The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-10-25
THE POLISH OFFICER.

It was a stained ana ftlme-Worn manu- |
script which my friend brought out from |
his escritoire. We drew our chars
closer to the fire, when he opened the
manuscript and read:
1t was in the ever memorable and
valiant attempt that Poland made to
maintain Its independence against tyr
amy which raised in the heart OF eyerysI
honest Pole an indignant feeling toward
his oppressorS, and caused rebellion TO
rankle in his bosom and seek redress-it
isSol that period l am now writing, when
man raising from MS bed OF rest, teefs
himself still laborlng under burden too
grievous to be berne. Before proceed
farther, it will be necessary 10 give brief
outline of my boyish days.
When it Was thought lit by kind and
indulgent parent That my mind could
bear the study of a boarding school, l
was sent from home, at a distance of
/ ninety miles, where, from my first intro,
duction, l formed an acquaintance with
a telloW-boarder, and there soon ap-
peared that congeniality of feeling and
sentiment which promised to ensure US
mutual happiness and comfort-we may
well say s'We lived and loved together"
/ never kept a secret from him but once,
4 and he was the same, as true and just to
me. Time flies and discovers secrets. l
had now completed my nineteenth year,
and as reyots were daily occurring
against Russian tyranny, and my father
suffering under it personally, he procured
me commission TO Join the regiment i'm
mediately, which was then lying at War
u saw. was forced to go and leave my
old companion, and one with whom,
when the daily duties were ended, l
spent many moments; she whom l cher
ishel at my heart with a bosom full of
doubts, and hopes, and fears. now re-
vea@d to her my ardent love, and found
IL was only echoIng her own sentiments
regarding myself, for me aud me only,
she said she loved and lived.
On my return home to my companion,
L told 'him OF the only secret had ever
retained; and having paid great atten-
, tion to my relation he burst into n food
f of tears. was surprised at TINS strange
conduct but soon found out the cause
= from his incoherent expressions. l was
agonized to see my companion suffering
| under circumstances so painful - he,
; | who, when | was youth, stranger,
and far from home, became TO me u
brother and friend. l hastened to An
} nette. and told her of this strange affair,
, when she, with that prompt alacrity
which is characteristic OF our Polish Ia
dies, particularly in such affairs, com-
piled with my earnest entreatles and
to prevent the addresses OF Nowlstchy In
, my absence) consented, with the per-
mission of her parents, to become my
vile.
On my return home, found my COM
! panion still in the same excited State as
had left-him. gave him slight hint
OF what had happened, which. he'seemed
perfectly to understand. LIE in a lew
/ moments aroused himself from the STU
por and summoned up resolution to in
| quire when l should leave. told him
ON the morrow. He said, Il shall ac-
} company you to whatever place or i'll
, whatever circumstances you may be-"
II On, Annette! farewell at last must
l come. Adieul may heaven guard and
2 protect you. Farewell-tarewell! Those
2 who have really loved almost to idolatry,
, can only picture the feelings at our sep
aration. We proceeded in silence, each
buried in his own respective medita-
tions. NoWistchy on sudden ex-
= claimed:
, "Should Fate decree no return to your
Annette, l will be to her friend, a
brother or husband;" to which cordi-
E ally consented, after which he seemed
= to resume his former wonted cheerful.
v ness. Onl Annette, behold me duly ex
:. ercised in WarIike duties, preparing to-
an engagement, perhaps nevermore tt
:. see you. The Russians are now adyanc
e ing. 1t was midnight, and now and ther
, the distant peal OF cannon could be heart
rolling through the silence OF the night
II louder grew The sounds and louder, til
l. at last the warlike peal "to arms.
~ reused US from our suspense. recon-
:, mendea myself to God with short AM
earnest prayer for my wife.
S / was now prepared to meet the enc
IS my. sought Nowistchy, aud found hin
in deep thought; quite unconscious O
w What was passing around I'LL l arouset
10 him from Lis stuper. We embraced eac
re other, and again repeated, the promis
va respecting Annette. Now roars tn
cannon. and louder yet-yea, "loude
e. than the bolts OF beayen"-al confusion
" man ialls upon man. Oh, war! ignI
Ifl fatuus, ,tnat drives desolation to the aoo
- of the rich and destruction and despai
70 to that OF the poor. The combat thict
d. ems, and fighting for our independents
with bravery doubly armed by goo
H. cause, this engagement was declared
our iayor.
l. The conflict over, l sought my con
TO panlon, and found him partly covere
II with the bodies Of the slam, but breatl
ing; having carried him with all spec
LII to the hospital, the surgeon found he ha
e. only swooned from the loss OF blood an
of had received no mortal injury; and wit
IL uu6 dblGublUu anu oViHO u
~ soon recovered. Immediately alter tn
IL engagement was ordered to disrar
he part OF Poland, where the Russians na
W. been committing their horrible deeds
war. Nowistchy being on the sick lis
}" was forced to remain. We were tor II
to first Time parted from our youth, al
d. having embraced me aud thanked me fl
his preservation of lite, he once mo
renewed the promise Remembering A
nette.
o. had been now marching from pla'
"a, to place, and could receive no news r
lv spectIng her, nor yet Of Nowistchy.
- had seized every opportunity from Il
ca hustle of war, and written several time
g. but received NO answer; at last one ri
ps of hope beamed, and yet disappointme
10 was Still greater, tor by frequent marc
'AS es and removals from place to place, Y
had to pass her native village. / sou q
! her home. Imagine me, buoyed up wi
EN- the hopes of once again seeing my wife
,et my all. With sensations which tong
=, can not express, found the house uni
habited, anu on inquiry learned that t
un mother was dead, and the daught
al gone, no one could tell where.
fHr To proceed--our struggle was ne
" drawing to close, and one bold attem
rs. must be made; it was done, bat ahl hs