Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1854-06-28

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when finished this laconic and. sent tcutious
epis,le. and going to indulge IN q philippe a.
gainst him. but she checked me with such spir
It. that was fain to hold my peace. then Of
fered for her sake. to go to Elliott, aud en-
deavor to explain the matter.
"Alas r. said she, you cannot |; he wNnt of
this morning before daylight, ON three
months furiough. leaving that cruel note aud
the packet of letters to be delivered to me on
awaking. He has gone, presume 10 New
Hampshire, where his friends reside"
Here We were interrupted BY the entrance Of
Miss Eveline's mother. and took my leave,
quite cured Of my love f', aud very thankful
that had not subjected myself to the pain Of
a refusal.
Bot am spinning out my story entirely too
long:
treated me with even greater coldness than be.
fore p; 10 fact we never spoke TO each other at
ALL except when duty compelled, US to do so.
This made it SO disagreeable to me. that was
on the point Of applying for an exchange, when
the war with Mexico broke out We were or
dered on active service, and private animosi-
ties were forgot en- IN our zeal against the COM
mon foe.
Der of sick and wounded, while the rest of the
army pressed on towards the Hall Of the Mon.
iezumas. Of course was there with several
assistants. We were encamped in pictur-
esque little hamlet, situated in q wild roman /.
tic neighborhood and the country being rret.
ty quiet. we were in lhc habit Of venturing
some distance from the encampment, shooting,
sketching. or perhaps flirting !; for you know,
our fellows did not extend 10 the Mexican Sc
noritas The hostile feelings with which they
regard the men, For myself. cannot say that
| admired them much some Of them were
pretty TO be sure but that abominable habit
ihey have Of smoking cigaritos, spoiled them
in my eyes. 81 liked good cigar myself,
said the doctor, religh,ing the one he held,
which had gone out, but don't like to see a
woman smoking ] couldn't fancy Venus her
self with cigar in her mouth,
Well, one ming had sauntered forth,
portfolio in hand, for the purpose Of taking
some sketches aud in tho course Of my wan.
dcrings came upon pretty little dwelling by
| the side of a waterfall, in sweet, sequestered
| spot. On mossy bench by the door sat q
/ young girl of wonderful bersty,ln H snowy Ou,
picturesque dress, with a guitar In her hand
the sweet melody OF which blended delightful
| w with the soft murmuring dash Of the water
! fall. aud the gurglng Of the little stream be
| yond it. 1t was picture OF surprising beau
| iy and lovelness, and Immediately sat dowr
Oh a fallen tree to commit II to paper !.
! While thus employed, a man was observe
approaching, whom | soon found was no OF
er Than Elliott himself As he neared the c.
expecting HIM, threw down her guitar and raJ
| eagerly to meet him. He sa. down beside hei
| on The bench when suddenly on observIn.
me, he started as If a serJ eni had stung hun
and hastily approached me- He glared upon
me ia a look in which all the hatred that had
gathered so many years seemed to have con
centrated.
"This is the second time sir" said he, fierce
", that you have crossed my path--it shall
be the last time! Follow me. If you dare T.
"lf by crossing your path" said l,you mean
an allusion 10 that young woman, assure you
! have not spoken to her. or approached near
er to her than am now"
"Must call yoI coward 7" said he. viii
you follow me or not y
threw down my drawing materials and
followed him. He entered the chapparel, and
led the way to a clear spot, near running
! brook Here he turned aud drew his sword
| Defend yourself he exclaimed.
Captain Elliot" said !. I."Although l an
not conscious of having injured you, am
ready to g,ve you the satisfaction you demand
But had we not better return to the camp, oh
tain seconds, and conduct the affair in the reg
uar mannerf"
"No," said he; II will not wit. will
hold no farther parley with you. Defend your
self"
Thus adjured, drew my sword, bu. had
scarcely done so, when something whizzcd
past me, u sharp report was heard, and with
| a wild crv, Elliot fell dead at my feet. ! looh
ed for an instant behind me, and saw the dark
countenances Of half dozen MexicaDs a
they prepared to reload their pieces. and then
fed into the cnapparel carrying no longer u
/ question
Onion I sped; this way and that way
L th~,uub 4 Sho in lnI thtrk0s frtnp;nU m
on long, trailing vines. scratching my hands
on lhorns. until completely worn out. climbs
ed a lofty tree and hid my self among its teaiy
branches Here l remained for several hours
and heard my pursuers, crashing amongst the
underwood, shouting. swearing, calling 70
each other; but gradually the sounds died
away, the chase seemed TO be given up, and
was left alone in that wild. unbroken solitude
Tho afternoon was far advanced, when driv.
en- partly by hunger. partly by the dread Of
passing the night ia the chappareI,l ventured tc
| descend from my leafy covert, where alo mus
auiioes had made . feast uponsme, and the
| monkeys had chattersd at me with their mock
| ing gestures. By the aid of my pocket com.
pass, found my way back tothe clearing
from whence had so suddenly departed.
| Carefully reconnoitering. 10 see that none ol
my Mexicans friends were lingering n...at-.,o
this day suspect that young -To,na,,, az hsv.
ing sent them after us) ADVANCED to the spo,
where poor Elliot b.i f..,,,,en. - r.
He % was ly'se o. III. face in pool Of blood.
his hsGds c.utching the grass. his hair and
Uniform dappled ia blood. and his fine manly
form (hs was one Of the finest looking fellow
10 the army) pierced with three OF four CHASTITY
wounds.
"Ah! poor fellow" said a. stood and
gased upon him; for though was rid Of mortal
enemy. could not belp feeling sorry that so
brave soldier should thus perish like dog,
shot down by an unseen foo. "But, thank
Godp cried with a thrill Of indiscribsble
pleasure, thank God! did not hill himp
had turned him over on his back, srd q
stood moralizing, thought saw his bosom
beave. placed my hand on his heart and
found that he still lived. AsI knelt b- MIN.
uncertain what to do, he opened his na)i.rlaseti
eyes, and saw bis parched lips try 10 form ~
word "Water! Ny first impulse was to
the brook which flowed at short distsi,
next to stop and consider Should
life 10 the man who a few minutes -
been thirsting for my bloodf' whd
all his lifef Who had wronged, d
me, and even called me cow
would leave him to his fate WI