Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-04

pillow she sootned, end many the fever
ch0kcd CHILD teat she famed to sleep.
ia TINS world everything GOES by COM
panson, and 70 the sad little world Of
Mecnaporc Mrs. Marchmont appeared
very often in the puiee of an angel.
III.
Several days bad gone by. Hour by
hour the anxious watchers kept strict
lookout for the reiniorcemcnts which
they beloved 10 be already on the road
to their succor. Hour by hour all ears
wore strained TO catch. amid tile crack
of musketry and the din of the encmys
fortunately poor and Unnamed artillery,
tie sound Of the Scottish bagpipes or
English CHEERS
Yet they came not, and the siege was
not raised.
SIl the men Of the little garrison were
GaundeSS In their determination to fight
O. their very Inst breath, aud to guard
the teuder wcraeR and helpless children
who were their nearest and dearest, as
long as they could keep a defence of any
hind standing between them aud the
enemy. AMI TO this end every man VINO
was well enough TO stand upon his feet
aaj u-e his bands gave his time and
STRENGTH right willingly 10 working Of the
trench winch they dug within the walls
and barbados of which their fortress
consisted How they dug Ay. Ding for
dear lie and the lives of those who were
dearer 30 them than life itself
and then there came an evil day when
it was advisable That all but the Invahd5
should be put on shorter rations, and
taat the water should be dealt out even
more sparinsly, An evil, evil day for
those whom full allowance OF food and
water might have kept in comparative
health aud sire myth were weakened and
brought so low as to be in 10 condition
20 meet the vet more deadly foe that was
fast stealing upon than, foe which had
no need 10 work mines under their feet
nor to make attacks upon their BARR
cades, a foe whom no trenches could keep
ut bav, tue foe which was even more
mcrcie-s that the Insurgents, and which
was c4lled-Cholera
The number of souls in the little gar
rison WAS Trimmed rapidly after this-t the
disease worked SO porsistently and with
such deadly results; for not only were
the weakly and ailing taken, but those
who seemed the best able to withstand its
rayngcs fell Vi inns among the first.
In short, there were eight or ten
deaths every dav. and the difficulty of
giving proper burial TO those who were
gone ADDED in a terrible way TO the dis
trcsses and dangers OF those who were
left
Very early after the outbreak the
Narchmont baby died after a few hours
illness: and then the Colonel and his
wife watched their remaining child.
io'tie, in an agony Of apprehension,
dreading every day-nay, every hour
10 see the signs of that fatal COM
plant against which they knew she
would have 10 strength to fight. But
strange to say. although strong and
seemingly healthy men were falling on
lli sides. here today and gone TO NOR
row. lust h nding their beads at the first
touch Of that dread hand and giving mp
their lives without struggle, the deli
cate fcypr.weakened little gIl lived on
ID safety. and the cholera passed her by.
Perhaps it WIS because such Injuries
and medicines as were at Der pa
rents command were all layished .
upon her. perhaps she was spared that .
size might prove 10 those who were Older +
and stronger tlan She that IN the reign .
VI terror Of 1857 there was not wanting
one little, weakly English girl who could .
show ths whole world that the spirit bad .
BOT ciel out which carried fair maideps
ntO the Roman smphitheatres to meet .
with undinching courage cruel and I'm
serag death for Cbrist S sahe-the spirit
v aich led their sisters of later day TO
utter AMI endure with unquenchable
brightness all tho horrors and tiendish
nCeuuities Of the Spanish lnquisltlon.
ANYWAY, the cholera passed TOttie
bv and she gained health
md strength as rapidly as could be ex-
,ected Of her under the desperate or
.gnstanccs in which the whole garrison
we're plac,d that is to say, she crawlcd
rom sofa 81 rocking chair, aud when the
,bcls' mushetry Was quiet, which was
lot often, crert ont into the compound
J., the back Of the Residcncy, and be
wcen that building and the hospital,
n cot Jew blca,hs OF such air as the
.ot summer mornings or evenings al
ordcd.
Often end often she begged hard to be
7 owed 90 help her mother at her many
.1ties; but Mrs Narchmout was very
nyioue and careful about her. and gen
rallv found that although rottic S spirit
,as wiling her flesh WAS lamentdbly
oak. and that any strain, no matter
ow small, upon the one was sure to
net TO intense depression upon the
Their. So the weary days dragged their
low lenoth along without much Occupa
ou for her hesond the distraction OF
IS books when she had read at least a
uudred tunes and toe excitement OF
eariog OF one death after another and
i ekiuring ont of the way Of the shots
Inch from time 10 time udiied the
ais which sheltered them.
The siege had now been carried ON
n five weeks. or rather for nearly SIX.
,d still no oelyerance bal come to the
,ilv decreasing band Of defenders
one had gone down very low, and 1t
asa ouastlon whether they could hold
lt many days longer not only on &C,
,nnt nj the shoitaess Of ratlOus and '
Re scarcity of water but because the
.bcls we're evidently making great
rcn,rst,oDs for desperate attack upon '
le already weak and poor defences.
"They're pretty quiet now, mother,
I'd Tot;ie Que evening just before dark {
.ss beoan to fail. Couldn't l 60 IN q
h compound for minute or two I'm {.
,oked IN here" The words ended In |
IF OF sob, which she tried hard to nip I
tbe bud but which the mothers love
.arrened ears heard, nevertheless. G
"Yes. think you might go for a few t
inrt4s. dear" she answered ienderly. b
Bat you will be very careful and keep c
, the wall, won't you !? q
=. Voe INIT can't Won come 2" implo-