The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-02-16
I. I. Is, 1854.

l 4 jazz Ivy l0uta1uA9 pIOAAef . HaQ Iafe'
well, and he went to join the Union hosts
to do battle for the old flag, and to-day
i6u1sy be, those two brothers are arfayeC
in deadly hostility oao some sanguinary
field of battle. ,--. ---...--.
No sooner were my brothers both gone
than the rebel -hordes descended like 81
many vampires, aud our home was pill
llaged, our lands laid waste, and We driven
to seek refuge in the embrace of an IN
/ friendly world. ...-..-. -.
There was scarcely a gleam of hope
now left me, but / resolved to do what
yet remained in my power for the -preser-
vatiou of myselfand sister, and now he
thought me. Of one who had been my
playmate in early youth. He was the son
of a rich neighbor, who I knew had al
ways been a staunch friend of my father,
and who had vowed eternal fidelity to me.
In truth, he was the only being now left
upon earth whom l dared approach as a
friend, and 1 boldly resolved to search
him Out2 and lay the case plainly before
hun. 1t was fefyordeal through which
l was determined to pass. could do
nothing more than make the attempt. So,
early in the autumn of '63 my sister and
I, after biddirg adieu to the old home
stead end visiting the silent home of the
dead, where rested the mortal remains of
our kind parents, we started in search Of
one who, | was confident, would lend a
helping hand in this dire hour Of neces-
ity. But his residence was many miles
distant, and could only be reached by a
succession of hardships, such as l shud
der to relate. For the road which we
were compelled to traverse lay, for the
most part, through the enemys country,
and it was now Einter--cold, relentless win
tr., The first day We Travelled several
miles without food, and as night drew her
sable curtains around, we were compelled
to seek shelter in an old, ctazed building
by the wayside, which hadlong since been
deserted and row stood tepsntless and
alone. , ,-.-... r...- g.. ..-o. .5
As I entered, feeling of dread came
Ger me, and l fancied | had PRESENT.
ment Of some evil about to befal u.s.
However, this was our dernieT resort, and
7 proceeded to strike light-having for
tunately provided myself with few
matches before starting. Shortlya bright
fire was burning upon the hearth, aud We
were promised night of warm, if not
sweet tepOse. l had gathered few loose
boards and placed them for bed, near
the fire, and we were proceeding to eat
crust of bread and "a few cold potatoes
which / had brought along, when upon
the winters wind was suddenly borne to
my astonishod ear, the elatter # horses
hoofs upon the fl, zen grr und Ny God J
what were we to d. I Surely they would
not harm Us Sad and fatal delusion, but
toe easily dispelledl Nearer and nearer
came floating upon the breeze the sad and
uuwelcome sound, unwelcome because we
had hoped to be left alone during the
night. Ever and anon we could now dis
tinctly hear the voices of men, mingled
with curses and execrations upon all who
should dare oppose the minions of their
leader, jeff Davis. They were now near
our abode. What could we do to avert
the impending danger? Evidently moth
ing. With. breathIess anxiety I awaited
their arrival, still vainly hoping they might
pass without deigning halt, but in this I
was disappointed. For scarcely had they
beheld the faint glimmerings Of the light
within than the order to dismouDt was
given. The first words uttered upon en-
teriug was d" Who's here and by what
?" These words, though uttered
in hoarse, demoniacai tone, brought Wv
idly to my mind he.voice of one whom
had certainly been familiar: I gazed in
a a-tonisbment like one petrifed, until my
senses began to return, and I be-
held in the person Of the, speaker the OBJ
iect Of my solicitdde. 72a
b. oft isl, Mary Ma" The words
were stifed ere could complete the5ut-
of my full name, and the fend-
[ can use no better term-ordered me to
be seated, remarkingat at the same time that
be "had seen me and knew my family.
90 The cold and heartless manner in
which these words w,Te utterod was too
much for human effort, and Isank insensi-
BILE to3the ground. IT go
81 know not how long I remained in
this situation. Suffice it to say that upon
and casting about me, The first
object which met my view was the fragile
form Of my st r, cold in tie arms Of death.
"The miserable rufians had remained |
20 10, g as it pleased them, and until the
Ere which 1 had kindIed had entirely died !
nut. During all Of which time my -por,
b, lpl5ss sister sat in one correr of the.
room, enduring the bitter blasts of the |
cold and wintry wind, an when the mis-
cream we're gone, she had endeivored tn
;rmegtO MY assistance, but before she could |
reach the sppt where l was lying, her
J Ourg sp rit had winged its Aightto more
genial cline. !
1t was sad sight truly-to see one
go young and innocent cold in the icy arms
If death, and in such situation. Fer
Teutly did I embrace that young form.
and fondy did | press it to my bosom in.
the vain endeavOr to call back the spirit !
which had so recently been an inhabitant
ot that fair clay tenement. But it was all
f no i.vaiI+=death had done It's work.
q 1T was now several hours since ( had
taken, food or punishment Of any kind,
md I was, necessarily, becoming very
weak. 1t was several miles to the nearest
ahdyperbaps; If there, Ieould
obtain no assistance, and the body of my
lister mustbe inferred. Near the roadside
[ discovered tn re Was a deep avine, the
oanss of VII ch were thickly studded with .
/ growth Of hazle; aud in that ravine, Sc
lent and alone, resolved to lay her young
body. It must have been sume super
natural power that nerved me for the task
Gently I lifted her now stiffened form and |
silently wended my way to the hidden re-
,essts of that dark and lonesome place.
bad not proceeded but short distatce
lntl observed, prOtrudipg from thesur-
face of the ground, a large rock and, as
# by instinct, 1 uncOnsoiOuly changed my
,ourse, toward the spot. What was to my
surprise To find there cavern deep aud
vide. And into this caVernI determined
10 bear my burihen. / entered it, and it
seemed to me that in doing 50 l was enter
ing the charnrl house If tile dead, never.
lgaih to return. Here found a Spacious
hall capable of containing many persons,
and no sign Of any human being hrYing
ever entered it before The floor. or bot
tom, was covered with beautiful white
sand, and the walls were so perfeutin arch
tsot1,r. tb,t I nae alunosh lcd A., beliayya