Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-08-01
The Warrior MAIDEN.

Some time just before or about the be-
ginning of the war, Sergeant Jasper, of
Marioh's brigade, had the good fortune to
save the life Of u young, beautiful, and dark
eyed Creole girl, called Sally st. Clair
Her susceptible nature was overcome with
gratitude to her prescrver, and this soon RI
pened into a passion Of love of the most
deep and fcrvent kind She lavished upon
him the whole wealth Of her affections, and
the whole depth of passion nurtured by a
southern sun. When he was called upon to
join the ranks of his country's defenders the
prospect of their separation almost madden
ed her. Their parting came, but scarcely
was she left alone ere her romantic nature
prompted the means of their reunion. Once
resolved, no consideration of danger could
dampen her spirit, and no thought of con-
sequences could move her purpose She
severed her loug and jetty ringlets, and
provided herself with male attire In these
she robed herself and set forth to fol-
low the fortunes Of her lover
\ smooth faced beautiful and delicate
STRIPPING appeared among the hardy, rough
aud giant frames who composed the corps of
which Jasper belonged. The contrast be-
tween the STRIPPING and these men in their
uueoath garbs, their massive faces enlbrown-
ed and diSeoorod hy sun and plain, was n-
deed striking. But none we're moro eager
for the battle or 50 Indifferent to fatigue as
the fairlaeed boy. 1t was found that his
energy Of character, resolution and courage
amply supplied the lack OF physique. None
ever suspected him TO be woman Not
even Jasper himself although she was of
ten By bis side, penetrated her disguise
The romance of his situation increased
the feryor of her passion. Ii was her de-
light to reflect that unknown to him she was
by bis side to watch over him in the hour
Of danger. She fed her passion upon him
in the hour of slumber lowering near him
when stealing through the swamp aud thick
ct, and being always ready to avert danger
FROM his head.
But gradually there stole melancholy
presentineut over the poor girls mind She
had been tortured with hopes deferred the
war was prolonged, and the prospect of be-
ing restored to him grew more and more un-
certain. But she felt that her dream of hap
piness could never be realized. She became
convinced that death was about TO snatch
her away from his side but she prayed that
she might die and never know what length
the violence Of her passion had led her
1t Was on an eve before battle The
camp had sunk into silent repose The
watehdres were burning low, and only the
tread Of sentinels fell npeH the profound ST
Icuee Of tie air as they moved through the
dark shadows Of the forest. Stretched up
on the ground, with no other couch than
bianket, repose1 the warike forsa Of JAS
per. Climbing vines trailea themselves in
to canopy above his head through which the
stars shone down softly. The faint flicker
of the expiring embers of a fire fell athwart
upon his countonancc aud tingcd the cheek
Of cue who bent over his couch. 1t was the
smooth faced STRIPPING. She bent down low
as if to listen to his dreams, or to breathe
into his soul pleasant visions Of happiness
and love. But tears traced themselves down
the fair ones cheek and fell silently and
rapidly upon the brow Of her lover
4 mysterious voice has told her that the
hour for parting has come that tomorrow
her destiny is consummated There is ono
last, long, lingering look, and then the un-
happy maiden is seen to tear herself away
from the spot to weep out her sorrow in pri-
yaey.
Fierce aud terrible is the conflict that on
the morrow RACES on the spot. Foremost in
that battle is the intrepid Jasper, aud ever
by his side fights the STRIPPING warrior. Of
ten during the heat and smoke, beams sud
denly upon the eyes Of jasper the mclan-
choly face of the maiden. In the thckest
fight surrounded by enemies, the lovers fight
side by side. Suddenly lance Is levelled
at the breast of Jasper; but switter than the
lance is Sally St. Clair. There is a wild
cry, and at the feet of Jasper sinks the mai
den, with the likelihood gushing from her
white bosom, which had been thrown as
shield before his breast He hecds not now
the din nor the danger Of the conflict, but
down by the side of the now dying boy he
kneels. Then for the first time does he learn
that the stripping is his love; that often by
the campfire and in the swamp, she has
been ly his side; that the dim visions in his
slumber Of an angel face lowering over him,
had been true. In the midst of the battle,
with her lover by her side and the barb in
her bosom, the heroic maiden dies
Her name, her sex, and her noble devo-
ton, soon became known throughout the
corps. There was q fearful group gathered
around her grave there was not one of
those hardy warriors who did not bcdew her
grave with tears. They buried her near the
Santee, I'm green shady nook, that look
ed as if it had been stolen cut Of Paradise y
bright Hours and Gloomy. this
beautiful world indeed know not what
to think of it, Sometimes it is all glad
ness and heaven itself lies not far off and
then it suddenly changes and is dark and
sorrowful, and the clouds shut out the day.
In the lives of the saddest of us there are
bright days like this when we feel as if we
could take the great world in our arms
.i,i L..,. -. E,,s