Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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r * lewism.gkist,proprietor.J |nbc)jenbenf Jantiljt Hctospper: Jfor' % promotion of tjjt political, Social, ligricnltaral anb Commercial Interests of % JJontf. jteems-woo atoam^advahce. VOLUME XI YORKVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 15, 1866. ' NUMBER 43. ' } JU #riginal J'tem Writtea for the YorkvlUc Enquirer. BLUE Al GUM; OR, THE FORTUNES OF FAR. BY CLAUDE FORRESTER. CHAPTER XI.?CONTINUED. 'And do you think that there is &Dy danger in remaining here?' asked Mrs. Rogers, aS Captain Fanlkener, Ellen and herself sat beside the blazing fire in the snug little parlor some weeks after. 'God only knows,' said the captain, looking despondently into the fire. 'Sherman may possibly strike the railroad between this place and Columbia, or he may do so f about Brancbville. If he does the first, this village may escape, but if he decides upon the latter course, which seems more probable, bis liQe of march will be direotly through this section of country.' 'Goodness alive!' exclaimed Mrs. Rogers, with uplifted hands, 'and where in the world are we poor women to go to V 'Remain where you are, of course,' said the captain. 'But they will cut out our tongue?, horn our house and take everything from us,' said Ellen. 'Yes, and tie ns up by the thumbs and bang cannon balls to our toes,' said Mrs. Rogers. 'And make us danoe on hot coals with bare feet, and .' 'Enough ! enough !' exclaimed the captain, starting from his chair in well-feigned terror. Then, quietly resuming his seat, he said in a more serious tone of voice.? 'And is it possible, ladies, that you have been brought to believe all these absurd re* ports about yankee cruelty and barbarism ? What would I not give to get hold of some of these lords of creation, these tea-table heroes, that take so much pleasure in tormenting the ladies, by the circulation of suob ridiculous sebsation stories !' 'But some of these reports are true, Captain Faulkener,' said Mrs. Rogers, with an air of one that knew what she was speaking about. 'Possibly so,' replied the captain. 'There may have been a few isolated cases of outrage perpetrated by unprincipled men ; but as a general thing, yon will find the yankees no worse than any other invading army. I nresume that anvthiner like watches, iewel ry, plate and coin will be in danger, unless pat out of the way; but nobody is going to barm you, madam, unless provoked to anger by uncivil and insulting language on your part.' 'No danger of any them receiving uncivil or insulting language from me, sir,' said t Mrs. Rogers. 'I am well aware of that,' said the captain, 'and, therefore, do I advise you to abandon all idea of a removal, and to remain just where you are. Should Sherman indeed pay this village a visit, endeavor to get an officer to take up quarters in this house while the army remainsin the village, and I promise you, that all will be right.' 'I have observed,' said Ellen, 'as an almost general thing, that soldiers are very apt to defend each other against charges imputed to them. Now this"is; something I cannot understand at all. While the men not in service are continually circulating stories of vankee atrocity, I have vet to meet a Confederate soldier, officer or private, who does not pronounce these very stories utterly false, or considerably exaggerated. Now, how do you account for this ?' 'I am sure that I do not koow, Miss Elk len,' said the captain, 'how it comes to pass, | unless it be because we poor Confeds have no time to manufacture falsehoods, and no inclination to frighten the poor women.? There may be other reasons, for aught I know, but these two are sufficient.' 'The last reason is the best, because the nearest to the truth,' said Mrs. Rogers, smiling. 'No inclination to frighten the poor women, eh ? Rather than acknowledge the existence of danger?which does exist, nevertheless?you will deny facts, rather than frighten us.' 'There may be some truth in that remark,' said the captain; 'but, be that as it may, I do honestly assure you that I do not believe half of these reported cases of yanxee cruelty to non-comoatants. i\ow, Mrs. Rogers, you will do me the justice to take my word for it, that this is not said as an antidote for your fears, but as my honest and conscientious convictions.' Then consulting bis watch and turning to Ellen, be asked, in an under tone of voice, 'Does Miss Susan really intend to allow me to ^ leave her again, without even a good bye ?' 'I will see,' Ellen replied, getting up and leaving the room. 'Say to Captain Faulkener for me,' said Susan, as Ellen was about to leave her, after vainly endeavoring to prevail upon her to go down into the parlor, 'that I wish him well, wherever the fortunes of war may lead him; that I "entertain no ill will toward him, but will not, and dare not allow myself an interview with him again under any ciroumstances whatever. Say to him, for me, that if he continues his visits, with the hope of renewing our former intimacy and relationship, he is oertain to meet with no encouragement on my part. I am henceforth nothing to him; and he, to me, as though he did not exist. Tell him all this.' 