, 1862-08-14


oppression and disgrace. Ere that time dear
mother, shall be beyond the reach Of earthly
inOnarchs."
"God bless you, William!" cried the mother
enthusiastically, grasping his hand. Your
fathers spirit speaks in you. He died on the
battle field with those sentiments in his heart
and freely give yOu-my only son and hope
to the glorious cause which his blood and that
Of thousands Of others has hallowed."
For several days the intrepid young officer re-
maned beneath his mothers roof, supposing his
presence to be known only to themselves. But
one evening at the end Of his furlougb, when he
was beginning to think about preparing for bis
secret departure, an officer and six men appeared
at the door, snd said he had orders TO arrest one
William Ruggles, supposed to be somewhere in
the dwelling.
"why, that is my son." said the widow, in
great trepi1atiOn.
$50 much more likely that he should be here,
then," was the unfeeling reply.
"And for what would you arrest him, and
what will be done with him when iOundi"
ave shall take him for spy, and if found
guilty, he will be hung, Of course as every cursed
rebel should be. Here you, Bent and Walters
begin the search; and you, Jnnes and johnson,
remain where you are. "Sharp, now, all Of
you'll Let the fellow be taken alive if possible
woman, if he Is In the house, Of which we are
strongly assured, let him appear, and save your
self much trouble; otherwise the consequences
be on your head"
"If you think my son Is in the house, search
to your hearts content" returned the mother, ex
tern lily calm, Internally suffering.
And forthwith the search began.
Meantime, the young lieutenant who had
heard enough to comprehend his danger, had 8 !
about to effect his escape, but not altogether as
he had at first intendei. He went on to the
roof 1t is true; and tied the long rope to the
chimney, casting one end Of il down toward the
street, but this only far blind. He had seen that
the bricks Of the dividing wall, between the
houses occupied BY his mother and one or two
adjoining buildings, had been loosely put up
under the ridge-pOle, and his present design was
to remove few Of these, crowd through into
the loft Of the other house and then replace them
This purpose he succeeded in effecting beiore
the soldiers searching for him came up near
enough To hear the little noise he was compelled
to make. The open trap-doors Of the roof, and
the rope around the chimney, served to mislead
them, as he had hoped, and Il was with intense
satisfaction that he had heard them announce
the manner of his escape. Immediately after
the whole party left in haste, first threatening
Mrs. Ruggles with subsequent vengeance, for
harbOring, coneealing and conniving at the es.
cape Of rebel spy, even though the man were
her own son.
When fully satisfied that the soldiers had gone,
young Rnggies attempted to return to his moth.
rris dwelling by the way he had left, but in
again displacing the bricks for this purpose, one
Of them fell down through an open trap-door,
upon the floor below, making great noise. In
mediately after, light flashed up through the
opening, and 4 timid female voice demanded who
was therel
Here was dilemma. Should the young SOL
dier reply, he would be exposed and should he
keep silence, q search would be made which
might prove more serious IN its consequences.
What was To be doneg A sudden inspiration
seized him. II was a womah's voice, and wO-
men are seldom steeled to pity. He would make
himself known to her, appeal to her symPathies,
and throw himself upon her mercy.
Lady" he began in gentle tone, calculated
to reassnre his fair hearer, "be not alarmed;
am friend in distress, son Of your next neigh
Dor. am hunted as a spy by British soldiers,
and Il found my life will be forfeited. II you
cannot pity me- for Gods sake, pity my poor
mother, and assist me for her sakel"
He presented himself at the opening to the
LOFT, and boldly descended the stairs leading
down from It directly before tho lady, . sweet
beautiful girl Of eighteen, who stoOd W tn light
in her hand, and seemed dumb and mOtionless,
with cOmmingling Of fear, surprise and curios.
ity. The young man continued to speak as he
descended and hurriedly went on to narrate all
that had occurred, concluding with the search Of
the soldiers and his escape into the LOFT above.
Thank God i Is in my power to- aid you,
sirl" were the first words spoken by the girl
spoken with look and feeling Of sympathy that
made the heart Of the young soldier bound with
strange emotions.
She then went on to tell him. that cousin from
New Jersey, about his size and build, and look.
ing not unlike him, was then on a visit to the
family, having pass from General Howe. This
pass she had been looking at, and by accident, Il
was in her possession, the cousin having gone
out with the rest Of the family and fIrgottvn it,
"Take il and Ay, aud may God preserve you I"
she said al can arrange il With my kinsman.
can have lost il, and he can easily procure
another"
She hurried down stairs, throwing cloak on
his shoulders on the lay, which she insisted upon
his wearing, saying that il had belonged to de-
ceased brother and he could return il any future
time. S.,e then FASTENED to get the pass, which
she placed 10 his hand, and urged him 10 60 at
once.
"If IcOuld but sec mother for 4 moment" be
said.
"No, no-leave all to mel will explain all
to her go while you can, before it IL tho late"
God in Heaven bless you, sweet ladyl he
said, impulsiVey seiZng her hand, and touching
it to his lips; II will never forget you"
The next minute he was gone. lie escaped.
And true TO his declaration, he never did fOrget
the sweet girl who brfriended him In his hour
Of peril. Years aiter, the honorable wife Of Gen.
Ruggles was many time heard 10 tell Of her
first romantic meeting with him she loved, then
hunted fugitive from the Continental army.
An EngIshman in Bavaria, when examined By