The daily gazette., 1877-01-20
The GuerriIla's Wife.
BY @. II. j.


musketry resounded around the doomed
! city.
Houses were falling in ruins-the dis
tracted citizens rushed wildly through
the streets-the dead, mangled anddying,
lay at every corner. .#
Yet still the engines of war vomited
forth their missiles of destruction, and fire
and smoke.
The nuns and boarders of the Convent
OF Santa Maria knelt in the chapel in
prayer.
AS in answer to their supplication,
sudden pause took place in their bat
tie. , ~ f'...I.I
Brief was the pause. A loud shout
rent the welkin, in cannons resumed their
roar, the mortars again sent forth hum
dred deaths in one covering. The French
columns were storming the city.
| A bombshell burst Oh the roof of the
Convent eff Santa Maria, and in few
moments the edifice was in flames.
The inmates rushed distractedly into
the streets; a worse fate awaited them
there. The city had been taken by as
sault. and the French soldiers were pour
ing like beasts. ..ofprey through che streets.
Among the number that rushed from
the burning convent was pretty little
maid of some sixteen summers, with
raven hair and eyes like a gazelle. She
paused, terrified by the novelty of her
situation, in the middle of the street, not
knowing in what direction to 60.
While she thus hesitated, brutal
French soldier preceived her and imme-
diately grasped her by the arm.
She shrieked for help and struggled
violently, but was growing weaker and
weaker, when she received unlooked-for
aid in the person Of dismounted young
hussar.
"Desist, ruffian" he exclaimed, as he
rapidly approached the soldier.
''Stand Off" returned the other. "She
is my prisoner; you shall not have her
through you were twenty times au Of
iicer'
He stood on the defensive, presenting
his sword. The next moment it was
flying in the air-the girl was torn
from him, and the steel of the officer
cleaned at his throat.
"Away with you, miscreant!" he cried;
''ere repent my clemency, and kill you
like dog,'
The soldier waited not TOR a second
bidding, but cowed and baftled fastened
from the spot.
The officer bore the girl, who had fain-
ted, into the nearest house. 1t was en-
tirely deserted. He placed her in the
chair, and procuring some water succeed
ed in restoring her to consciousness.
Two days afterwards, towards the close
of day, two horsemen were urging their
iadsd steeds along narrow road, skirted
by numerous woods and defles. They
seemed anxious to reach some inn before
night overlook them.
Though the garments of the strangers
were. of plain and coarse material, yet
there was a certain soldierly air to their
horses, which seemed to denote that they
were not the simple citizens they wished
to appear.
''Well Pierre" said one of the horse
men, sour romantic expedition is nearly
completed. Thanks to our experience,
we have passed through sixty leagues Of
an enemy's country undecided. These
gray coats are not quite so conspicuous as
our uniform.
''Night is coming on FAST" returned the
servant. and this is an ugly road to be
on, master. Look at that rocky dell ahead
what capital place for an Ambassador
The spot which Pierre pointed out was
where the road wound between two pro-
jecting cliffs, covered with stunted trees
and scraggy bushes
Pire's eyes had not deceived him.
Scarcely had they proceeded dozen steps
than the reports of as many muskets |
echoed from the cliffs of their side. and |
horses and riders rolled in the dust togeth |
er. |
When the lieutenant, unhurt, succeed
ed in freeing himself from the harness of
his dead horse and rose to his feet, he |
was seized and his hands bound behind |
him. Poor Pierre never rose again.
"Why have l, a peaceful citizen," he
asked, ''been thus cowardly fired upon, |
and my servant killed?"
"When the foes of Spain," returned
the.guerrilla chief, sventure within her
territory, they must expect to receive |
chastisement from her children. Il
Thy companion has met an easy death. |
The shot that struck him was intended
for his horse. designed him to share |
thy DOOM"
"My doom-and what is that ?"
IA spy ucdJH-UJ IuC lldlICls
A slip-noose was passed around Eu-
genes neck, and the end Of the rope con-
veyed over the branch OF a tree which |
projected from the bank.
The preparations being completed, the
guerrilla turned to the prisoner, and
resumed:
ave have found no papers upon your
person Eugene had been searched when
first seizedl to betray the nature Of tie
mission with which you have been charg- |
ed. You see how slight hope you have
of escape-your fate is certain. Put me
in possession of intelligence that will
serve my country-disclose to me the er-
rand which brought you here, and l will
spare your life."
81 have nothing to disclose. 1 am no
spy, and protest agoinst this execution
which is contrary to the law of nations. |
denounce this cowardioe which would |
murder prisoner in cold blood"
"The law is in our hands, and we show |
no mercy, for we have had none shown to
u.s."