Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-22

pedition organized to surprise the gsrri'
son ofsome buildings Aeld by Southern
regiment. lwas ordered TO take Z small
party and advance upon the o@oess'
quarters. The night was very dark, and
we succeeded In creeping past the ssn'
tries without being discovered. On our
hands and knees We crswled up to lit.
tie building. from which q light was
shining. Through the open door saw
On of1cer-from his uniform I knew he
was . Colonel seated at . table, with
bis back TO me, and resdiug . letter
written ia a womsn's delicate hand.
What foul impulse seized me l know not
l could easily have taken him prisoner.
without killing him, but my sword vas
in my hand, and, gliding up to him, ]
ran him through before be could turn.
Next moment the garrison was alarmed,
and, rushing out Of the room, Joined in
the fray. The position was soon taken,
and it became my duty to post our sen.
tinels. In doing this I again visited
the room where had committed the
murder-for murder 1t was. My VIC
tim lay there, yaspiug bis last. He
beckoned to me, and with great effort
drew from his breast . loeket. Take
this,' he whispered hoarsely, find her
give it to her-her name is but bis
voice grew 80 faint that I could not
catch the name, and q moment later he
was dead, But, over his dead body, !
swore to do his bidding. though sought
through oil tho world. He came from
this city Of yours. Perhaps she lives
here. Will you find her' The locket
is in tho little pouch on my sword'belt
over there. Getit.'
Gwendolen rose and crossed to where
the sword glittered in q corner, and
shivered as she touched the weapon
that bad done such foul work but she
found the pouch and in It little paper
which she carried over to the lamp and
opened. As she did 90, her face grew
pale as death, and her hands trembled
terribly. God have mercy upon her,
poor child! Her heart had OWNED the
dreadful truth. Too we'll she knew
the monogram upon the locket and the
silky curl of her own golden hair within
1t. Long ago she had given it to her
Reginald upon bis birthday!
Her back was turned to tho wounded
man, and he did not see her agony, nor
did he see, a moment later, as her eye
fell upon the little phial on the table
tho indescribable expression that swept
over her fair face. Well for him that
he did not. Judith must have looked
upon Holofernes and Jael upon Sisers
with much the same expression. Sud.
denly she took up the phial and carried
it to the open window. Her hand was
lifted to throw 1t out. Why did she
hesitatei Did 1t not hold the life Of
him who had slain her ,beloved' Slain
him, not in fair fight, but bis back to
the foe, az towards are slain. Had not
! tho doctor said that without this draught
tho wounded man must die before morn
ing' Should she give life to him who
had robbed her Of oil hope and hap
piness'
Who shall describe the struggle that
took place 10 poor Gwendolen's heart ?
| What woman that ever lived achieved
. nobler victoryi Turning from the
window with q white face and dry,
fearless eye, she hastily poured the
draught into glass and held it to the
patients lips till the last drop was out
When the doctor came in tho morn
ing he was of opinion that the wounded
man would live-and he was right,
But the worthy physician blamed him
self greatly that he had permitted
Gwendolen to tax her strength by keep
ing this vigil, for she was unaccount
ably seized with q violent delirium q
few minutes after bis arrival, and when
she rose from her bed month later
her youth and beauty had gone forever
San FRANC1sco, June 3, 1850.
| TO GIRLS,