'But, dear Susan, you may never see him again, if Sherman should succeed in tapping the road between this place and Charleston.' 'Be it so, then,' she replied firmly. | 'But you love him, Susan,' persisted Elf leo, 'and you are doing violence to the finesl feelings of your heart in acting thus.' 'Love him 1' repeated Susan, her dark eyes flashing with excitement, 'and you stand there so calmly and tell me that ? You, who have pilfered and robbed me of the very object of that love, and taken out of my heart its most precious hope !?you tell me that I love him !' ?Oh Susan! Susan !' exclaimed Ellen, bursting into tears and clinging to the excited and lovely girl, who had been her dearest friend and companion from childhood, 'do not tell me that! Before God, I am innocent of the nnjust and cruel i n ? TJ 11 !. cnarge : uapiaiu rauiaener is tu me me dearest and most valued frieod in all the world, and as such, I love him; but no more, Susan !?as I hope for mercy at the hands of God, I do not love him as you think I do, nor does he love me as he loves you. Oh ! Susan ! we could, indeed we could, make all this plain and satisfactory; and so wc will?but not now, not now.' 'And why not now, Ellen V asked Susan, in a calmer tone looking down upon the weeping girl. 'Because he does not wish me to do so,' said Ellen. 'Indeed !' said Susan, ironically. 'Not to relieve my heart of its burden ? Not to open a way for a renewal of our past associations, and make me happy in the consciousness of your innocence and the faithfulness of his heart's allegiance and loyalty to me ?' 'No, no, no ; not even for that, dear Susan ?' Then suddenly erecting herself and tossing baok the curls from her beautiful face, she said, 'But 1 am conscious of my innocence, Susan, and Captain Faulkener is conscious of his; and if impossible to make you believe it, we must be content without it. But, dear Susan, when the undeniable proof of all this shall come?when our innocence shall be made manifest as the light, and your lover's allegiance and honor be as visible as the noonday sun, are you quite sure that you can take up the story of life just where you leave off now ?' 'I understand you very well, Ellen,' said Susan, a sudden flush of crimson,^mantling her brow. 'You mean to say, that you think my conduct bo cruel and unjustifiable to the parties concerned, that they may deem it a sufficient reason for casting me off altogether, when the cause of my present conduct is removed, and steps taken on my part to resume former associations and relations. Or, in plain words, when I feel disposed to make it up with you and Captain Faulkener, I may meet with a repulse which will make me regret, and be a punishment for my present course of action. This is what you intend to insinuate, El? | i?u. 4 intend to insinuate no such thing, dear Susan. No, no; that would bo oruel and unjust in the extreme. But Captain Faulke ner is about to rejoin his regiment, which is under marching orders, and about to leave Fort Sumter for the interior of the State, probably to meet Sherman's advancing columns. How doyou know what fate j is in reserve for him ? How do you know that his love for you and the complete vindication of his honor, loyalty and allegiance, may not come too late ! Dear Susan, I am incapable of decievrng you, and love you too much to bring so much sorrow upon your heart. Believe me! Captain Faulkener loves you, and that nothing in my conduct, ! however strange it may have appeared, has anything whatever to do with the relationship formerly existing between you. Come, Susan !?tell him good bye, at least.' 'No, Ellen, I shall do no such thing,' said Susan, firmly. 'If Captain Faulkener has it in his power to explain conduct, which is the cause of this estrangement, and yet, stubbornly withholds that explanation, though he is conscious of the uohappiness he thereby occasions me, I cannot, consis? - ' ? ? - - If 4. 1. 1 tentiy witn my own sen-respect, muse uuy j advances toward the renewal of our former j intimacy. In justice to himself, in justice : to you, Ellen, an explanation is demanded; and until that explanation is given and apj proved, Captain Faulkener and myself ate ! more than strangers to each other?much ; more.' Ellen silently arose from her seat and left the room, but, after the lapse of a few moments returned. <When I think how easily all this mystery can be dispelled,' she I said, 'all this unhappy estrangement done away with, and all parties made happy aj gain in each others love and confidence, it 1 seems very hard, Susan, to leave you thus.' 