Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-11-13

'-''40 ~ AoACI ol duItu, Win btamInr
smile; then the dreadful conviction thai
II was the last glimpse of life and love
/ mat would ever be hers then all was
darkness.
The horses which had borne Leila and
Willard, dIspossessed of their riders ;
rushed back TO the fort Clifford read a
tale OF horror IN their empty saddles aud
loose flowing brides Mounting one he
rode with the speed of an eagle to The ia
tai spot. The unfortunate Willard still
lived though life was fast ebbing. He
was supported in the arms of the soldiers
who gazed alternately on his pale and al
terlng features and the beautiful body re-
clining near. Wha, a spectacle for
young and admiring husband! There
she lay-his fair young brlde-whom he
had lured from her happy home only TO
be the victims OF the red mans wrath
No mark of violence was visible no blood
oozed from the wound, which closed as
soon as 1t was made. Her long fair hair
loosened and flowing, sreamed around
her in the hands of pale gold and gllst-
ened with mournful lustre on her dark
riding dress. The glow of life still lin
gered on her cheek but her eyes-,hose
large loving, pensi~e, blue eyes, now
half closed we're fixed and CLASSY.
Captain" murmpred the expiring
Lieutenant, :" | would die happy could
have saved your wife. Oh, my captain,
it is YOU who die!
Clifford, eho stood as ie tranSfxed.
gazed on his slaughtered wife and dying
friend, he uttered loud and bitter cry
and threw himself by the side of her
whom he would have died to ransom from
death. He folded his arms around her,
and covered her cold lips and cheeks
with kisses, such as JOY "ne'er knew"
He called upon her, by every fond and
endearing name to look at him, to speak
and tell him that she lived.
In the midst of his frantic adiurations
the soul of the brave young Willard pass
ed to his God. Oh, for mothers bo-
som, on which he could have piIlowed his
fainting head Oh, for sisters arm to
support his sinking frame! Bit the SOL
dier's death pillow is the cold ground and
his last sigh is breathed up to The heav-
ems bending over him.
We will not auemp, to describe the
suferinss Of the unhappy Clifford. For
time ii threatened to unthrone his rea-
son, heightened as it was by the biterest
remorse. a dreadful task awaited him
to write TO her parents and inform
them of the mournful tragedy This be-
ing done, he felt as the criminal does
while the doom he breads is impending
over him. He expected to be looked al
in the light of a murderer; for had it MOI
been for him, Leila might still be warm
with life, and youth and 10y With trem-
bling hands he broke ,he letter which
came in reply to his, communicating the
fatal tdngs. Il contained no word of
reproach, no language of bitterness. II
enreated him 10 come back, bearing with
him all that was LEFT OF The Ill .ated Le-
liza to come and take sons place in
their darkened home and sorrowing
hearts.
Captain Clifford obtained a furough.
and fulfilled the wishes of he mourning
parents. It was a sad meeting, but rec
ouciIalion, born of sorrow, made II hal
lowed.
Enbalmed by the tears of her young
companions, the remains OF Leila were
deposited in her native soil. Remem-
brance Of her fault was lost in pity for
her antimely doom. They could not
speak harshly of one who had expatialed
her disobediance by her life.
:" Had | only forgiven her!' was the
burden Of her fathers heart. Oh. had
| only forgiven
Yes faIiabIe and erring beings that
we are, let rs forgive as We pray ID be
forgiven by our Father in Heaven. Let
not pardon be delayed till the heart it
would have gladdened is cold beneath the
clod Of the valley. The relenting voice
cannot penetrate the deep, dark abyss of
the grave. No one ever mcurned for hav-
ing followed the example Of Hun who
forgave even His murderers with HIS
expiring breath; but many hare sorrow-
ed when too late, over The inexorabIe {
viii, and the severe, though Just decree.