North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-11-19

of love and affection were allowed to remain
dormant within my breast A lieutenants
commission in the --th regiment was OBJ
tanned for me. A few days before / was to
join my regiment, rambled forth among the
cliffs that overlooked the sea. The day was
calm and beautiful, scarce ripple ruffiedIthe
bosom of the ocean, and the sun sinking in
the west threw crimson glare over the sur
face that rendered the scene ihdescribably
gorgeous and enchanting.
While gazing and Illuminating, loud and
plerceing shrek Of distress broke the still
ness of the air. | saw the futter of white
garment in the sea fastened to the spot
and sprung in-she sunk ere reached her
she rose, and [ grasped her nanimate form,
and reached the shore in safety with my
precious burden. Precious precious indeed
comrade. Lying upon my breast unconscious,
the declining sun throwing its mellow rays
all around US, she looked like peri dreaming
of her grottoes and arbors beneath the deep
blue sea. She was was one of the most beau
self faultlcss blonde, and you have the pic
ture of my lost angel. Assistance soon reach
ed Us, and she was conveyed to her fathers
house. BY interrogatng the villagers,
learned that she was the daughter of Mr..
Fitzgerald, the village curate they all loved
her, and never mentioned her name without
invoking her blessing. The next day | call
ed upon Madaline Fitzgerald She received
mewlth becoming modesty, and thanked me
sweetly and earnestly for the service had
rendered her, in which she was joined by the
kind aad venerable curate. IL is enough to
say that | soon fondly loved Madaline Fitz-
gerald, and hat she recprocated my passion.
BY many excuses, l delayed joining my reg
lment. Days, weeks-ay, months-slipped
happily by. At length, yielding to my ur-
gent entreaties, she accompanied me to
neighboring village, where we were secretly
married.
AT last, too soon came the day that we
must part. My regiment was ordered to In
'dia to assist in quelling the terrible Sepoy
quarters imme diately. There was no DISC
| beying this summons, and we had to part
pictured to her that it would not be long
ore | returned-that | should proudly pro-
claim her before the world as my cherished
beautiful bride, and that We should live SO
happily. Ay, dear comrade,' L told her we
should live SO happily. She smiled amid her
tears, and kissed me DER and oer. At last
| tore myself away; I to rush into the smoke
and crash of battle, and she to remain and
comfort her venerable father, who had lost
the dear partner of his bosom while NADIA
line was but an infant.
.Well, comrade, | served through that
horrible and bloody Indian campaign-was
with Haveock at Lucknow, and in every
other important engagement But while
friends died around me, smitten by fell dis
ease, or were struck down by the fatal bull
let, escaped, unscratched The memory
of my sainted Madaline sustained me through
every scene of hardship and danger. 1t seem
ed like her love threw around me a shield
that made me invulnerable. At length the
Sepoys were queled and subdued, and my
regiment was ordered home. Joyful, joyful
news to me then but 'twere far better had
| been left with the dead ! After long, and
to me, veal isome voyage, | reached home
[ had beel gazetted to captaincY.
81 almost few up the rocky path leading
to my darlng's cottage. Ipeeped in through
the telised window-she was seated in the
little parlor, weeping. | rushed in, and
clasped her in my arms. She uttered loud
scream, and tainted. She soon revived; and
then learned that her kind father had died
during my absence. My presence, however,
dispelled her sorrow and gloom, and we were
happy-very happy. Such paradise on
earth for me could not last long.
81 told her that the day was not far off
when would openly proclaim her my wife,
I proceeded to the sombre mansion of my pa
rents. Its gloom chilled me. entered the
boudor of my mother. She arose, and cold
| ly kissed me, and said / looked handsome in
my uniform. GO Lady Blanche she said
would make fitting wife, indeed, for you"
Lady Blanche who could she be l car
ed not Madaline was mine.
My father entered, and greeted me in his
stern, proud way, and coldly, yet kindly, con-
| graduated me on my promotion. 1t only re-
mained for me, he said, to contract noble
matrimonial alliance, to gid my future life
with honor. I listened, with an aching
heart, and, making some excuse, left the
apartment:
"Thus it continued for some time. Days
and weeks happily glided by. l was seldom
absent from Madaline, living in the sunlight
of her glorious love. All, comrade these
were happy days-alas too soon to be
| hIasted