The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-04-12
THE DOOM o. DALzELL.
BY WILLIAM COLLINS.

Tomorrow night, Marian Brad
ford, be it for veal or woe, / cast IN
lot with my cOuntrymen. Too Ion
have ] remained idle, while Others
with less cause than /, have rallie
around the banner of Washington an
fought the good fight of freedom an,
independence. Tonight decides IN,
fate; | have calculated the odds agains
us, and ] know they are great, bu
1 still deem it my duty to myself an,
my country to take my place in tn,
ranks of the patriots who are strug
| Cling for the regeneration of my ma
| tive land. The time is come wheI
| the mask must be thrown of, and al
those who are in favor of freedom
must declare for it, and those in favor
Of King George and oppression take
| sides with him. j know your father
! is a ROyaliSt, and calls me rebel; has
| forbidden Inc to speak to you, and
closed the doors of his house against
me; but Marian, my love is stronger
than his hatred, and have dared to
disobey his commands, aud ask you
tonight to meet me, perhaps for the
last time. With me, it is question
grant my request, ! shall leave you
minatiOn of throwing away my life in
the first battle that offers me respite
from the sutferings of unTequited
love. Now, look me in the face and
answer me truly"
The speaker, a young man, whose
fair and handsome face had not yet
lost the tinge and hue of bOyhOod,
looked searchingly into the dark eyes
of his beautiful companion as they sat
together in the moonlight on the bal
cony of her fathers dwelling. She
raised her face to his, and, with look
in which love and melancholy were
blended, asked in a soft but eager tone:
"What request have you to make,
Walter Tyrrell? Speak, and | will
answer truthfully, and from my
heart.u
''Then answer me truthfulIy, Ma
rian-dO you love meH'
"Walter, if l did not, | would not
have granted you this interview du-
ring my fathers absence. dou
''Then, Marian, you love n rebel"
$50 he it. ], too, am Il REBEL
you, the daughter Of Col. Brad
ford?''
ayes, Walter, lam the daughter of
a Tory, but still am am American"
"Oh, my beloved Marian!" ex-
claimed the enrapturcd lover, taking
her hand, which she allowed to re-
main INTERESTINGLY in his, "what Joy
and rapture thrills my bosom to hear
you speak those words I! | came to-
night to bid you farewell, for | intend
at midnight TO cross the Delaware and
Join the army of Washington. ! came
to request you to think of him some
times TThO could never cease to think
of you, and whose only fault in your
fathers eyes was that he was Il rebel.
But now, believing the fond words
you have spoken, and relying on your
love, | shall go with Il happy heart,
and knowing that your prayers shall
be waited to Heaven for the cause of
my country and me, | will bear with
fOrtitude the hardships and pTivatiOns
of soldiers life, and hope that the
day that sees my country free will al
50 see you my true and loving wife.
And now let DdlZell come, for | am
ready to depart
ooh, Walter, l fear him much, He
is one that looks with Il jealous eye up
OH our love-"
THAT ne loves you; Marian, know;
but remember that he and ! were
together, our friendship
has never been severed, and, like me,
le is true to the cause of his country.
There l. not heut in Trenton to-
night truer than Uailelps. We have
been comrades since childhood, seldom
4 day ap1rt, and tonight we 90 toTeth-
nr as patriots to the American camp.
NV cousin Williams boat will be in
readiness attwelve To convey lis across
the river, and as brothers we shall
fight side hy side and fall or conquer
in the cause. SO di.hiiuse your mind
of all suspicion, and kiss me eo0G-AYe
until we meet again. Your love will
nerve me in the hour of battle, and the
miseries of the camp or bivouac will
be forgotten in thoughts of you. 1t is
getting late, and ] must see my moth
er before | DEPART
He clasped her in his arms az he
spoke, her head dropped lovingly on
his shoulder, a warm embrace was
given and returned, and Walter Tyr
rell. with proud and eXultant heart,
bidding her goodbye, Wended his way
to his mothers cottage.
Marian watched him from the bal
cOny until he disappeared from view,
and then with sigh entered the
house. AS she did so a man suddenly
elllEI3Htl lItllll illC sill NDbtlN dtlNl EdL-
ed fOF a moment on the spot which
the lovers had go recently occupied.
His face was pale, ASA The liyid hue of
his lips gave token of the CONSUMING
rage and passion within his heart. He
seemed to struggle against the feeling
that possessed him, and stood irresO-
Lutte, as if uncertain what course to
pursue. Bus tiF demon of jealousy
that was tuggmg al his hhart gained
the mastery, and with a deep imRFe-
cation he muttered
None, but the stars We're looking
down or listening to you, Nou think.
Fool, there was one who heard every
word YOU brcathed, aud listened To the
vow you pledged and swore. Your
words, like burning lava, fell upon nIf
heart and scorched up every feeling of
nv uatgIrc-saVe revenge. What to
me is country, friendship or honor, if
my heart is bigFie4 &ri my fondes.
homes crushed ana dcst FQyFd 4" You
have stolen my brightest jewel a}!G
though YOU were my comradc twenty
thousand times, III crush you as you
haye crushed my heart. Tonight is
Christmas eve the appointed time to
iOin the rebel raHks-si4t, TsTreil; YOU
shall sup On prison fare tomorrow, ,a4q
in place of Marian'S ariUs around your
neck, a halter shall bo HuuF igTfi8u."
With clCnchcd teeth and daFi; ana
gloomy brow, DalZell strobe fierceiy
i'm the direction OF Trenton.
Two hours aftcrward, accompanied
bv "A posse of HcSSianS, lac entered tie
cottage of Mrs. Tyrrcll and arrested
htf son ~ \ traitor and rebel. Wal
ter's COUSIN, William, escaped, but the
only son of tilG poor MiqpW Was con
viewed tO prison TO await has e&ec4t,yii
on the morrow. lie Was not allowed
the benefit ofa trial. f'tF tle Hcssiaps
were taught 10y the British las believe
.bat the Americans would give Hu
quarter and were sworn 10 murder all
foreigners that might tall into their
hands: and, acting 49, this principle,
summarily disposed of ali rt.i.sl whom
they captured. Young Dalzell wa-
Walters accgSer and betrayer, and on
his Information 4is former friend and
comrade was sentenced ~ ks shot at
daylight.
on Il couch of straw in his prison
cell, without Il ray of light To shine up
OH him save the cold moonbcams that
cIittered through the iron bars, the
Young mau sat, thinking of the many
events of the night and the dreadful
fate that awaited him in the morning
- IL /,