The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-11-09
Seleft Sturp.
LORD PERCY'S DREAM.

1t was at the moment that Lord Corn
wallis, surveying the tide of battle, turn
ed to a young officer who had been de-
tanned for moment at his side.
"Colonef Percy" he said, "the rebels
have entrenched themselves in yonder
graveyard. Would that had man
who would dare to plant the royal stand.
ard on those dark gray walls"
81 will take it" said the young officer,
as Ire gave bis golden-hued. steed the
spur, 81 will take it or die!'
An now, as with his manly form at
tired in a uniform of dark green velvet,
he speeds down the hill followed by a
band of thirty bold troopers, his long
dark hair flying back from his face, let
me tell you the strange story of his life.
Tradition relates that accompanying
the British host, urged by some wild
spirit of adventure, was young and
gallant spirit-Lord Percy-a near rela-
ton Of the proud Duke Of Northumber-
land.
He was young, gallant and handsome
but since the landing of the troops on
the Chesapeake, his companions had Of
ten noted frown of dark thought shad.
owing his features, sudden gloom
working over his pale face, and wild
and unearthly glare in his full dark eye.
The cause had been asked and no an
swer given. Again and again, yet still
no answer.
At last Lord Corvallis asked young
Percy what melancholy feelings were
those which darkened his features with
such strange gloom.
With the manner of fated man the
young lord gave his answer. This
scene occurred not ten minutes before
the battle, when CORVALLIS was urging
his way through the thick wood that
crowned the summit of Osborn's hill
He had left the dissipation of the En-
glish court for the wilds of the new
world, at the request of the aged earl
his father. That earl, when young
man, had wandered in the wilds of,Soutf
Carolina; lie had tricked beautiful girl
| in whose dark cheek there glowed thu
blood of an Indian King; he had tricked
this beautiful girl into sham marriage
and then deserted her for his noble bride
in England
And now, after long years had passed
this aged man, this proud earl, had hur
ried his legitimate son to the wilds Of
America, with the charge to seek out tht
Iillegitimate child of the Indian girl ol
Carolina, and place packet in hi'
hands.
| This, in plain words, was the ohjec
of Lord Percys journey to America.
But as to the gloom on his brow-th'
deathly light in his eye-this was th'
answer which Percy gave to CORVALLIS
A presentiment of sudden death, h
said, was on his mind, 1t had haunte'
his brain from the very first moment h,
had trodden American shores. 1t crep
like phantom beside him in broad Gay
light; it had brooded with images o
horror over the calm hours devoted t
sleep. 1t was ever with him; beside hi
bed and his board in camp and bivouac
that dark presentiment of sudden death
Whence came this presentimsnt? wa
the query of Lord CORVALLIS.
"One night when crossing the ocean
one night when the storm was abroad
> and the thunderbolt came crashing dow
> the mainmast, then, my lord, then ha
dream. In that dream l beheld ru:
tic fabric, too rude for lordly church
and around the graveyard the tide of
battle ragged, for it was battle fierce an
bloody
"And there, in the graveyard, I behRl
!, a form thrown over grassy mount
!. . with the life blood yelling from deaf
:, : wound near the heart That form wa
;, mine! Yes, yes, l beaeld the dea,
!, chill upon. my brow; l saw the eyes gla
ing upon the blue heavens with the gla
sy stare OF death. That form WI
mine"
"Pshaw! this is mere folly" exclair
e ed CORVALLIS, as he endeavored to shal
S off the impression which the young man
d earnest words had produced; "this
4 but vain fancy"
1t AS he spoke they emerged from
+, thick wood. They reined their hors
d upon the summit of Osborne's hill II
n valley of the meeting house lay at the
1t feet.
d At this moment Lord Percy raised b
eyes, al > glance he beheld tue glorio