'And why leave me thus, Ellen? Why i so much mystery where nothing is to be ; concealed ?' I 'Alas! something is to be concealed, dear : Susan; some fact, the bare statement of which, would make you so very happy and drive from your suffering heart all this distrust and vile suspicion, whioh so distracts i it now.' < A nrt mil will not do that much for me. i Ellen V * j 'Not now, Susan, not now, because I cannot; but rest assured, that one of these days?very soon, perhaps?you shall know all, and be made sorry for these cruel and j unjust suspicions.' 'Dear Ellen, I will not hide from you the assurance, that what you so earnestly say does, in a measure, relieve my mind; but notwithstanding all this, I repeat that Captain Faulkener must first clear away all mystery on the subject, before I will even consent to grant bim an interview. Now, leave me.' Then, as Ellen was leaving the room, Susan added : 'Bid him good bye for me, and tell him I wish him well.' i 'So we are doomed to part thus, eh ?' said Captain Faulkener, aB Susan's message was { communicated to him. 'Well, Ellen, we ! nar.nnt blame her. after all. An exnlana 1 v" I . tioa is certainly due her for our conduct, | perfectly innocent, if all the circumstances were understood, but exceedingly culpable from her point of view. Well, tell her good bye, Ellen, and try tc cheer her up ; until my return. If anything should happen to me between now and the next time ; I hope to see you, divulge our secret to Susan. God bless you,Elieo !?kiss me again ! so now, good-bye !' The scroam of a locomotive whistle a few moments after, told of the departure of the train which conveyed Captain Faulkener away from those who were dearer to him than all the world beside. (I might have told him good-bye !' said Susan, leaning against the window-sill, and looking out through the blinds upon the departing train. Then, throwing herself into the chair beside the bed, and burying her face in the pillow, she wept as though her poor heart would break. CHAPTER XII. <Wbat's that!' exolaimed old Mr. Rogers ! starting excitedly from hisseat at the table, upsetting bis coffee and turning tbe sugar dish over. (As I am a living man, here comes the Yankees V 'The Lord have mercy on us!' exclaimed Mrs. Rogers, as a roar of field artillery and a running fire of musketry broke upon the i stilly Sabbath morning. 'They are fighting ! down at the old bridge !' 'What madness!' said the old man, walkj ing excitedly about the room. 'Why not : surrender at once, and throw ourselves upon ! Sherman's protection. What can six hun: dred men do against such an army? By (Jupiter! just listen to that!' | 'Let them fight, by all means,'said Susan j enthusiastically. 'The position is excellent and who knows but what something may be accomplished? If the worst comes, our men can fall back uuder cover of the smoke occasioned from the burning of the commissary buildings, which, I am informed, will be fired in such an emergency.' 'Let them fight 1' said Mr. Rogers, in a towering passion,' and pray what sort of fight will a buttery of artillery, supported by a single regiment of infantry, make of it? You talk nonsense!?absolute nonsense !' 'Bat, papa,' said Ellen, 'the infantry regiment numbers over seven hundred men alone; bo there must be more than six hundred down at the bridge altogether.' 'And pray, child, who has posted you on such subjects, that you seem to know so much about it?' asked Mr. Rogers. 'I only know the number of the infantry regiment,' said Ellen, 'and Captain Faulkener told me that much.' 'Oh ! the redoubtuble Captain Faulkener is down at the bridge, eh ? Wo need have ho fears then,' said the old man irouically. Yes,' said Ellen, 'the captain is dowD at the bridge and will do his doty, as be thinks of the old man and helpless women who stand shivering here.' Mr. Rogers looked at Ellen a few moments in silence; then coughing a quick, restless and impatient oougb, hurriedly left the room. Now whose pen can describe the thoughts aud feelings, the anxieties and fears, the suspense and terrors, of these three women's minds, as they silently sat there, listening to the rattling of musketry and the sullen roar of artillery ? Not I, dear reader; but you, whose hearts have experienced the bit? * * * .1 L teruess ot sucn an oraeai, tne norrors 01 such an hoar or day. ******* 'Come yuh, Miss Ellen !?come yuh, quick !' shouted Aristotle. 'Please God ! enty dis Cap'n Faulkener, dat dem bucra man, bringing obor yuh?' Ellen rushed breathlessly out upon the piazza, and, sure enongb, Captain Faulkener was walking slowly and with painful effort between two soldiers, who supported bis feeble, dusty, besmeared and bloody form. 'It is !?it i9 !' screamed Ellen ; and, with a wildly beating heart, she ran down the walk to meet the party at the gate. ?Oh, Julius ! Julius !' exclaimed Ellen, j 'where have they wounded you '!?but, how [ | pale you are!?are you much hurt, dear ?' j 'No?a mere scratch?a mere fl fl flesh j wo-wound,' he replied, with much difficulty, i 'Come here, Aristotle,' said Elleo, in a j tone of the most acute anxiety, 'come here, j and lift Captain Faulkeuer in the house.? j Gently now !?so, that will do !' 