The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-01-08
COL DEM. --V0L. XXXII....NO. AZ.

Ills awful voice startled us ike clap
Of thunder, as he poured out upon us
whole string OF regimental oaths, old
and new. Isprang up before him. So
phia, without losing her presence of
mind, did the same. We were on the
point of excusing ourselves, II there re-
ally was any thing to be excused. But
he would not allow us to utter word.
"Silencc!" shouted he, as if, instead
of two poor sinners, he had to deal with
a couple ofregiments Of fcavalry. "You,
Sophia, depart to-morrow-and you,
M. Lieutenant, will please ask your
dismissal, and quit the province or
you are a dead man."
With this he turned upon his heel
and left the room. l must confess, the
prudence Of the man in the midst of his
fury was worthy of admiration; for l
hold it was very prudent in him that
he left us alone; we had still much to
say TO each other.
The countness Sophia stood there in
the middle of the room with her pret-
ty head sunk upon her breast, and her
hands negligently folded before her like
q statue.
"Oh Sophia !" said l, and rushed TO-
wards her, and folding her in my arms,
pressed her fervcntly to my heart: $50
phia, now lose you forever
"No," she replied firmly, mot forey-
er so long as breathe shall your inn
age live in my heart" And this was
said in tone-Oh, with voice that
thrilled every nerve in me.
"Am l really dear toyou, Sophia ?"
whispered, and pressed my burning lips
to her rosy mouth. She did not say
yes, she did not say no, but she return
ed my kiss, and the earth went from
under my feet my soul was no longer
in the body; 1 touched the stars
knew the happiness of the seraphim.
She wept her sobs recalled me to
myself.
go Sophia" cried I, sinking at her
feet and embracing her knees: 81 swear
it to you, am yours alone as long as I
breathe and wherever my fate shall
bear mel"
A deathlike silence ensued. Our
souls were silently swearing eternal fl
deity. Suddenly something fell upon
the floor. 1t was the unfortunate bean,
to which we owed all our wretchedness.
l took it up, arose, and held it out to
Sophia, saying, "This is the work of
Providence! l will keep it as remem-
brancer of this evening""
"Yes, it is provi dence!" whispered
she, and turned and went into the next
room.
The following morning, or rather in
the night, she travelled off. The colo
mel treated me on parade with the
most scornful coldness. l applied for
my dismissal, received it and went Off
Whittier cared not. Friends gave me
letters to Petersburg and supplied me
with travelling money.
"It is a providence !" thought /, and
started for the rough North. Sophia
was lost 10 me forever; nothing re.
manned to me but the painful remem.
brance and the bean. This had set in
god, and / have now faithfully worn il
next my heart for two-and-forty years
My letter soon obtained for me 9
lieutenant's commission. Iswas some.
what Indifferent to life, and so was
somewhat brave. / fought in Asia and
Europe, got booty, honor, orders, ant
whatever else soldier desires. Aftel
some twenty years / got to be lieuten
ant-colonel. | had grown old! my, ear
iy history was, indeed, forgotten, but
nota bcne! the bean was still dear tt
me.
When | Wns taken prisoner hy tho
JanissarieS at the battloOf Hinburn, il
the year 'SS,-we had hot day Of it
the prince of Nassau made his cause
good by the way,-thcy stripped me o
everything; but the sacred bean they
did not find; it was completely soaked
in blood. / expected nothing bu
death. For two days | was dragged
about by the niidrls but, necessarily
pursued hy our cavalry, they at last lef
me lying half dead. So our people
found me. Thcy took pity on me and
carried me to the hospital, and, TO com
plttc my restoration, was sent at thI
head Of II transport back to Moscow.
The repose pleased me. l had t,
live, and therefore life became dear tC
me. After twenty years service and
seven honorable wounds, | could rea
sonably look for an honorable dismis
sion. ! received it with pension; tha
was all very we'll, but, nota bene!
was not long contented. Moscow is al
agreeable city, but for one Of US, whC
are no merchants, rather dull. Peters
burg is beautiful place, but all il
splendOr was not enough to make mt
forget the little town where had beer
in garrison twenty years before will
Colonel Won Obcndorf, and, nota bene
with Sophia.
There WAS nothing to delay me. "D
you not wish once more to see the littl,
town, and, perhaps, also the beloved o
thy youth, who is now either grand
mamma, or is--dead ?" Blessed heaven
how much she must have changed il
the meantime! thought /.
received my passports and depart
ed. L looked about me in all the cite
through which passed, for l had moth
ing to hasten me, and so / approached
our former garrison town.
How my heart beat when saw tn
black. pointed church'spire with it
golden hall, ri,v behind the nfn,er0u
gardel and orchards! but, uoi;, o uc
it was not the spine; but Thought "
Sophia, and that her grave might lac
be far from th, srire, ...
No one In the town knew MT. Ii
very true, - quarter OF ~ ceninry i
long lime. The regiment to which
formerly belonged was no longer there
and the station was occupied by dra