The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-07-27

eign merchandise, at the age of twenty-five, he
found himself wealthy man. But through all
the trials and tolls of these years of nautical
exile, Walter Stanley never forgot his old perse-
cutor.
Wherever he went the old scenes of agony
were fresh in his memory. The scowling face of
the tyrant of his youth was ever present to ex-
cite his revengeful hatred, and he determined to
have day of retribution yet. And, if to
keep alive and perpetuate the remembrance of
the scenes which he had undergone, while his
ship lay in an italian port, he engaged a cele
brated artist to portray upon canvass, at his die
tation, several of those scenes which were most
painfully recollected by him. Thelpictures
done to the life, and the tyrant and his victim,
suffering and infcting, were again visible in
terrible reality. The unexampled series of por-
traitures were brought home by Captain Stanley
on his last voyage before the time he had set for
the contamination of his revenge.
For twelve years he had not visited the city
from which he had gone forth a trembling out
cast. He was now strong, bold, handsome and
wealthy man, whom even Luroy, who thought
him dead by this time, would have failed to rec
ognize. In pursuance of inquiries, he soon as
certained that Luroy still lived in the old house
with his niece, who was now grown into the
beauty of developed womanhood. But the ty-
ranthad become poor through deserved reverses,
and neghbor informed Captain Stanley that he
was about to force marriage between his come
ly niece, over whom he exercised complete
domination, and a wealthy merchant to whom
she was betrothed though averse and through
whom Luroy expected, by the sacrifice of Nelly,
an ample pecunary reward.
20 You are sure she does not love him ?'' asked
Walter of his informant.
"You would say 50, if you could see her pale
and sad face" was the reply. "The man has a
selfish and brutal look and behavior, and is old
enough to be the father of the young lady"
Walter at once wrote to her, appointing time
and place for an interview, and it was soon had.
Each was amazed at the alteration in the other,
and for a long time they dwelt upon the incidents
of their youth. Walter recounted his adventures
since they had parted, and told her how God had
favored him since he had escaped the clutches of
the merciless Luroy.
"But you have not escaped them yet, dear
Nel1y,' continued he. "Yet you may, if it is
your will to do so.''
at is, indeed! O, how long for a friend and
protector who will save me from marriage
which will be like death to me- exclaimed
Nelly, vehemently. 81 have suffered the per-
secution of that fiend till my heart is well nigh
broken"
"You shall suffer it no longer, Nelly. BE
mine-be my wife. You are Of legal age to
| choose. And I will make you mine with dou-
BILE joy, to think that in snatching you from his
power and from future wretchedness, it will do
much to pay off old scores."
Nelly Edgerly gave joyful consent, and il
was at once decided that the marriage should be
solemnized on the following evening, at the
house of friend, and under peculiar circum-
! stances. at
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