Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-28
A WIFE'S DEV 0TI0N.
BY GEO. 8. RAYMOND.

nau IoI years Oeen carried on between
the Imperial Government of Brazil and
the rsvoted southern provinces was draw
ing to close; and /, who for nearly five
years had been almost constantly On the
wing, or, what amounted to about the
same thing, on horseback, in the patri-
otie service, was on my way to join nv
little Brazilian wife to whom I had been
united some five months previously, and
from whose side had been summoned
within three hours after our marriage to
lead my command against body of Don
Pedro Seguado's LGncieros, who were
committing depredations in The neighbor.
hood.
l had been severely wounded in the
side and shoulder, and what with the ex-
posure in our wild, uncomfortable camp,
the entire lack of proper medical and
surgical skill, and the slow fever which
had for three weeks been consuming me,
my iron constitution bad given away at
last, and l was as near dead as a man
could well be and maintain his seat in
his saddle.
| My home, or rather that of nv wife,
was on the banks of the beautiful Uru.
quay, on the extreme western limits OF
the Brazilian Empire, and my way thithor
led across the serried peaks and through
the wild passes Of the Southern Brazilian
Andes, region swarming with every
species of wild beasts, fierce sayages.
murderous banditti, who killed for mere
pastime, and bands of Imperial troops
more savage than brutes, Indians, or
robbers.
Pleasant, very; don't ycu think it
was for an invalid scarce able to keep
his seat in the saddle, and accompanied
by only two negro slaves possessing but
little more sense or reason than the horses
they guided.
Seven long, tedious days went by, and
| had struggled on thus far without CON-
ing In contact with the wild beasts, saw.
ages, robbers, or Imperial soldiers, to
within fifteen leagues OF my Journeys
lend; when my overtasked energies could
bear me up no longer, and dispatching
the most intelligent Of my servants to
!apprise my wife and family of my situa-
Ition, | lay down under the shelter of a
lshelving rock in one of the most rugged,
desolste mountain passes had ever seen,
but with slight hopes of surviving till
aid should arrive from my friends on the
uruguay.
! l. was near noon when the negro de-
:parted on his mission, and, as had pro-
missed him freedom and ten ounces in
lgold if he reached my wife's home that
might. knew he would not lose q mo-
ment, and | might expect relief before
might next day, provided lived till that
time, which did not seem very probable,
les within TWO hoGrs | was half delirous.
The hot blood, driven 20 the extremities
| by the raging fever, seemed like leaping
liquid currents of fire; while my very
vitals appeared to scorch and to crisp with
the subtle heat, and my whole frame wa.
tracked with the most exQu site torture.
| Twenty times during the afternoon
had sent tie remaining slave to the
stream which wound along the bottom Of
the ravine for water to slake my burning
thirst.
The sun was, perhaps, an hour above
the horizon, when | was suddenly sur
roundad by band of some twenty fero-
cious-looking brig2nds, who were traver.
sing the mountain pass to the westward
in pursuit of e Irain Of mules loaded with
merchandise tina. had preceded tlsm but
the day previous.
| had nothing about me to tempt the
robbers cupidity. as they were rather
, partial to the revolutionary party, whose
uniform I'wore, they offered NE 70 vic
lence, aud one Of them even brought ma
a gourd Of water, for my slave had fled
at the approach Of the bIjgands, and
never saw hiH afterward.
But all my entreatieS, prayers ant
lpromises of reward were unheeded.
To- Id not prevail on them TO remain will
49, an Nv friends should arrive. The,
vera We a. ;ntcnt f. ,~lv upon the capture am
n,undor uo .m't1' nf ,ba T- M "a, and SO they de
parted, leaving Inc there a., ui' SICK ati'
,dying, in that wild, desolate IN. Il
ipass.
My scanty supply of water was soon
exhausted, and was raving mad with
intoleTable thirst. In my frenzy tore
the bandages from ny half closed wounds
beat my head against the rocky frag
ments that formed my bed end: oh, hoE
IL prayed for death!
There l lay all that long. horrid njgn
till it was daylight again: and then
sank into death-like torpor, from which
was aroused by heavy weight press
ling on my chest, and my first glance, e.
" opened my eyes, fell upon the we!l-re'
f:a,mbered features of the most deadly
Jenenv | had on earth-Col. Martinul
! iArcois, of the Imperial army Of Brazil.
! "By the Cross! we arc well met, Sc
nor Raypsnlo," spoke the brutal ruffian
with his hcSeed heel crashing into ny
throat till M eycs seemed bursting from
jtheir sockets, an4 my black, swOller
ssongue protru>ed fE2m my. mouth, anc
1.-THE wretch laughed in derision CT ny
terrible agony as be continued:
! 1--WE are well met, say. ,Senor Ray
monde, and I doubt not your taautifu
bride, the Lady Inez, of whon yo'
robbed me, will be very grateful when