The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-08-13

when the right moment arrived They forgot
that could see their shadows, and, keeping out
Of sight iust behind me, supposed ths, was
unconscious of their presence. AZ these
thoughts passed rapidly through my brain, I
claspcd my pistols tightly and resolved that if |
must fall, I would sell my life dearly.
In all my experience | have never seen so
magnificent a night as il was. The moon at the
full rolled like ball OF diamond light through
the depths of the oondess heavens, lnging
down showers of scintillant radiance that ilu.
mined the desoated country. With magical
cleafness | could see every blade Of grass in the
brown fields, every stone on the hard highway,
and as | looked back at the leaping shadows
could trace every outline with unerring distinct
meas. As we swept on the sparkling road,
kept wary eye on my pursuers, and 30 in one
of these backward gances became conscious,
with a thrill of horror, that there was a woman
with them. How it happened that l had not
seen her before did not know, hut nav there
could be no doubt there wus the long flow of
autering robes, and the shade of disordered
hair, streaming after her az ahe rushed on in the
mad race. What was she there for9 Was il
voluntary, the hcadIong speed at which this del.
icate creature was hurryng On9 No for look
ed closer and saw that her hands we're clasped
in the fierce clutches Of two soldiers yho we're
dragging her With them, aud even as listened
heard the painting sound of labored breath,
deep drawn, as if by one almost exhausted.
My blood fairly curdled with indignation and
distress, as caught on the still air the sighs of
the frail girl they we're killing in this horrible
way. She must be a prisoner or she would no!
be thus treated and set my teeth as tried
to think how l could rescue her. Even as | vas
trying to form a scheme, the ,ntanae quiet was
broken by these gasping words
"0h let me go am dying"
My God what accents were these? Over
strained, hali-s'iI ID as was the uterance, knew
only too well those ones I, wap my own Laura's
gentle vaice that pleaded thus for pity
Without piusing to wonder how she came
there, or to reason out any plan of action,
cried out wildly:
Laura, Laura, oOma to me
As if startled and astonished at my speech,
the shadows, on sudden, swept away into
darkness, and saw, for the first time, a white
figure, that came gliding down the road.
Ralph, Ralph, save me save mel"
My horse seemed scarcely to pause in his
spring, and yet in moment che wac at my side.
| held out my arms, and she swung herself up
before me on the saddle
"Lsura, my own darling
Our lips met In one long kiss, and then the
shadows came leaping after us, and the horse,
with snort of terror, rushed headlong down
the winding way. Yet the night was so lovely,
the swaying motion was so pleasant, and held
Laura so close, that l could not realize my dan.
ger and almost as in a dream, we sped on thro'
the enchanted country, until, just as the tired
horse was staggering under his double burden,
| caught the gleam of white tents over a slop-
ing hillside and knew that was close to reb-
ell camp.
One step more and felt Laura's arms around
me like letters; her long curls, glitteriDg and
odorous, tangled across me like Colleen net !;
the horse stumbled and fell heavily, and she
dragged me down helpless as if she had been
corpse. For moment l lost consciousness /,
all things seemed to sway around me, / only
saw that great troops OF soldiers came out and
surrounded us aud knew nothing more clear.
ly, till l found myself standing in the open par
ade of a rebel camp. MY hands were bound be-
hind me, and Laura vas at my eide, bound also
Before us was drawn up file of soldiers, with
loaded muskets. Around us regiment alter reg
iment, OF the hostile army, stretched away from
the hollow square, where we stood in endless
reading rapidly an order, wherein it was SET
forth that, as had been captured bearing des-
patches from the Federals, and as was known
to have been born in Virginia, was condemn
ed to be shot as a spy and deserter.
With n wild throb of agony l thought OF
Laura. She wNs on her knees, her white dress
falling round her like a saints robes her hair
cleaning like halo of glory her eyes up,urn-
ed, had already the calmness of the martyr in
their blue depths, aud her lips moved as in
prayer. tried to speak, to ask for par don ior
her, but my lips refused their utterance, aud my
tongue chung dry and parched to the roof of my
mouth. One despairing glance oves the smooth
| parade ground, and the long lines of soldier;
whose faces could distinctly see, and where
road only vindctive triumph or ptiless resolve
one shuddering look at the new-dug grave tina
yawned behind us one upward gaze at the ef
| fulgent moon, raining down in its voiceles
beauty its shimmerng rays, and with a stiheC
| groan saw the Confederate officer turn t
| his men;
/ Ready Aim! Fire
! There was a loud crash that shook the yer,
earth. The moon and the stars went out il
darkness, aud was reused from pang of agon,
with these words;
" Hello! Pierpontl Wake up, man Why
one would think you slept with the seven sleep
ers
"Eh What" cried, starting up, "ry
just been shot
"Shot Who the deuce has shot you
Here was in my room, to be sure, safe an
SOM p, Rubbing my eyes in bewilderment,
mutt cred something about the "COnfederates
and d Laura" and then, seeing the laughing fac
of MY comrade, asked;
"What sort of a night was 1t, Billf"
Raining like the deluge."
" Aud my wild rides "
Z" All dream, man, of course"
4 ID OMESTIC FARCE IN ONE SCENE
WHY is it, my son, that when you drop you
bres p aud butter, it is always on the buttere
side }"