The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-08-13
EBENsBURG, Pa THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1868.

now, for my sake, if not for your OWE"
She urged him with such depth of
feeling and anxiety that he could no long
er resist Ecr eutreEties. He yielded TO
her tears and her pcrsuasions. He was
already SO benumbed with cold that it
was with difficulty he could move but
encouraged with the hope that he would
soon return, and that his absence would
not be known he gave his arms TO the
courageous girl, placed his mantle upon
her shoulders, and having given her the
countersign, he departed
So great was the qualification which
the noblotuinded girl felt in having relieved
the distress of her lover, that she scnI cely
felt the severity of the weather, although
it was almost insufportablc.
She had been bEt short time perform
ing the role of sentinel when she was
startled by an approaching footstep. 1t
WAS The officer Of the guard making his
rounds. Surprised by his sudden appears
ance and challenge, she forgot the word
and the poor creature, trembling with
cold and disconnected, who, supposing the
sentinel was asleep or absent, approached,
was exceedingly surprised to find, instead
of soldier, a young girl, whose terror
and confusion had taken from her all
power to explain for whom and why she
was there.
They conducted her 10 the guard house,
Hnd when she had somewhat recovered
herself she burst into toars, and related
with most poignant grief how the affair
had happcued. She told them Of the
fool. -, ,,f 10
distress in which she found him at his
post, and that she had induced him 20 so
| TO the fire TO save him form the fearful
death to which lie was exposed. They
| found him, as she had told them, in so
| faint and torPid q state that it was some
tiH!e before they could get him sufficiently
aroused to give intelligent answers, When
he did become fully sensible, it was but
| to find that he must meet death more
cruel ana Doge dreadful than the one
which be had escaped. Indeed, on the
following dry, :. council Of war was held,
when, as be expected, be was condemned
in sccordancc with tho rigid military code
which had uo raercy for sentinel who
deserted his post,
1t is not possible to depict the despair
Of the unhappy girl whcu she found what
had tranepirgd Not onIy must she lose
the one most dear TO her in all the world,
| but she could not refrain from repI oach-
ing herself Ter baiDg the cause Of his fear
ful punishment.
| The bitter reflections which filled her
soul were 90 far from discoaraging her
that they animated her with new zeal aud
discrimination. She ran from place to
| place, with her hair streaming in the
wind, and her eyes ba:hed with tears, to
find come ons who could aid her in her
deep distress.
The event, SO novel and SO strange, had
already excited in all hearts feeling Of
| compassion for the two unfortunate lovers
No one could fail to admire The courage
and devotion of the young girl who had
given such proofs Of her tender affection
! The citizens of all classes made haste tc
show The interest which they felt IN the
two young persons, and especially person
| ages of rank were quick to use their good
offices to obtain some mitigation of the
| rigors of the military law. The ladies
above all, for they regarded the young
heroine as an ornament and an honor TO
! their sex. hastsned 10 show thsir generous
| appreciation of her noble conduct. They
used all their address, their prayers ana
their entreaties to procure pardon for
| the offender.
OF course they succeeded The mag
unanimous girl had the satisfaction not
merely of saving her unhappy lover, but
in short time she received a handsome
dowry, to which every one seemed aux-
ious to contribute. She was united in
marriage with the youth Who was now
more than ever dear TO her because of the
sad scenes through Which they had passed.