Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-09-10
I had "turned inn for the night. AL

the clear, white, moonbeams no soun'
broke the silence, save the Occasiona
challenge Of the sentinel; and I lay
restlessly tossing on my rude couch, un
easy and filled with a vague distrust,
feeling that something was about t,
happen.
The moOn-rays penetrated my shelter
and dropped in great, white patches OF
the ground, before my bed. [ lay will
my eyes fixed upon them; and, sud
denly, l saw dark shadow cross thei
whiteness; then form drew very near
and / saw it was our stroling minstrel
But be was no longer bent and gray
and in that moment I found out TIVE
things; that he had obtained access t
our camp in disguise for some unlawfu
purpose and also that my good memory
had not played me false; this midnigh
prOwler was the man whom | had struck
for assaulting the young lady, some
months before. Tn dash [ saw it all
he had attempted to rob her Of her jew
els; but, failing in his vile design, hat
secretly observed my possession of them
and had followed our regiment, anC
dogged my steps for the purpose of rob
bing me at last.
Something prompted me to close my
eyes and feign sleep. felt the villain
approach me-closer-clOser- 8
held to my nOstrils ; with quick spring
I bounded to my feet and caught the
ruffiian by the throat. Just then the
sound of the bugle pealed through the
quiet night, "boots and saddles" With
a desperate wrench the robber escaped
me; and | WAS scarcely aware of my
own movements-found myself in my
saddle, and, with the rest of the COM
mand, on my way to the scene Of ac-
ton.
Here We met the opposing army, and
fearful battle ensued.
| Through al that dreadful engage
ment, kept my pearls jealollsly guard
ed. It was point of honor with me,
and I would 0crer give them up. Such
thoughts We're Hitting through my
mind when felt a strong grasp on my
biidle, and, glancing down, stood face
to face with the pretended old man, the
would-be robber of the night before
At the moment I felt a sharp pain in
my side, followed by numb, dead feel
ing.
saw the red-hot torrent which pour
ed forth, and knew that L was wounded !;
then [ lost consciousness.
was aroused by rough and hasty
touch; and opening my eyes I found
my enemy bend over me, his hands bu-
silly removing my outer garment, and
1 knew that lie was searching for the
pearls.
Whence came my strength I know
not, but with sudden, mighty effort I
seized my sabre and struck him heavy
blow. l saw him reel and fall back
ward and fhAn 7 syynoy1cd
away.
On my second return to consciousne ess
[ found myself lying on hospital bed,
with kindly faces around me. My first
thought was of the jewels, and my heart
thrilled with eXultation when I found
that they were safe.
For many weary months I lay upon
my bed; and during the interval the
war ended. But my health was very
feeble, and when [ removed to my ma
tive New York it was the general i'm
preston that had come home to die.
However, that was not my intention,
and in the course of year found my
self on a fair way to recover.
The secret of the pearls l had never
shared with any one. They had been
in my possession for the space Of five
years, and yet had never really de-
SPARED of returning them to their own
er.
About that timeIt occurred to ne that
q trip to Louisiana would be very bene-
fetal to my health. and so, in the year
1868, I fonnd myself once more in New
Orleans. My first step was to insert a
personal" in all the daily papers, ed
dressed to Miss Cecile Tremaine, and
requesting her present address. But [
70. ft,-, dor
passed by, and was rapidly losing hope.
when it CHANGED one morning that I
strolled into the printing office of a
friend, and stood watching the nimble
fingers of the cOmpositors, among whom
were several ladies'
At length / heard the foreman address
one OF the employees as Miss Ire
maine" With wildly throbbing heart
| cast furtive glance in her direction.
Great heavens! it was she. I was sure
of it.
In few moments l had acquainted
my friend with the facts, and my belief
that this was the young lady of whom I
was in quest. He told me then of her
poverty, and that from one Of the first
and wealthiest families Of New Orleans
she was reduced to earn her bread He
said that there was 10 doubt that [ was
on the right track, as she had already
told him Of the loss Of her pearls. On
the night that [ had rescued her, she
had been on her way to dispose Of them,
for her father lay dying, and she had nc
means with which to furnish him food
and medicine.
He was dead now, ard she, poor girl
was All alone in the world
| will pass over my introduction, and
tue establishment with which she listen.
ed to my story. Time had softtned he,
asperity towards the "Yankccs,n ~ and as
months flew by. she seemed to have
quite forgotten all past animostes, SO
that. when at last asked her to become
lny wife, I was prepared to hear her an.
swer Yes and was not disappointed
And on the day that she became nly
bride, amid the lace of her snowy veil
and crowning her heavy waves of raver
hair, like drops Of ice, We're the jewels
which l had cherished, and defended
with nay life, for all those dreadful year.
my CECILE'S PEARLS.
FOOD AND THE HUMAN BoDY.-Tht