The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-07-06

Il
1 claimed.
Il have found him at length-the pre-
server of nv life whose image for three
years has filed my waking and sleep
4 ing hours, Alas how have l found
| him in arms against my father and my
/ fellow citizens Already his name has
i inspired me with terror, for he has been
/ first in the attack What is my worth
less life in comparison with the liberty
and safety of my country! Oh how l
/ have wasted wears in the expectation of
meeting my preserver, and now find
/ him my bitterest foe.
Her tears fell in torrents Th.re is
no calamity so hard to bear as that
/ which overthrows years of self-delusion.
\ Ellen had lost no actual good; but the
castle she had erected was now laid pros
I trate and she stood desolate among its
/ ruins.
I The darkness of night came on. The
I rain had descended for several days, and
now fell in torrents. ct the young
/ count walked as sentinel around the tent
which contained his fathers charge. He
/ had recognized in her the beautiful girl
/ that he had so fortunately befriended IN
/ the valley of Lauterbrunn and though
! since that event he had often thought OF
her, his was active and busy life, and he
had not. like Ellen. wasted days and
nights in castle building. Man yields to
present emotion, but woman can live on
ideal happiness. He fully believed that
4 he should see her no more, and ceased
to think of her; whereas she had con
sidered her destiny as united to his, and
1 looked forward with confidence TO the
moment they should meet. 1t was not
with indifference that the young man
now beheld her.
A tide of passion rushed over his soul.
Perhaps he read his influence in the
/ depth of her emotion He gazed upon
the tent she occupied, and wished 1T were
his duty to share it with her. But this
. can never be-" thought he. ITO morrow,
soon as the morning dawns, l must be
first to PROSTATE the walls of her native
place. and perhaps l am doomed to
destroy her father. Would that | had
never seen her, and then | should have
gone cheerfullv to battle" A new idea
struck him. Perhaps Ellen might have
/ influence enough TO persuade her father
to surrender, without risking fI'uit!ess
I opposition at least he would make the
attempt With cautious steps he ap
/ preached the curtain, and spoke in low
/ voice.
WHO calls 7" said she.
1T is YOUR guard, count Papcnheim,
said he MAY | ask conference with
YOU? / have business to communicate
respecting your father"
Ellen made no reply, and, raising the
curtain, he entered. The traces of tears
were still on her face.
Il come, said he, .'to inform You that
early to morrow morning we attack the
walls of Soleure. They must fail; all
| opposition will be useless. The lives
/ that are dear to you may be sacrificed
in their defence, and the blood of your
! citizens deluge the streets; but it is all
I in vain. | come to beg YOU to use your
influence with your father to spare this
useless conflict Write, and l Will see
that he has the letter before morning.
/ Tell him that we know the state of the
town, that it is without ammunition, and
/ that the walls are tottering. BY resisting,
ruin is inevitable, by capitulating he may
obtain honorable terms
When the young man entered. Ellen
had flung herself on a seat, pale, trem-
/ bling, and shrinking from his view; and
! as he proceeded, the color mantled in
! her checks, and when he had ended, she
stood erect. rely not too much on the
weakness of our recources, SAID she,
( lit is for freedom we are contending. and
every L an feels that he is a host Do you
i think that If nv father would listen to
terms, he would have sent me, his only
/ tchild among his enemies for protection?
/ No, he will shed the last drop of his
/ blood for his country; and, were l to
propose capitulation he would spurn my
/ letter You must do your duty but re-
member it is against the innocent you
war. and make not the life you once pre-
served" continued she. bursting into
tears. .'valueless, by taking that of my
fathers.
Its said there is wonderful power IN
woman's tears, for so it would seem, for
the young man appeared to foreget his
errand. At length he said:
Il give YOU my solemn word that your
fathers life, so far as is consistent with
my duty. shall be guarded as my own.
4 You will kno him." said she, ..by his
white hair. by his firm yet mild demeanor,
ny his resolution rather to die than yield
But, added she with dignity, every
+ citizen resembles him in his determine
ton: all are my fathers or brothers"
loud noise was heard ut a distance
The soldier rushed from the tent. A
fearful strife had begun, OF nature
4 Ii is we'll known with what oyerwhel-
ming fury the Aar sometimes ruShes
along. destroying and laying waste the
coutry through which its passes. Six
days of incessant rain had increased its
waters TO an alarming height, and besides
deluging the country around, its waves
rose alarmingly high. and spurned all
restraint The greatest CONSERVATION
I prevailed throughout the army All were
in motion. They only hopethat remained
was from the brihge that bound both
shores 1t was built Of stone. and they
hoped it might resist the force of the wa
ters, and TO secure this object. was their
Immediate aim. 1t was necessary to
load 1t with immense weight, and Leo
pold ordered men and horses to this post
1t IS our only chance" said he; IF the
bridge gives way we are lost
The danger every moment increased.
Nothing could exceed the horror of the