The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1859-06-15
CHAPTER III.

Cl1A j EN- III.
The last sad hour OF freed ms dr. am,
Ard valor's task moved slowly by
While there they watched till mornings beam
Should rise and give them light TO die
[MooRE.
We left Lieutenant Manton, upon the steps
efMajor Hanchctts dwelling; what his thoughts
were we shall not attempt to divine. The
young moon. now in her ascending node, shone
sw, etly from the southern sky throwing food
of pale silver light upon the slightly ruffled wa
ters Of the hazy Chesapeake, whose dancing
waves reflected back pale Luna's light with a
thousand sparkling stars The rippling Susque
hanna kissing the Chesapeake carries the spark
ling stars away far over the waters until they
are hidden by the mist that hung like huge
gret canopy down. II.
Moonlight shone upon the hills covered with
the dark foliage Of the forest, or wreathed by
the smokey Autumn mist; and as the nigh,
wind moaned sadly through the branches, it
seemed as if twere singing the last requiem OF
departed spirits. .a...@
Away down there at the beach, sands the
light battery, hastily thrown up to protect the
village from the smaller watering parties Of the
enemy Like dark. lowering spirits, do these
three grim old war dogs stand open mou' he'd
toward British shores and British foes, for A
nerica, right and justice.
There on the shore. near the guns, PAGES back
and fnr'h the trusty sentinel, all inutlled in his
gre at coat, to protect him from the damp ari-
sing from the Bay Anon the bright fire lock
CLEANS in the moonlight. No sound is heard
save tke murmuring waters as they meet, the
moaning wind, the measured tramp Of the guard,
or his deep "Als we'll"
"Portentious silence" uttered George audi
blv, like the calm that precedes the Storm
like that terrible silence that reigned upon the
eve of ST. Bartholmew's dark and horrid mas.
sacre; who knows what is brewing? Fanny s
words keeps ringing in m, ears, 'HoUe de Grace
TN, is doontedn" Did our hero think that the
cannon's boom would soon he heard over the
qne, scene, the incendiarv's torch light up the
v,ry he vens and tclpse the lrnar rays? Should
we anticipate?
A rustic within the shadow Of the house rou-
sed the lieutenant from the reverie into which
he had iallen Upon looking he saw low,
heavv.set figure emerge from the shade; he was
evidently past the meridian OF life, for the moon
glancing off his dewy locks showed them grey.
George passed down the steps towards him,
saying:
"Whv Abrams, is this you? Why did you
not make yourself known when first came
out?"
"Why, Capin, Iallers calls you Capin for
somehow it alters seems TO me you was alters
made for one e-you see when youcome out, you
turned your eyes owards the moon, and your
face looked so white and melancholy like, and
YOU was SO quiet, and seemed so kind Of down.
did't want to disturb it. spose it's cause
yer goin to leave tomorrow, and guess knows
the reason; it's nat'ral--I was once young my
self. I'm alone now--but sometimes I'm not
alone---whsn I'm sleepin, sometimes think ]
see her fice looking down as she used to look
when--but it'll soon be over.
"You sro moody tonight, Abrams" said
Geo,g,, ,ousing ! | nseC "Some old c ones sto-
ry has frightened you. Come, let us 60 10 the
beach," and with these words, our hero, after
wrapping his cloak closer around him, accom-
panied BY Abrams moved silently down to the
landing,
James Abrams was one of that strange class
Of people who gain livelihood by fishing along
the Chesapeake whose minds are forever borne
down by continual gloom, caused by the pc.
clliarities Of their calling. Used to being out
upon tho water alone for weeks at a time--otten
seeing their fellow fisherman 50 cut, and never