Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-07-18

Ided authority. Leekenski,s supper wa.
sent to him. but he was not permitted t.
leave the dungeon until morning. He
was then led to a place whence he could
behold the mutilated bodies of ten French
who had been scahght and massacred by
Ithe Spanish peasantry. Here. for the
space of several hours, he was watched
by the eyes and ears eager to catch at
any ungarded word or gesture.
Gentlemen" said General .Castanos
to his brother officers, {" am as fully
aware. as you of the Importance ofpreven-
ting communication between the different
commanders at present in Spain; but we
cannot with Justice convict this young
man upon the mere assertion of peasant,
who may be mistaken, through a resem-
blance, or misled BY his fanatical patriot.
ism. - oas
1t was cheering relief to Leckenski to
be led back to prison although his mind
was haunted by horrid images and mel
ancholy forebodings, he nevertheless fell
second time into profound sleep.
| Another snare was now laid for him.
Amid the silence which prevailed in the
dungeon. the door was again softly open
ed and the same harmonious voice which
had addressed him the night before, said
in a low tone
Rise and follow me-you are saved
your horse IS waiting"
But while Bonita repeated by note in
French the words she dared not refuse to
utter, the same warning pressure of the
wrist aroused his watchfulness.
Four cruel black eyes were watching
the dungeon~scene through loop.hole in
the wall.
They saw Benita-they heard the
words-these blood>thirsty Spanish Off
cers-but Benita's adroitness prevented
their seeing anything more.
Al the words, "you are saved" Lecs
klnskl started Up; but the grasp Of Be.
nita's slender fingers recalled his presence
OF mind he replied as before in German:
What do you say ?''
On being informed of the result of this
new temptation. Castanos urged his i'm
mediate liberation he was again over
ruled.
In the morning the young Pole was
conducted before sort OF court. compo.
sed Of officers of Castanos' staff. They
addressed to him the seyerest threats, but
firm in his resolution. he appeard not to
understand one word which they were
saying. He inquired in German for an
interpreter. One. at last was produced.
He was asked what was the object of
his journey from Madrid to Lisbon. IT,
He replied by producing his dispatches
from the Russian Am mbassador to Admiral
Sinavan. and his passport. And, but for
the unfortunate encounter with the peas
ant, these proofs might have been salts.
factory. but he was still the object of sus>
picion.
"Ask him. said the president of the
committee, whether he is friendly to
the Spaniards, since he is not French
man." hi
The interpreter translated the ques>
Yes. doubtless replied Leckenski,
"l love and respect the noble charac-
ter of the Spaniards, and wish your ma
tion and my own were united"
/" Colonel" says the interpreter. in
French, the prisoner says he hates us,
and would like to see the whole nation as
one. man. that he might annihilate it with
a single blow"
Whilst these words were uttered, the
eyes Of the whole assembly attentiyely
watched the prisoners countenance to
see what effect would be produced by this
new trick, or rather, snare. He stood
perfectly unmoved,
/" Gentlemen" said General Castanos,
it appears to me there is no ground Of
suspicion against this young man and
therefore he. must be set at liberty and a.!
lowed to pursue his journey immedi-
ately."
Accordingly, his arms and dispatches
Pole, after passing through series Of
trials which required almost superhuman
Lforlitude and presence of mind, went on
his way. He arrived safely in Lisbon,
fulfilled his mission. aud wished to return
10 Madrid but General Junot, we are
glad to say, refused to allow him to ex-
pose himself again to the dangers he had
so miraculously escaped.
Leckenski never saw Bonita again
But feeling of gratitude to the lovely
Spaniard never left him. Leckeuski OF
ten told the story to his friends. after his
return to Poland, whenthe war was over.
| ~
~ The low-neeked dresses Of the la
dies are made the theme of small jokes by
certain :. lewd fellows of the baser sort, -
who nigh: be in better business. In our
opinion. il is with the ladies matter ol
taste. which they might be allowed to in-
dulge at their discretion the wits who
would ridicule them are the men who had
better look at home. and as they live in
glass houses. abstain from throwing stones.
If they don't like to see the ladies, lei
them look the other way There was a
great party in the Fifth Avenue Just be-
fore last Lent. and the ladies. in the mat.