The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
THE MIDNIGHT BURIAL.

Near the Golden Gate of the High
lands on the eastern bank of the noble
Hudson stands the handsome and COM
manding residence of Judge Fassett.
Terrace rises above terrace from the
river, till the lawn, with its gentle as
cent, is reached, which merges at
length into a broad plateau. In the
center the house is situated, with here
and there towering forest tree. From
this position, for many miles, the
prospect is unbroken and exhilarating
to the student of nature, who, as he
casts his eyes down along the valleys of
quiet beauty and then up the rugged
sides of huge Mount Taurus and Storm
King, capped with snow banks of cloud,
feels a most exquisite sense of pleasure.
In the distance is seen the nations
military academy at West Point, where
beardless boys are taught the scientific
method of killing men.
Judge Fassett was known to be a
man of great wealth, which he had ac-
quired by lifelong devotion to his
profession in the city of New York,
but in his later years had sought the
retreat of a country home, and could
be retained only in cases of great i'm
portance. He stood foremost among
the men of this country in legal learn
ing and acumen. He was very gener-
Gus. His gifts for public and private
purposes were munifcent and frequent
SO much SO, indeed, that the native
citizens of the Highlands, who had
worn their fingers smooth feeling of
their money, never thought of levying
tax for any improvement, but relied
upon the generosity of the Judge.
Even then it was quietly whispered
by some that his motive was to increase
the value of his estate.
t Judge Fassett had two daughters,
who were noted for their fascinating
beauty, each possessing an individual
type. but the elder, Dell Fassett, was
the more general favorite among all
classes. She won by her open, artless
manners those who came into her soci-
ETY.. She knew nothing of that hauteur
which is SO often considered essential in
those whom some fatuitous circum-
stance has pushed above the ordinary
stations of life. She was romping,
rollicking, witty, accomplished, fasci-
mating girl, who knew how to conduct
herself with becoming manners in the
cabin of the poor as well as in the
drawing-room of the rich.
Among those in the large circle OF
the Judges friends, to whom he ex
tended lavish and welcome hospitali
tv. was a gallant young soldier of the
republic-ColoneI Fred Burleigh. His
acquaintance with the family begaI
when he was a cadet, attending the mil
itary school, and had ripened into tht
warmest friendship.
This recognition In the Fassett fami
lv was not on the score of his parents
wealth or social standing, for the.
knew that they were quite humble peo
pIe. but because he was cadet. Sine
the origin of the school, for some in
comprehensible reason, the spirit o
caste has been cultivated to perfection
and il is only necessary to utter it
open-sesame to find entrance into tn
charmed inclosure. Ridiculous AM
presuntuoas as it may appear, 1t Is ye
true that q body of students. supported
by the government, spend much o
their time in studying ponte euquett
and how to construct barriers against
too near approach of the people VIII
support them.
n was not surprising that Fred Bul
leigh partook of this spirit, which b
knew was largely reciprocated by man
of the upper-tendom, and that II b
could not win his way up by his ow
Intrinsic merits he could use tn
crutch of his school.
But Fred was not the nest-egg OF hi
class. He developed SPLENDID abilities
and on graduation day figured on tn
list No. l.
That was triumphant day for De
Fassett. She saw her lover, Fred, WI
in his class, as he had already won
her heart. The cadet was transforme
into an officer with uniform and
badge of his rank on his shoulde
When he was assigned to active serv1t
inthe field during the most trying da.
of our great war. the parting OF the tV
lovers was sad. tender, yet hopeful.
He passed through many battles,
ceived but one flesh wound, and T
turned to the scenes of peace and to b
Dell with the prefix of Colonel