Year: 1870

1t was one of those singularly beauti.
ful days, so common to Florida, in the
last week Of May--it was the twenty-fourth
that preceded the day on which home
was to be bade farewell by the girlish
Alice. As the sun went down over the
huge pine-tree tops. the young girl betook
herself to walk through the nooks and
crannies of the homestead, over the moss
covered banks where she delighted to
lazy life away and finally crossed the in
let, and walked up the blnff and sat down
underneath the trees. Bhe had been sit
ting and thinking until her eyes grew
weary and her head faint, and then she
sank into slumbcr. The sun had been
lost for some time, and the moon was lust
pceping into the maiden's face and making
more than beautiful her dark curls, clus-
tering about q sn0w-white neck, when a
young man, none other than Harry L.,
strollcd up the hill to the accustomed
place of meeting. He had come to see
that all was in readiness for the midnight
departure. Coming upon her who was
his life, he instantly checked himself and
gazing upon her sweet abandon, a girl and
yet woman, he determined to steal from
her that which he had been SO often re-
fused. Still, he hesitated would he moi
be disregarding her wishes3 But what
could she do, since or the morrow they
were to be husband and wife? He stoop
ed, and as their lips met, Alice awoke.-
With a scream that rang through the for
est. she cried, Father, save me !" and
casing the betrothed ring at her lover,
feet, with bitter reproachos, started to-
ward home. So bewildered was our here
that needed not the presence of the father
until the latter's cracked voice brought
him to himself, Casting look back he
rushed down to the dock, sprang into his
boat, and, rowing into the middle Of the
river, stopped for time while he witness
ed as well os he was able, the excitement
at the house hc had just left. He, too
was almost palsed, but, uttering a curse
upon the place, and swearing vengeance
he was taken up stream.


Our great rebellion had begun; Sumter
had fallen, and throughout the South young
and old were forced forward to the can
mons mouth.


Among the regiments doing duty on the
st. Johns river was one officered in part
by Major Harry l., of Georgia, where
he had been living for four years past.


Alice was true to the teachings incul
Gated by her Massachusetts home ant
never would she render assistance to the
men Of the South. Her own father hac
been forced into the southern army. anC
alone with her mother and some colorec
people she stood sentinel over the right.
and interests of the Bluff.


Now was the time for the major to be re-
venged. Hearing of the womans devotion
to her country, he received permission from
the commanding officer to destroy the pro
perty of those whose interests were with
the "black aboitionists." -.'


He made preparations, accordingly, or
dark night in May, the very one or
which, four years before, the engagement
had been broken, to reduce this home tc
ashes.


Enlisting few trusted men, he sailed
down the river, and drawing up at the
well-remembered landing, went ashore and
was followed by his soldiers. Everything
was as still as death itself, the sleepers
then little dreaming of what was about tc
occur. Applying the torch, the men has.
tened back to the boat, aud rowing into
mid-stream, watched the flames as they
crept up and around the mansion, burn.
ing slowly, yet surely, until the whole was
one red sheet of fire.


1t was thought that Alice persisted,
but toward morning she was found by oue
Of the slaves standing beneath the pine
trees and uttering all the while, as she
gazing vacantly on the spot where but d
short time before was joy and health aud
happiness, these words Father, save
me !" ah auo


On the Oath of every recurring May
the negroes say ghostly form i seer
kneeling at the old wall, wandering through
the forest, and finally dropping at the foot
Of pine tree, muttering to herself
f" Father save me-"





In Carlisle, Pa, the other day, 9