Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-09-19

occurred which | EN- about to relate to you !"
writes the friend who has set the story down
| for me, "but so deep was the impression which
| they made on ny mind that it almost seems to
me as though the time should be counted by
months rather than years.
| was then Young officer in one of hose
regiments which had borne TIE bruut of the
earlier part of the war in the Peninsula, and
which, helng greatly reduced in numbers, were
first formed into provisional battalions, and
ultimately directed to return home. We were
none of US over well pleased with this arrange
ment neither was our great chief, who knew
the value of veteran troops, and considered the
provisional battalions among the best of his
army. But there was no help for it, aud so,
like good soldiers who know that their first
duty is obedience we received the order with
little murmuring, and prepared to obey it.
1t was necessary TO convey US for a brief
space to the rear until transports should be
ready aud few in number as we were, it was
necessary to do 50 in detachmentS | went
with several Others in the direction of the vii
| lage which had been pointed out to Us on the
route, and good fun We made of each other on
the way. Among my comrades was fellow
named Harrison, kind hearted, amabe lad,
full of fun and even mischief, but firm and un-
tiiuchiug in principle, and ever an honorable
gentleman. As TO higher considerations than
even these, we were all careless and reckless
enough thinking Of nothing so much as how we
I might best amuSe ouseves Harrison was q
prime tavorite in our corps. He was young
and handsome well knit, and capable OF en-
during any amount Of fatigue. | loved him
| rs if he had been my brother, and we were in,
| separabIe.
Well, my party and |, after wandering
about for d while, reached at length a small
aud beautiful village 1t was situated in val
ley, and was surrounded by trees, and shrubs,
and plants OF many kinds. Orange aud olive,
promegrauate and fig tree. all filed the air
with their delicious fragrance. There were
mountains too, in the distance, adding beauty
20 the scene, aud on little eminence close 10
the village stood an old half ruineu monastery,
partly covered with ivy and wild passion-how-
er, aud adorned by plantation Of beautiful
uees. On one side of the monastery lay
! lovely little lake, by the margin of which
| Harrison aud | often afterward wandered TO.
gether in the cool hours of the evening.
| Immediately on reaching the village our
attention was attracted to the old monastery,
! aud we all pronounced it to be the place of
I
men. Accordingly the few monks who still
| inhabited it were with 10 smali difficulty per
>uaded to move ont, and We very uueeremouI-
| ously took their places Tired by the toll Of
/ Iav, | had sat down, with one or two Others,
! to rest uuder cue of the large ol,ye-treeS, when
! an old monk, whom | bad noticed lowering
! about the place ever since his companions
/ left. approached Us His silver hair and beard
strgamed over his brown serge dress but
there was fierce light in bis eye which age
had not uueuched He shook his head graVely
As he came uea- aud holding up bis hand, sad:
/ "Sgnor. YOU will repent that ever You came
/ here Won Will hud no rest day nor night IN
/ this place San francesca guards his servants
with jealous care, and you will call down his
Just wrath for desecratng this sanctuary
/ None ever offend him vet TO 90 unpunIshed
/ Remember my words, Signor they are not
/ vain words "
The old man crossed himself two or three
! times aud then hurried down by the wooded
path which LED into the valley, leaving Us
rather surprised, but of course not alarmed
Harrison laughed We all laughed, finally re
sumed onr conversation, and forgot all about
! the monk
"Our next step was TO make arrangements
/ for getting supplies from the country people
/ of the neighbOrhocd, and on the whole we con-
sidered ourselves snugly and romantjcaliy dis
posed OF for some weeks TO come. For besides
the beautiful rides and walks within our reach,
We had the assurance of good fishing 10 the
lake, aud shooting in the woods and what
with rides anG walks, aud fishing aud shooting,
aud occasional dances with the village girls,
time was not likely TO hang heavy on our
hands.
/ Matters did not, however turn out exactly
as we had anticipated 1t happened one day
as | was going round inspecting the rooms,
that | noticed that the men were collected IN
I 10 knots of two and three, rather excited, aud
talking earnestly together many OF them
I forgot 10 give me the usual salute as passed,
and The expression on their faces were new and
strange aud perplexug to me. / Sad moth
+ ing. auG pretended to notice nothing unusual,
but went round thinking that perhaps the men
had some slight misunderstanding with the
SpaniardS, who, though they received Us kind
ly at first. had shown themselves 10 be violent
and quick tempered | had finished my rounds,
and was returning to my room, when heard
q ouick step behind me- The sergeant OF oDr
COMPANY came up, and touching his cap, beg
pcd 10 saw few words 10 me when | was at
leisure.
I .. l am quite at leisure now 1 said /; what
do you want 2
We'll, SIR be began, with some embar,
rassment, clearing his throat two or three
times. am sorry to trouble you, but did
von observe, Sir, how odd the men were Just
now, as you went round the room =
| did observe something unusual OUT
thought il best to take DO notice Tor TINS
once, Wha. is the matter with the men =
nWaU Sir continued the sergeant, his EN-