The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-05-07

saDguinary conflict, we arc sorry to mel
ton Captain james llardiDg, of -
lie immortalized himself in the battle
and fell os we fear m0rtally wounded
wble stormlng a strong position Of tn,
enemy on the heights. His arm wa,
utterly shattered while his hand was on
the enemy's flagstaff, even and he fell. q
deep saber cut on the head, and a bulle,
through the shoulder. But for NINA
ture he wore, lance would have reach
ed his heart. He has been delriou.
since the battle and raves of mother anc
OF one whose likeness be had about BIN
Tale and silent as corpse, Bell Pal
mer sat long time after she read the
paragraph, lost in deep and painful
thought. 4 tear fually wellcd over th,
lid, aud tremor crcpt slowly arounc
the half parted lips.
Thing, bad changed with the proud
farmer since Harding had left. A wilo
speculation had ruined him, and left him
again poor. Taking advantage of these
circums tancGs, RuYtou, the merchant
sui,or, bad pressed matters, and warily
won from Palmer, promise 10 compel
Bell to MARY him, for Which he was to
aid the frrmer with money. The farm
er had yielded weakly to the temptation
Offered, and cruelty commenced his pur.
pose Of compelling Bell to accept Rux-
cons offer ofimmediatc marriage Bell
was in trouble and the light Of her eve
faded. She loathed the sensual Ru1ton
and still CLING devoutly TO her love for
Harding Finally, with a frmuess as
unyi4idiug as his own, she had told her
father thst she could never marry Rnx-
ton. These were dark days for the girl
and at timos she sank under their sor-
rows.
The news from Buena Vista, changed
the current Of her thoughts. She only
thought Of Harding, mairucd and suffer
ing, and perhaps dying, for the want of
care. Her Likeness. had guarded his
brave heart in the hour of conflict, and
should she not hasten to stand by his
side when the gentle hand was needed (:
a bold purpose had been formed in
the mind Of Bell Palmer. Only to the
mother Of Harding did she reveal it
Mrs Harding, while protesting against
such a sacrifice yet wept with gratitude
at such devotion. Bell knew that a fam
lily in the neighborhood we're to leave
by the next steamer, and she determin-
ed to take the same vessel for Vera
Cruz, Quietly aud calmly she carried
out her plans, thus hoping to escape the
alliance of Ryxton and the cruel impor-
tunings OF her mcrcenary father Lcav-
ing letter for her mother, in which she
told her determination to marry Hard
ing il alive, aud thus avert step worse
than death, she went on board, and was
soon on the strange and hazardous jour
ney
The illness Of Harding passed from
weeks iuto months, and still his iron
frame aud constitution wrcstled with his
wounds. One day, after many aud i'm.
pctuou,ly attempting to mount horse,
be was again attacked with dclirium -
A truc-hearlrd couptryman had taken
the Captain to his bone, aud cxtcsded
all that generous hospitality could do,
during his protracted illness. The inva-
lad finally dropped off into a slumbcr,
aud dreamed Of home, and its cherished
ones. lie awoke, refreshed and sane,
but vept like child as, with his ouly
arm, he attempted to rise.
Manned y he said bitterly forever
wrecked, and bat one arm to aid nv
shattered body through life. Tho-c at
homc would not'-aud he spoke sadly
aud bitterly recognize James Hard
Ing iu this miserable wreck. Yes he
the mother would she is
always true aud always loves
And cannot another love as truly,
aud gipe an arm for the lost, you noble
one
Harding thought it lovely dream
passing over his bcwildcrod scnccs 49,
That voice was ike the oae so sacredly
-c-embcrcd, and he closed his eyes,
Is if to listen as long as possible to the
zones
"A dream he said with a sigh.