The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-05-28
TALES OF TINE BORDRRS.


GRACE oAaaERoN. ar
ALExAxpn CAMPBELL.
Leaving Captain Stubs, Of bis majesty's
regiment Of horse, thus becOmingly
employed, we shall return to parsonage
who, we should suppose, will be fully more
interesting to the reader. This is Grace
Cameron. That lady, on leaving the pre-
sence of her father, and him of the fowl a
Ia Condo, returned to her own apartment,
when. reeollecting that the dragons were
still in front Of the house, she walked up to
tie window, to crafty her curiosity by tax
ing another peep at the warIike display !;
and it was while thus employed that Mss
Cameron, for the first time, perceived that
there was prisoner amongst the soldiers.
The prisoner was boy Of about thirteen or
fourteen years of age. He was mounted
behind one Of the dragons, to whom be
was secured by cord, which was passed
round the bodies of both Grace thought
she perceived that the boy looked up at the
windows Of the house with more earnestness
and anxiety than curiosity and, when bis
eve at length rested on that she occupied,
be threw a peculiar intelligence into bis
look, accompanied by certain explosive
but almost imperceptible signs, that CON
vinced her that be was desirous Of holding
some communications with her. Satisfied
Of this, Grace raised the window at which
she stood, and beckoned to the serjeant of
the troop TO approach nearer. He rode up
to within a few yards of the house
lis that poor boy prisoner, sir - in
quired Miss Cameron.
eyes, ma'am," replied the serieant,
touching bis bat.
For what has be been taken up? What
has he done?
Done, ma'am Lord love you, ma am
-excuse ne-he has done nothing as !
knows of; but our captain suspects him Of
being rebel"
"Where did you fall in with him 7"
Why, ma'am, We picked him up on the
road as we came along this morning. Cap
tain saw him skulking behind a hedge.
There's blackgaurd- looking rascal,
serjeant,' says be. lie has The rebel
cut about him as perfect as picture. PIck
him up, and strap him Ao ene n fihs fellcwsj
bring out of him."
"GraciOus heaven - exclaimed Grace,
shocked at this instance Of military despo-
tism. " is it possible that such state Of
things exists-that you can apprehend and
punish whomsoeyer you please, without
shadow of crime being established against
them You cannot have such a power,
SERGEANT It is impossible
"Oh, bless you, ma'sm, but we have.
though" replied the serjeant. 1" Captain
may hang o. shoot a dozen every day, if he
has mind, without ever axing them
question. We could never get through
our work otherwise and, as to this young
rogue being rebel, there's no doubt Of
it. He's all in rags and, as captain says,
every poor looking ragged rascal is sure to
be rebel'
Pretty grounds, truly, on which to
subject man TO the treatment of felon !"
said Miss Cameron. g However" she
continued, "will it lie any derelietion of
your duty, SERGEANT to permit me TO speak
for moment with the unfortunate lad !"
By no mean, ma am" replied the SER
jeant. Provided he's kept fast till cap
tain's pleasure is known regarding bim, /
don't see it signifies a pinch Of gunpOwder
who speaks 10 him" T
Awaiting herself of the permission granted
her, Grace was 10 an instant Afterwards
beside the prisoner, whOse looks frightened
up with an expression Of extreme dslight "a
she approached him. After asking the lad
few trivial questions, she observed him
cautiously stealing something forth from .
cOncealment in his dress It was letter.
Watching an opportunity, be slipped this
document unperceived into her hand. v-
Trembling with agitation, although she
knew not well for what, Grace crammed the
letter into her bosom, and saying to its
bearer that she would speak with him again,
she hurried into the house, and sought q re-
tired apartment, when, pulling it from her
bosom, she discovered, from the bandwrit-
ting Of the address, that it was from Nal
colin MGregOr. With . beating heart and
trembling hand, she opened it, and read
"DsAREsF GRAOK, ,--All is lost The Princes
army ia defeated and dispersed, and am nov
wandering fugitive in my native land, with the
axe Ofthe executioner suspended over my neck.
This is a dreadful reverse, and carries With Il
destruction to all our h0pes-to mine, iDdivi-
vidually, utter annihilatioR. have only time
! 10 add, dearest Grace, that, II can escape the
bloodhounds that are in pursuit of US, must
seek safety 10 foreign lsnd L will, however,
endeavor to see you before 60. l must see
you, Grace, and shall do 90 at all haxsrda
have hitherto escaped uuhurt God bl Sc you, I"
&c, &e.
With mingled feelings Of joy and grief
Joy to find that her lover still lived, and had
escaped the dangers of the battlefield, and
grief for the unfortunate position in which be
was now Placed-Grace returned the letter
to her bosom. and hastily left the apartment.
when she was met BY her father, who insisted
upon her joining Captain Stubbs and him
self at dinner requesting her. at the same
time, to conduct herselfin cOnciliatory way
to the captain, and thus to endeavOr to make
her peace with him, as he was such man,
be said, as might occasion them trouble, i
allowed to leave the house with any feeling
Of irritation towards them.
Obedient to her fathers commands
Grace joined the party, and not only avoided
giving Stubbs any farther ofepce, but go
90 far into his good graces that abe actually
prevailed on him to order The release Of th,
bow who had been the bearer Of Maloolm'