk, sss," sise sasa wkfiply.
Tbs ottlscr ssntleel and saia. "IfASs yea shen
ssxsrsed sev ~ sss. ard still ap1s al shts Sea
We
sySxs dane sDs aaty, siF
iss sea ~ q Relas eisA. sba ara hsrry 10
rississ amsy 80 havs HSs sssevn y@os S>s
an an ssssrs, .ssa enc an.s-1sExins a T. ]
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