Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-02-21

want, went to the garden, took up the
treasure, and buried it in another place,
under tree. She then as silently return
ed to her bed, her mind relieved of the
heavy load of anxiety that had but few
moments ago oppressed her. Now, she
thought, the treasure will not be the cause
Of any difficulty with her faithful Sallie.
The widow had not long retired, how
ever, before the advance guard of Sher-
mans army made its appearance and be-
gan to enter the city the tramping of
horses and the clanking of sabres told the
terror stricken citizens that the much
dreaded destroyer was in their midst
The citizens were aroused, and consterna-
ton and excitement prevailed The Wild
ow went to her room to see what had be-
come OF Sallie. She was not there, nor
could she be found anywhere about the
premises Had she, terrified and alarmed
at the approach of the enemy, ran off and
concealed herself So thought the conf
ding lady, who seemed to be more con-
cerned about her servants safety than her
own She could have borne with some
degree of composure and resignation the
loss of her hidten treasure, but her gloo
my forebodings concerning her servant
really distressed her.
Finally the infantry entered the city.
The widow, solitary and alone, and with
a sad and responding heart, stood at her
window, watching the rough-l looking sol
diers as they passed her dwelling, After
a while the columns halt, and squads Of
soldiers are seen going about the streets,
entering she houses, and robbing the peo-
pie of everything valuable they can find.
Presently she observes squad approach
ing her house, and her immuculate and
adorable ,SoHie-ycs, twas her arm-in-
arm with two Of them, conducting them to
her house; and SO eagerly were they in
pursuit of the treasure, that they passed
through the house into the garden, with
out noticing or speaking to the astonished
and terrified widow, straight to the spot
where the treasure had been deposited -
To throw away the loose earth with the
spade was but the work Of moment, but
the corete9 treasure uas not there! The
robbers were Disappointed, and an ashy
paieness stole over the treachous girls
face. She protested that it had been bu-
ried there, OR near there. Determined.
however, not to give up The search, they
dug up the whole square and examined it
SO thoroughly that they became convinced
it was not there. They upbraided the
treacherous girl with having either stolen
it herself or practiced deception upon
them They no longer credited her story,
and determined to infict summary pun
ishment upon the no,g crcst-fallen and con-
founded criminal. In their rage and NOR
tifeation at being thus treachously dealt
with, as they supposed, they tore off limbs
from the tree under which the treasure had
been last buried, and then and there, mer-
cilessly, administered to her tremendous
aagellation The widows pet was so bad.
ly injured BY the drubbing that she had
to be carried to her mistress house, and
medical aid sent for The widow witness
ed these transactions with mute astonish-
ment and wonder. The girl soon recov-
cred sufficient strength to leave the scene
LOT so base transaction, never to return
and the widow regarded the affair as spe-
cial interposition of Providence in her be-
half
When leaving, to complete, if possible,
the destruction Of the home Of that gallant
and brave cavalier, WADE HAMPTON, the
enemy set fire to the city and burned the
greater portion of it to ashes TIE wild
ow's mansion was consumed with the rest.
After the soldiers were gone, she webt to
the garden and recovered her buried treas.
ure. 1t aeas all she had left-her house
and all its furniture was heap of smould-
ering ruins.
Mr.. Wilson introduced q hill IN