The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-05-07

lenby on the morning after the action, "l
trust this may reach you before you read
in the newspapers any account Of our las
disastrous affair. Yes, my beloved wife
and child, but for the care of an all-merci
ful Providence, might now be lying side
5y side with those poor fellows who enter.
ed with me yesterday into that treach
erous pass, to return no more | owe my
life to young officer of the name of Ben.
field, who, seeing me unhorsed, disarmed
and on the poin. of being cut down, struck
my assailant TO the ground, and supporting
me on one arm-for / am slightly wound
ed-fought his way with the other from the
scene of bloodshed. am now awaiting
my deliverer, and shall tell him there are
two VINO will thank him better than can
for having risked his own young life to
save mine-you, my beloved wife, and you,
my Alice. | shall write again soon: at
present am not equal TO greater exertion;
my wound is but trifling, so have no ankle.
ty on that score."
Frank Hoonheld also wrote TO his mother
to tell her of his safety, and as he did so, a
sigh escaped him at the thought, which
would intrude itself, that she would have
but lightly regretted him had he been
numbered with the fallen. He was inter.
rupted in his occupation by message from
General Allenby, requesting his attendance
at his tent. When, on his return, he re-
sumed his pen, he added to his letter that
he had had, on the previous day, the good
fortune Of saving the generals life, and
that, overrating this service, which he would
have equally rendered to any fellow crea.
ture in the same danger, the kind old
general had appointed him to his staff,
and recommended him for promotion.
HIS mothers reply to this letter was
more affectionate than any she had ever
written 10 him. She called him her gal
liant brave boy, and told him how intense
had been her anxiety on Is account, on
the arrival Of the news Of the action, until
his letter dispelled her fears. She added
that she was under the greatest obligations
TO General Allenby's wife-altbough she de-
sired he would not mention this-and it
had given her the greatest satisfaction to
hear of the assistance which Frank had
been able 10 afford him.
Bells were ringing and cannon firing 20
announce successes in the East, while mourn
ers, whose hearts best treasures had been
taken from them in the struggle for these
very victories, listened teaifuliy TO sounds
which 10 them were as the funeral knell Of
the dear ones they had lost for ever. lie.
roes, both real and unreal, were hocking
home; amongst the former were daily ex.
pected General Sir William Allenby and
his aide de camp Major BenfeId
Mamma, dearest, don't you long 10 see
Major Ben6eldr said Alice Allenby.
Don't you long rather 10 see your father,
AIice?" returned Lady Helen.
'Oh, of course, my own precious father
is before every one else in the world. !
!hought you would have understood that,
mamma; but If there is one person | wish
to know, ii is Major Beuiield only think
oe all We owe him"
This, Lady Helen admitted, was very
true, and equally true was it that she wa,
sincerely grateful, but she ardently wished,
at the same time, that instead of being u
young unmarried officer, her husband had
owed his deliverance to some steady old
Benedict, or 10 a soldier in the ranks, whose
reward would have been very different TO
that which the general had given to Frank
Benfield. She was Disconnected bv Ahce's
enthusiasm on the subject of their gratitude
10 him. 1t fretted her, and alarmed her
pride to think that, perhaps, in Alce's de-
votion TO her father, she might look with
too kindly an eye on the young soldier TO
whom she owed so much; her hope was
that he might not prove 10 be person
likely to captivate one so fastidiously reared
as her daughter had been; but in this res.
pect Lady Helen was grievousIy disappoint.
ed. She was compelled to admit to oherself,
when at length they became acquainted,
that she had never met with brighter.
handsomer, or more engaging being than
the man to whom, in her fear of giving
him too great encouragement, she had de.
termined TO accord outwardly but scant
measure Of gratitude.
But, Lady Helen, YOU NAV work as Won
will. You may call Major l}enfeld to this
side OF the room, on the smallest pretext,
when he is speaking to Alice on the other
you may carry her off from the ballroom
just before the last dance-yet they will
still fall in love, Notwithstanding all your
efforts TO prevent it. They know it not
themselves.
IT was only accidentally that they discov-
cred it at all. When Alice's little Arab
which was supposed to have finished his
education at the training school, became
restive one day and threw her, then it all
burst forth, and the dreadful part of it was.
that Sir William Allenby saw nothing in
it that was Objectionable.
"Heavens, Sir William, how you try men
cried Lady Helen, ending her string of ar.
guments against such an engagement, by
asking him, If his life had been saved by a
common soldier, whether lie would have
thought it necessary TO unite his only
daughter TO the man as mark of graft.
tude; to which her husband smiingly re.
piled, by quoting the marriage Of David,
the shepherd boy, with the kings daughter,
in acknowledgment Of a far lighter debt.
"You know am grateful, AIlenby. God