Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-12-12
Uncle BenjamIn's Story.

I was personally connected, and the
rest was afterwards told me by one Of
the Chief actors in IL" So spake our
dear old Uncle BENJAMIN, when on a
visit 10 rs last Christmas; and we. bis
nephews and nieces, who had been
teasing him to tell US some Of his ad-
ventures, delightedly composed our
selves TO listen.
"I might" he continued, "call il a
stale of circumstantial evidence;' but
for reasons which you will no doubt af-
terwards perceive, ! prefer to style it
Cast Down, But Not Destroyed
The homeward-bound troop ship
Stirling Castle, Capt. Bowlby, was be-
calmed in the tropics. For three days
there had hardly been a breath of wind
and the sea lay around her smooth as
glass. But although all was so calm
and peaceful outside, yet on board the
ship a painful and intense excitement
prevailed. Gen. Page, one OF the chief
cabin passengers, bad been robbed and
nearly killed the night before; and the
person accused Of the crime was Wal
Ter Stevenson. young lieutenant and a
general favorite Of all on board. Butte
explain, mast 60 back little. The
Stirling Castle belonged TO the old East
India Company, and Gen. Page having
retired from the service, was returning
TO Old England. He was accompanied
by has daughter Rose, q young lady
about twenty-five years Of age. who,
without being exactly beautiful, pos
sessd vivacIty and charm Of manner
which captivated all who approached
her."
There were several other officers
on board, but only two enter into the
story, the first being Col. Morton, a
very old friend ofthe Generals, and the
other the Lieut.. Stevenson above men,
toned. Col. Morton and the General
had known each other in youth. their
respective families owning neighbor-
ing estates; :hey had gone out 10 India
together. and were now returning home
in company. And still another tie
bound The old friends together. Col.
Morton had a son, and they had agreed
that this SON should marry the Gene
rails daughter, partly because Of their
long-standing friendship and partly be-
cause the estates united would make q
very fine property. Nay, the General
even went so far as TO make his will
leaving all his property to Rose, it is
true, but appointing Col. Morton sole
trustee and authorizing him 10 use the
influence the position gave HIM 10 bring
about match between the young peo-
ple."
SHOW, although all this was known
to Rose. yet il affected her very little;
she was a true woman, and would only
follow the dictates of her own heart;
and who shall govern the csprices oi
the god Of love Soon after leaving
Calcutta, IL was noticed that Lieut.. Ste
venson was often seen in her company
Whether il vas hiss handsome person,
his bold, frank bearing or his general
intelligence and affabiliiy that FIRST at
tracted 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 acquainted with
their feelings and wishes. But alas
did the course Of true love ever run
smooths AS before mentioned, the
General had his own idea with regard
to Rose, and so he sternly refused his
sanction to her engagement with Ste-
venson."
al now come to the dreadful circum-
stances mentioned in the opening Off
story. There had been a good deal Of
merriment in the large saloon the night
before; but because of his anomalous
position with regard to Rose, Stevenson
took very little part in IT and retired ear
ly. The General, too, not feeling very
well, had passed into his cabin some
what before his useal time; and soon
after IL o'clock entire silence reigned
throughout the whole of the aiter-cab.
ins. So things remained until about :
o'clock in the morning. when all were
aroused by loud cries for help, proceed.
ing from the Generals room. Hurried.
ly throwing on few clothes, several
OF the passengers fastened to the cabin
indicated; and what a sight met .theil
Mortified eyes! Supported in the arm.
OF Lieutenant Stevenson lay the Gene,
raj, his head bathed in blood. Hi:
closed eyes and pallid lips seemed tc
betoken death, except that his laboreC
breathing and deep groans showed tha
he still lived. In another part of the
cabin lay the. body of the Generals ser
want, and examination showed that hs