Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-12-26

: I was on the point of rushing j!
| and throwing myself at his fee,
when the door opened and my brotl
er came out, apparently with til
intention of carrying some commu
nicatiOn to the main body of thei
little force. He was passing fol
t ward, thinking l was one of tn
men, when l exclaimed in tremu
lOus voice:
"Antonio! Antoniow
"What, Benitoi' he cried, start
ing back in asstOnishment. Sou
long lost Benito! Welcome home
though you come at time Of grea,
peril"
! His words cut me to the heart.
could not speak, but threw open Iuy
cloak, that the sight Of my uniform
might save me the painful expires
sion.
''Ha! is it so y he said with deep
agitation. "BenitO a Frenchman
Impossible! Forbid it, heaven; but
it must have been to escape suspi.
ciOn. Speak, relate what has betal.
len you, since you so suddenly left
our village. Say,why this disguise (?
"Oh, my brother " ] replied, "this
is, indeed, no disguise. My fate is
hard. But-but," l continued, chok.
ng with emotion, lis Pepita yet
alive I"
"No." said he, "but my country
lives-strike for her."
"Antonio," l replied, sit must not
be. 1 belong to France. l have
served long, been treated well, and
sworn allegiance to the Emperor. l
connot bear my poor fathers looks
Tell him cautiously of my misfor-
tunes and my grief. Brother, fare
we'll and forever. We shall never
meet again."
With a mind almost driven to in
sanity / forced myself from him and
wandered to the church-yard there
| saw, and in the insanity of grief
worshiped at, the grave of Pepita,
the poor, dear, devoted girl l had
loved and deserted.
AS l returned, could not resist
the desire to have another and last
look at my aged father. He was
seated as before, with my brother
and the other young men around
him. His eyes were lit up with a
sort of frenzied fire, while his ven
cradle locks fell over his face and
shoulders. l never had seen him 50
animated. He was exhorting the
young soldiers to deeds of valor.
His voice was clear and distinct,
and his words were expressed with
a pathos which might have moved
the the coldost heart. l could bear
my anguish no longer, so casting a
partir 6 look through the easement,
hurried away. Restless and mis-.
erable J. passed the night, agitated
and harrassed by the thoughts of
my duty, the yearnings and impulse
Of nature, and the love of my coun-
try, for though it may seem para
lox, l loved her though l stood ar
rayed in arms against her. Oh! my
was terrible.
The sun rose and beheld the con-
parties drawn out against
each other. Not knowing what 1 did,
of life, and abandoned to
despair, l looked forward to death
with pleasure. Amid the ranks of
The Catalonians, 1 beheld the form
of my father laid on a kind of couch,
md supported by four of his country
men. My conscience smotc me al
most unbearably. We were ordered
% charge. I moved instinctively,
md advanced amid the thick fire of
ny countrymen. We fired volley
that is, the men did. I would
ather have shot myself than fired
IN my friends-I may say relations.
l looked upon my beloved father.
There he lay, raised in his couch,
lis eyes beaming with unutterable
his white hair stream
ng over his brow, and one hand
pointed in defiance against the in
,aders of his country. His voice l
leard loud above the tumultuOus
lin of war, encouraging and bidding
lis sons and brethren on to victory.
saw him fix, as thought, his un-
arthly bright and glittering eyes {
pom me, but it was for an instant
My. He sunk back-a ball had ,
truck him in the temple, and he ,
eli bathed in blood. {
NV brother rushed to his side ,