The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-27

ed out Elisha was frequently hailed by some
vlg1lant member of the voluntary police. Ifper-
sonally known to the questioner, he was allowed
to pass; if not, he was required to show his pa
pers; light had to be struck to examine
them, and all this took up so much time, that al.
though Elisha had the high road to walk upon.
and Valentine the swamp to wade through, the
latter far outstripped the former, and arrived
first at the bridge over the A. river.
To cross this bridge was the only means from
this direction of reaching the city but the
bridge was guarded at both ends by the patrol,
or volunteer police; to elude their vigilance
was the only desperate part of Valentines un-
dertaking. The river was broad, deep, and
strong in current no one had ever dreamed
of the feat of swimming across it. 1t was Dor
dered on this side by marsh, so deep that in
the attempt to pass it, a man of moderate size
and strength must have been swallowed up.
The bridge was a continuation of the road and
causeway, thanked by parapets extending across
the river, and joining the road on the opposite
side. Valentine never thought of the impos.
sible feat of wading the marsh aud swimming
the river, neither did he dream of attempting
to the bridge in the very face of the patrol
guard that twice before had arrested him: but
he projected scheme almost equally wild and
hopeless. This plan was to cross the river by
clambering along the water side of the para
pet-a plan involving less risk of discovery
by the patrol, certainly-but undertaken at the
most imminent peril of death, by losing hold
and dropping into the river below. Valentine
waded on through the cypress swamp, until the
trees grew more sparsely, and the mud under
the water became deeper and more treacherous
as it merged into the marsh nearest the river.
The poorfellow then clambered along, now on the
broken causeway, his eyes all on fire with vigil
ance, and now dropping down into the swamp,
and so in more peril and difficulty he went on,
until he reached the place where the marsh
merged into the river, and the road and cause.
way into the bridge and parapet. Here he
heard the patrol guard in their little guard
house laughing and talking over their drink,
for they, too, had to keep the pestlence at bay
with alcohol. Here he attempted to gain the
parapet; and in doing so set in motion some
alarum bell, at whose first peals he found him
self suddenly surrounded, and in the hands of
the patrol =
"My good fellow, that feat has been tried,
once before, so we prepared for the second, :,
you understand" said one of his captors. They,
all knew Valentine; with most of them he was.
great favorite, though to others he was. for;
the sole reason of his natural superiority, very
obnoxious. While Valentine stood, overwhelm>
ed with despair, he discerned Mr.. Hewitt among
the party; and gathering some hope from the
presence of that gentleman, he casped his
hands, and, appealing to him, said
"Oh, Major Hewitt, you know me, sir YOU.
have known me from childhood Your dear
lady knew me too, and was very kind to the
poor quadroon boy, when he was child And
you know my poor little Fannie, tool Sir, m,
heart is breaking that is nothing, but she i
dying Sir, my wife is dying, aloge-not O.
the fever only, but of starvation, of thirst,
neglect, of bereavement of all aid; and sht
sends to me, sir-sends to pray me to cont
and see her poor face for the last time, ant
take her orphan baby from her dead arms, les
it die tool You are powerful, Major Hewitt,
Speak the word, and these gentlemen will lie
me pass /.
valentine, my poor boy, if your sorrow ha, !,
not crazed you, you would understand at one /.
that / cannot do so! But, tell you what /;
can do for you; l can persuade these gentleme i
from OBTAINING you in the guard-house, and
can write a note of intercession to your maste,.
Return to him, Valentine-take my horse
There he stands; go to Mr.. Waring; tell hiff
what you have told me Give him my note /,
he will not refuse you the permit, and whe /
you have it, ride back hither as fast as 70
please" said Mr.. Hewitt, or the Major, as b
was generally called.
He scrubbed note in haste. valentip :
mounted the horse, received the missive, ant i,
thanking the Major from the depths of his
heart, rode off. He met and hailed Elisha, told
him in few words what had passed, and add-
ed
"Go on to the city, Elisha Go to my dssr
Fanniel Tell her, if she can still hear yotff.
words, that l shall be with her in two hours, Or
die in the effort. MOI do not tell her VOID
to alarm her Say eiU certainly be Nth her,
in taoo hours! For / will despite of earth ard
HI, / will! f"
Valentine gallopped swiftly towards home,
reached the lawn gate, sprang from his horse,
secured the bride, and FASTENED up to the
house. There was no one in front; he entered
the hall, looked into the dining-room it was
empty he ran in, poured out glass of brandy,
drank it at draught, ana passed through the
house to the back piazza, where he found fis
master, pacing up and down the floor. Br.
Waring had grown heated and angry betweS IN
the frequent potations and the irritations of fie
"Well, sirl" he said, turning abruptly to
Valentine. "What now? How dare you ,h
ter my presence again, after your insoent G h.
duct of this afternoon"
"Master Oswald, am very sorry it. in jly
great trouble, was surprised into saying al y.
thing sinful-really sinful. Will you read t lis
note, sir 2" said Valentine, trying for Fanni IS
dear sake, to quell the raging storm in l,is
bosom.
Oswald Waring took the note with je;k,
tore it open impstientiy, and, casting his eees
over it with scornful curl of his lip, tossed i
away, exclaiming- i.
flush Major Hewitt is fool Where did
you get that, sir2"
Valentine hestated.
oot Won WI rot that nata 91
"From Major Hewitt's own hand, Master
Oswald" replied Valentine, at last.
"By - don't preyarioate with NE, sr !
Where did you see Major Hewitt then? T'at
is the question:"
Again Valentine was silent.
"What the demon do you mean, sir, by tre VI
ing my questions with this contemptuous ST.
lence?n demanded Mr.. Waring, angrily.
"Master Oswald began Valentine, serio H.
kly, impressively-"I will answer your quest On
truly; but, first, let me beg you, let me pi az
you, by all your hopes of salvation, to lister to
me favorably; for swear to you by all my fs til
in Heaven, that it is the very last time vii
make the appeal"
81 am glad to hear it, you troublesome, c IN
foundedly spoiled rascal For it is the very Fast
minute that will bear to be triAed with %
al met Major Hewitt on the bridget
"On the bridget On the bridget Why, ,ou
insolent scoundrel; do you dare to stand there
and tell me to my face that, in direct violation
of my command, you attempted to go to towf?"
"Sirl sirl listen to mel my worst fears are
confirmed! My poor Fannie is dying, as
feared she might die-alone! deserted dying
not only of pestilence, but of famine and thirst,
and every extremity of wretchedness She
sent faithful messenger, praying me to come
and see her once more, but once more, to close
her eyes and receive the orphan child OH