Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-26
UNCLE BENIAMIN,S STORY.

Wlth the earlier events of the story I
was personally connected, and the rest
was afterwards told me by one of the chief
actors in it." So spake our dear old
Uncle Benjamin, when on visit to us
last Christmas; and we, his nephews and
nieces, who had been teasing him to tell
US some of his adventures, delightedly
composed ourselves to listen
II might, " he continued, ''call it a tale
of circumstantial evidence;' but for reasons
which you will no doubt afterwards per
ceive, prefer to style it Cast Down, But
Not Destroyed. ~
"The homeward- bound troop ship Stir
ling Castle, Capt. Bowlby, was becalmed
IN the tropics. For three days there had
hardly been a breath of wind and the sea
lay around her smooth as glass But al
though all was so calm and peaceful out
side, yet on board the ship painful and
intense excitement prevailed. Gen. PAGE
one of the chief-cabin passengers, had
been robbed and nearly killed the night
before; and the person accused of The crime
was Walter Stevenson, young lieutenant
and general favorite of ali on board
But to explain, | must go back little
The Stirling Castle belonged to the old
East India Company, and Gen Page hav
ing retired from the service, was returning
to old England. He was accompanied bV
his daughter Rose, a young lady about
twenty two years of age, who, without
being exactly beautiful, possessed viyac-
ity and charm of manner which capti-
waited all who approached her.
There were several other officers on
board, but only two enter into the story.
the first being Col. Morton, very old
friend OF the Generals, and the other the
Lieut.. Stevenson above mentioned. Col
Morton and the General had known each
other IN youth, their respective families
owning neighboring estates; they hsa /
gone out to India together, and were now
returning home in company And still
another tie bound the two old friends to-
gether. Col. Morton had a son, and thew
had agreed that this son should marry the
Generals daughter, partly because of
their long-standing friendship and partly
because the two estates united would make
6 a a very line property. Nay, the General
even went so far as to make his will leay-
ing all his property to Rose, it is true but
appointing Col. Morton sole trustee and
authorizing him to use the influence the
position gave him to bring about a match
SNe''S VIZ JOuhS pCOple.
NOW, although all this was known to
Rose, yet it affected her very little: she
was true woman, and would only fol-
low the dictates of her own heart. and
who shall govern the caprices of the god
of love? Soon after leaving Calcutta, It
was noticed that Lieut.. Stevenson was
often seen in her company. Whether it
was his handsome person, his bold
frank bearing or his general intelligence
ana affability that first attracted her I
know not, but certain it is their friendship
quickly ripened into mutual love. Ere
the Cape was reached they had confessed
to each other and the father was made ac-
quainted with their feelings and wishes.
But alasl did the course of true love ever
run smooth? As before mentioned. the
General had his own idea with regard to
hose, and so he sternly refused his sane
llon to her engagement with Steven
son.
Il now come to the dreadful circum-
stances mentioned in the opening of nv
story There had been a good deal of
merriment in the large saloon the night
before; but because Of his anomalous DO
sItlon with regard to Rose, Stevenson took
very little part in it and retired early.
-
had - ! into his cabin Somewhat be.
lore his usual time; and soon after II
O'Clock entire silence reigned throughout
the whole of the after cabins. So things
remained until about 5 O'Clock in the
morning, when all were aroused by loud
cries for help, proceeding from the Gen
erars room. Hurriedly throwing on a
lew clothes, several of the passengers
hastened to the cabin indicated; and what
sight met their Mortified eyesl Sup
ported In the arms of Lieutenant Steven
son lay the General, his head hathed in
blood His closed eyes and pallid lips
seemed to betoken death, except that his
labored breathing and deep groans showed
that he still lived. In another part of the
cabin lay the body of the General 8
servant, and examination showed that he
was quite dead. Being very old, he had
been unable to Withstand the heavy blows
dealt him. The ships doctor, Capt.