The Delaware herald., 1854-05-24
Chanfar LII.

the helpless girl to his bosom, and snatched 9
hasty kiss from her fair brow. "Adieu."
! Chapter LII.
Ere the sun had arisen on the following
morning Lieutenant Sw sss, and his raw recruits
were snugly slowed and rapidly borne along tc
their destination. Mournful eyes and sorrowfu
hearts watched their departure, but there wal
one who saw the individual, Charles. leave
with JOY, The Squire's protege knew that hil
cousin was strongly attached to the young man
and now that he was gone, resolved 10 urge his
suit. There was 30 much dignity in the nature
OF Belgrave that young Hunter dared not ap
proach him his inferior mind could not come
In contact with the refined spirit of Charles
hence he was a most inveterate enemy. Hun.
ter was wild and dssipated in his habits, an as
sociate ef the low and vile, though possessed Of
a handsome face and ready flow of wit; he was
the gallant of most of the fair damsels of his
native village. On the very evening that the
young soldier left town, Hunter commenced bis
assiduous attentions to Sallie Mifiin. The
young glrl, confident in her own strength, and
IN the artless simpl city of her nature, listened
with respect to his words, and wondered not at
his devotedness, surmsing that it was called
forth by the absence of her lover, knowing, as
she did, that he was aware Of their betrothal-
Hunter played well his game he became her
constant attendant and ready adviser. Willy
and subtle, he insinuated that Belgrave was lost
to her forever, and conjured her to relinquish
all thoughts Of ever becoming his.
Every day brought news of the contest be-
tween the nations, yet no tidings of Charles,
or OF his promotion, reached Concord. One
evening Hunter entered the house, unusually
elated, holding in his Land the late paper which
] Qn g Al
of the City Of Mexico. He handed the paper
carelessly to Salle, and invited her to read
She hastily caught it up and drank in the mar
rative, glowingly depicted by an imaginative
Editor. She beheld with Joy the name of Col.
Belgrave, and her heart whispered, it was
Charles She read how he gallantly led ON his
troops, scaled the ramparts, and stood numbered
with the first who trod the streets of Monterey.
Then her eye ran over the list of killed and
wounded, to her utter horror she saw the name
+ of Charles Belgrave; the paper dropped from
her hands, her countenance assumed ghastly
paleness, and reelng, she would have fallen but
for the timely interference Of Hunter who
sprang to her assistance.
The willy man, more to further and carry out
his plans, must not be too severe therefore, he
sought to enforce the belief that the Colonel
was none other than Charles, and the slain,
perhaps, another bearing his name. The maid
ems heart flluttered between hope and fear and
boldly, after the first pang, she bore up under
| the trial.
Hunter believed it was none other, yet he
lnstiled hope into the heart of Sallie, knowing
that since the loss of troops and capture Of their
strongholds, the Mexicans would soon cease
hostlllties and the war terminate, then by the
return of some of the recruits he could deter
mine whether or not Belgrave was alive; if So
| by stratagem, he would push his suit, otherwise
let grief for a while have vent, and let time
work for him.
BY his subtle and easy grace he became her
contdant and frequent companion. Inthe SIM
1 plcity of her soul she cosfded all to him, even
her love, deep aud abiding. she bore Charles
! The old Squire, in the meantime, noted the
intimacy OF his nephew and daughter, with
pleasure, and limited that her marriage with
him would be the heighth of his ambition.
"FoOlsh fellows, those of ours, who left their
homes for the din and blood of battle! Better
have staid at home," said the Squire one even
ing, as he sat in his comfortable arm chair.
"Seme of them may return home wearing
the epaulets of officers" Sallie veptured to re.
ply.
ayes, they may - emphasized the Justice
Beigrave, poor fellow, thought he would come
back rich or honored, though he was too proud
to whisper it even to me. Poor fellow long
ago has he bit the dust
Could he have seen the wanness of the daugh
ter's countenance, he might have thought hei
interested in him more than ordinarily.
"Think you not, Uncle" said Hunter, " thai
this Colonel is not hint" ...
\ "Colonel! no !" said the old man. "Charlel
Belgrave Colonel No, indeed! his name il
fully marked down with those who fell before
the walls Of the city. noble fellow, tina
Charles; though apparently humble he wal
proud as monarch. Had he started in time
; and received proper education, he would
doubtless, have been the foremost in the ranks
of great men, if not on the battle field"
Sallie, after the above conversation, mourneC
her lover as dead, whilst glory beamed ahead
and renown crouched in his footsteps.
Belgrave, in his FIRST debut, signalled himsel
from the rest of his corps, by mounting tbs
breast-work of the enemy and capturing III,
ensign, with the colors Of the Mexican battalion
The bravery of the private did not escape th
eyes of the veterans of war, and ere anothe
battle, one epaulet dangled from his shoulder
Each succeeding skirmish added Leaf to tn
vine that was twining about his brow, until tn
accoutrements of field officer bedecked hi
person.
Chapter Nv.
Mexico sent up a wall in the same hour tha
4 Il = -. n .