Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-04-09


through the door, but was seized by
Wilmer, and, With the assistanoe Of the
officer, was soon bound securely and led
back into the house, where Mike had sue
ceeded in striking light
Il Leading the prisoner close to the candle
Wilmer gazed upon him with mute aston
ishment. In the scuffie, his red wig and
false e~hiskers had fallen of, and there stood
undisguised, the veritable Capt Fritz Of
fort notoriety. For a moment, Wilmer
was too much surprised to speak, but see-
ing Fritz, associated Ida, and snatching
the candle, he exclaimed ~.
a "Hold the william, Mike, whilst I search
abovei" And sprining up the steps, he
threw keen glance around the room, and
saw, in, one corner, the object of his search
pale and trembling, bandage over her
mouth and her arms tied behind her.
Modesty, even in that trying moment, pre-
vented her from rushing into The arms Of
her deliverer--for she was clad only in the
garments she had worn to bed. But Will
mer saw, or beeded, not this, and hastily
removing the bandages, clasped her in his
arms and imprinted kiss after kiss upon
her lips, in speechless emotion, whilst she
wept and smiled and blushed. f,
"Dear Charlesl" she said, looking up
into his face, care my troubles never to
have an end?"
"They are ended now, dear Ida. The
chief cause Of them all,-Capt. Fritz
will, hencefcrth, be powerless, and only
give me the legal right to protect you, and
? if it is in the power of man to shield you
from harm, you shall be secure and happy
win you not now discard all conditions,
and promise to bo mine2'
Iwill, dear Charlesl And oh, how Darn
, estly will | strive, by life of devotion, to
repay love 80 noble and services SO in
estimable as you have conferred upon mel
b But love, however ardent, is not proof
against the chilling effect of frosty night,
, and Ida's involutary shivering first ap-
priced her lover that her only protection
against the cold was her night
dress. Hastily taking off his cloak, and
: carefully wrapping her in it, he called to
Mike to order the carriage to the door,
and, with Ida in his arms, decended the
steps, She shuddered on seeing Fritz,
and nestled the closer in the manly arms
that were henceforth to be her shield. VIII
mer cast one withering glance at the guilty
shrinking wretch, but forbore to taunt him
> with his crimes; and requesting the officers
to conduct both prisoners safely to Jail, he
placed Ida in the carriage, seated himself
, beside her, and, driven by Mike, they soon
reached the residsnce of Col. Mason
; whence Ida had been abducted, by means
. Of false keys.
10 Whilst these incidents were in progress.
e Gen. Holmes had reached the city, and
= going direct to Col. Mason's, where ht
knew his daughter was residing, and, late
= as it was, ordered her to be informed Of hi.
. arrival. Great was the Consideration o.
~ both father and uncle on learning that sh'
. was nowhere to be found about the house
> The Colonel Immediately dispatched
II messenger for Wilmer, whose services b,
70 thought would be invaluable in such al
~ emergency. But he, too, was missing
8 and learning that Wilmer was in the city
70 the General at once inferred an elopement
y and was almost beside himself with rage
o But before he could form any resolution
's the door opened and Wilmer entered, bear
ing Ida in his arms, that her bare fee
70 might not be chilled by exposure.
y Ida, with cry Of delight, sprang for
= ward to throw her arms around her fathe
~ but he waved her back, saying, in voic
'e hoarse with passien-"I must first knoV
AZ that you are worthy, Ida and as prelimi
0i nary step, let me deal with that villainl"
~ The last word he intended to address +
Wilmer, but on looking towards the dool
found that he was gone-a sense of deli
cay forbiding him to enter the room, unde
ks the circumstances,
"A "Since the wretch has fed" said th
Ia General to Ida, ~ will hear your versiO
"a Of the story"
"Not whilst you are angry, father, wi
"a you hear word of explanation from m,
IN Already have you done wrong to the ma
to whom you owe your life, and 1, m
On honor and in addition, you have cast a
to imputation upon my character, Of whic
to you should be ashamed. When you al
in fitting mood to listen, I shall be read
III to satisfy you in every particular, but
n am neither culprit nor child TO be made