The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-21

A WEST POINT ROMANCE.
How It Began and How 1t Came to Horrible
End-An Ambition that Brought Desolation
to Household Married Twice and Shot
Dead at Parade-The New Appoint
ments OF Officers in the Cadet Corps

to-day In the cemetery where so many OF the grad
yates OF West Point sleep the sleep tnat knows no
waxing. We walked from tomb to tomb reading the
inscriptions that have read time and time again,
and finally sat down on q little mound OF earth TO
rest under the shade Of huge tree
"Do you see that spot theref" inquired my
companion, as he pointed with his cane to part OF
the ground over which the grass had not as YET wen
gsown. THAT was intended fG the last res'ihg
place OF graduate Of '6s but q revelation that was
made after his death prevented the BODY from DeihS
brought here. Would you like to hear the storyr'
Iexpressed my willingness, and the story was tod.
1t was In substance as fOIows:-
AwEsT POINT APPOINTMENT.
In the early summer OF 1854 there was cadet va
cancy in one OF the New York city Congressional dis
tricts. When the War Department informed the
Congressman Of the district OF the vacancy and that
1t should be filled before the following September,
that gentleman took 1t into his head TO depart
from the ways OF his predecessors and give
the appointment to whatever scholar in the
Free Academy, or who had passed through the Aca-
deny, who would pass the best examination. A
day was appointed for the test, and the successful
competitor a few days afterwards was sent TO West
Point He was found fully qualified, and at once
took high position in the class. He looked rather
more manly than the rest OF his class-in fact,
older than most boys who were at the time
admitted under twenty -one-but no suspicion that
he really older than he had represented himself
to be ever entered the minds OF the faculty. Three
years passed by and he became second class man.
During that time he made the acquaintance OF
young lady residing on Fifth avenue. She was
young, beautiful, OF good family and had plenty Of
money and this combination OF attractions fascinated
the cadet. he used TO pay her frequent visits
ut the hotel when SHE came up here to
remain during the June 'gaia days. and after she
had qff No Xarl- karf no mt init
macy by frequent correspondence In the matter
or tins correspondence he seemed to be very anxious
that the letters should not miscarry, and under the
pretence that he believed the Post Office folks here
had q bad habit OF opening cadets letters he
often mad them sent over the river TO
be posted from Garrison's Landing. Mean
while he studied hard and still maintained
q good position In his class. lie finally became
first class IN 67. He busiiy engaged in his
room one day, after he had become first class man,
IN 'boringr knotty subject, when the officer OF the
day entered aud told him the superintendent wanted
60 see HIM at his Office. He Immediately repaired to
the Office and after the usual salutations had been
intsrcnenged between him and his superior the
superintendent took from bundle OF papers on his
desk letter, which he read 10 him. IL was adj
dressed 10 the superintendent and charged that the
cadet was
A MARRIED MAN
before he had entered the institution and that his
wife stih hyIng. Tue letter was not signed.
-'what have you got 10 say TO that, STRIP asked the
Superintendent, laying down the letter. Ike cadet
had not changed countenance during the reading Of
the note, and when The question was put TO hun he
drew himself up TO his full height, and, with a flush
as OF Indignation overspreading his face, he re-
Piled THAT Is an anony nous communication and
should not have received genueman's attention,
slr Every word of IL ia false. The writer evil
IDENTITY some enemy OF mine who seeks In tins way to
injure me- Then the interview ended and the
superintendent threw the letter into the waste
basket The cadet Went back to his room and re-
sumed his studies. The night that followed the day
OF this Interview bitter cold one. 1t was dark
As PITCH and the snow fell heavily. keen nor'easer
swept over the post and the sentinel in The woods
near the barracks drew his cloak closely about
hIm a. gust after gust whir!ed with shrek down
ffom the mountain tops. lie had been on guard
many nights before. wnen the cold mad made his
ieefi chstter ana ms limbs ache with nulnbness, bnt
the Ike OF tins night he had meyer witnessed Dei0fe
Thus ne thought as ne lad ms fine against a tfee
ana stopped % gather handful OF snow 10 ruo ms
half frozen face win. As be did SO Keener
blast oil Wind than ever tore through the ieaness
frees. making the Old branches creek and groan as
n ready 10 break. In second he was bolt upright,
win ms rifle tightly cluiched in his hand. HIS lace
was pale as death, and the rlic snook In his grasp,
but not from cold. lie bent his head forward as II
10 through the darkness and the binding sieet.
The wind mad lulled Tor a second, and nothing
but the low wall Of the storm in the distant wood
awOke the stiffness OF the night SIN ne
stood with HIS rlie trembling In MS hanas. Inc
wind again swept down irom the mountaa top and
as n struck tie trees near him, whizZed by agar
with q screech; but lar above II there came shrleb
OF human voice so terrible. so sail, 50 ieariui u
b heard m that lonely place that the seminal invo
lcnIaniy took step backward as expecting
SOME UNEAETilLY THING
TO swoop dOwn upon him. IL was this same SHREK
that had startled min. lie had mistrusted his hear
ing before, but ne was certain that the cry that
rang ont upon the wind minute or so previous was
not OF his imagining. Cutcning ms rife IN his riy
hama he fcit has way carefully tnsoash tne uhaes
bush with which The WOODS were strewE, ant
slowly advanced in the direction whence tht
enes had come. Every gust Of wind brought lh'
sn1ek, more and mole piercing, TO MIN ana mad'
him stride on the more quickly; for ne felt thai
there was somebody IN distress. He finally reachet
little clearing the woods, and through the DARK
ness which wus becoming less ana less obscure al
towards INN figure Ia waite with It's arms wdt,
IN while giving vent 10 that awfu
cry which had 20 startled hun at first
Taye Inc cnalenge. The ony answer he re
cciyed was the booi-cutdimg shrek. and the ngnr
came nearer aud nearer. The s3idier pat Ms pee
30 tue ground and grasped the form 10y the shoulder
II mace no reslslanee. and Seeping fast MS nod o.
Il kc made his way TO the barracks. The ght or III
guards lantern revealed IN tie ngure IN WHITE Tn
BY The Superintendent IN reference TO the anonl
NOUS letter. lie was stark mad.
MARRIED AND 1HEN SHOT DEAD.
Crest was the sympathy ios inc poor cadet on 10
"a about taaf he haa become insane. or course e.
cessive study mad done the horrid worh ana 10
ssysfela' oi the Academy came m Tor sumo Yer
hard kuocks NJ the hands of the sympafnkers. Month
passed ny, and The cadet was nnseif agan His ten
porsry insanity had len no trace 81 us rvages an
when the Class OF i6s graduated he stood alnoDg ID
nrst ten. lac obtained commission AFTER NJ
furiouxh mad expired OF second lieutenant IN %
artillery branch of tae service an vas soon ate
warus married 10 the PIN ayeaue Young lady
whom mention mas already been made month {
% after his marriage he was Ordered TO do duty ~
southern post, aud on proceeding there ne took ~
young and Deanri1 bride alons win mn
Eyefythng went smoothly with him for som
time. Young 0lcer Ike be became VET
severe dlscpllnafian aud for tue sllgntc'
offences on the part of tue soldiers he always mete
out the seyeFc-t puBlshnenf. one Day ne mad on
of the privaics 0f the post put IN the guartnous
for hong period Tor some trivial neg ect oil dut,
and whca the cot Oaf ne, u a. said, sw0re ne
get even with TIE Officer. " was me iattcf's iuf
q few daYA Ailrr he nd Imprlsoned The soldit