The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-04-23

daughter, not to stir unprotect ed see
that the doors and windows are securely
fastened at night, and do not entertain
any strangers do not think there are
any troops in the neighborbood but there
may be Struggling parties, or individual
discharged soldiers, who are far more to
be feared by you. VIII you remember
these things Ella =
Yes, dear Papa, but bid you again
have no fears for me. The servants are
enough for my protection, even if | had
not dear old Brave, who never leaves
me, day nor night, When you are away.
The large, black, Newfoundland, who
was sleeping on the rug beside the fire
place, quite at the farther end Of the
great ball, where this conversation took
place, opened his eyes when he heard
his name, and rising up after a long
shake, came lazily forward aud placcc
his head beneath the girls carcssing
hand, looking up with lustrous eyes, al.
most human in their expression, Into her
fair, sorrowful face.
General Mortimer stopped to pat thu
shaggy, black head also, and then, as
the tramp'ing of his horses hoops was
heard, he hastily folded his daughter i'll
his arms, pressed long kiss upon her
brow and hurried forth Ia moment
be was mounted, and followed by his ser.
v,nt. was gallopng along the avenue
Which, ovelhung by noble, forest trees
in all the beauty Of their summer green
pess, stretched away toward the distant
highroad.
Ella stood ieccdng figure until it was
lost in the distance beneath the archng
t ecs, then she turned sadly away and
entered the house There were tears in
her eyes and heavy load Of undcfued
anxiety at her heart-yhe felt an over.
powerng sense Of loneliness which,
though she had boldly combattcd it il
her fathers presence, now seemed to
fold around her spirit like a shroud -
She walked along the large, lofty hall,
and went slowly up the stairs which led
to the gallery from which herapartmcn'
opened, and Brave walked by her side
and followed her into the pleasant, dain-
tily furnished chamber and when she
sat down b side tie open easement and
looked out through her tears upon the
low ely scene, he crouchcd at her feet and
fixed his loving eyes full upon her face.
1t was as If, by an amlst human intui.
ton, he had comprehended the charge.
which devolvcd upon him, and resolved
to accept the responsibility.
The war of the Revolution was then
at its height. At an early period of the
struggle, General Mortimer had identi
fed himself with the patriots. On rails
ing a company, at his own expense, and
joining the main body Of the army, then
at the North, he had received a commits
sion of Colonel, aud by promotion had
since attained the rank of General. He
was high in the regard of the Comman.
der-in-Chief, who often sought is aid
and required his presence at the coun-
cilboard. 1t was to answer the demands
OF some of the trying emergencies OF the
times that he had now been summoned
from briefrctirement, to join Washing
ton at Philadelphia.
Never had his beautiful Southern home
seemed more lovely than when he look
ed back upon il as he rode slowly on
ward, on that glorious summer after
noon. And in his frequent absences
left it with btterer pang, though the
time had been when be bad torn himself
from the bedside of an invalid wife to at
terd the call of duty upon the battle.
field. The soul Of Spartan heroine
had dwelt in that feeble frame, and she
bad seen him 60 forth to danger, and as
-be might well fear, to death, with a res
olute spirit of sacrifice that would have
,bamed the weak nerves Of many q mod
ern dame who sbrinks appalled, from ev-
cry imaginary Danger. Now she was
gone-haply she had died in his arms,
with her last loving glance upon his face
Two years she had slept in the family
tomb, and Ella had dwelt alone in the
old ancestral mansion Of the Mortime r.
when b father went TO the wars. An
lauot, whose home was in the distant city