'Give me wa-watcr, water,' said the; wounded man. 'Poor fellow !?give him some water,' J said Ellec to-Susao, who now appeared upon ! the piazza, pale as death, and with an ex-' : pression of countenance perfectly wretched ; i ana broken-hearted. 'Here is water, Captain Faulkener,' said i i Susan with a voice almost inaudible from ! | suppressed emotion; and as he greedily j swallowed the cooliDg draught and looked j , thankfully up into her face, she said, as a j terrible thought flashed across her mind,! i 'You are in much pain, are you not?' The captain replied by a groan and a | sigh. 'Take him into my room,' said Ellen ? ! Oome, papa, and help Aristotle to lift him ; I up.' ! 'This is my place, dear Ellen,' said Su-; san, as the captain was laid upon Ellen's: ! bed, and his wound attended to by the fam-' ily physician, who bad been sent for. 'Let j , me do all for him, EUcn.' After the wound had been dressed by the I 'surgeon, aDd proper restoratives admints-! j tered to the sufferer, he revived considers-! oly and seemed more at ease. Ellen and j Susan nursed him tenderly all the livelong j day and all the ensuing niuht, with the assistance of Aristotle, who had become much j attached to the captain, and proved an in' dispensable addition to the corps of nurses j upon the present occasion. 'Oh, Ellen !' said Susan, as she looked ; i upon her patient, now sound asleep, and : to all appearances free from pain, 'how that undivulged secret, that strange mystery, re- j j garding your conduct towards this poor felj i ; low, and his towards you?how it worries | and distracts me !' j 'Dear Susan,' replied Ellen, 'dismiss these j j doubts and distrusts from your mind. They | do him great iujustioo, and ?.' 'Our men are falling back !' exclaimed1 Mrs. Rogers, rushiog into the room. <Oh idj ! what is to be done with the poor captain 7* 'Falling back!' exclaimed the wounded maD, suddenly opening his eyes and looking enquiringly around the room. 'Did you say falling back ??oar men ?' 'Look !' said Mrs. Rogers, pointing out of the window, 'they are running through our field, and ? 0, my !' 'Who fired that time ?' asked the captain as a volley of musketry startled the party. Our poor boys,' said Ellen, going to the window, 'there they go now !' 'Where ? where?' asked the oaptain, suddenly raising himself up into a sitting posture, but quickly falling back upoD his pillow with an expression of intense pain. 'Do not exert yourself, sir,' said Susan trembling in every licub. 'Goodness alive!' exclaimed Mrs. Rogers, 'the Yankees are in the field, running in this direotion ! What shall we do, girls?' 'Leave me to myself ladies, and go out and meet them. Nay! do as I advise,' insisted the captain, 'and try to get an officer to take up bis quarters here, or God knows what may not occur.' The poor, trembling women, ran out of the room,' scarcely knowing what to do or where to go. Meeting Mr. Rogers in the passage way, they were directed by bim to go back into the parlor, look the door, and remain there until he could see an officer. Meantime the yard was being rapidly filled with soldiers, who walked round the house, looking up to the windows, and some few even venturing to try force upon the doors. 'Hello !' said one of the soldiers, meeting old Mr. Rogers upon the piazza, 'hello ! old reb ! dinner most ready ?' ?I am not an old reb,' said Mr. Rogers, 'I'm an Englishman.' 'Just as bad, old fellow,' he replied.? 'Wasn't for you foreigners the war would have been over long ago. Don't believe you're an Englishman anyhow. Anything to drink, old fell ?' 'Go, and get me an officer,' said Mr. Rogers, 'and I'll give you as much as you want, both to eat and drink.' 'You're a trump! blast my buttons, if you ain't!' said the soldier. 'You want an officer, eh ! Well, there's one, there's another,' (and he pointed to two cloaked individuals standing near the house) 'and now where is that jorum, old sport?' While this part of the drama was bein^p enacted at the door, a young, handsome Innlrinn fnllntv panifl tnmhlinor into the nar .W.W.. O ? , lor window among the ladies. Mrs Rogers was so terribly alarmed at his sudden advent, that she uttered a piercing scream and fainted outright, while poor Ellen and Susau stood fast locked in each others arms in the darkest corner of the room. Startled by the scftam of Mrs. Rogers, the young soldier jumped to his feet, and looking around the room, discovered the two trembliug girls in the corner. 'Don't be alarmed, ladies,' said he, 'I have do intention of harming you. Qot any Johnnies about?' 'No, sir,' replied Susan, timidly, 'there are no boys in the family.' 'All the Johnnies in the army, I suppose ?' 'We arc not acquainted with the gentlemen you speak of,' said Susan, looking down and blushing. 'You have never been troubled with Yankee visitations before, I presume, or you would know that we meao rebels, when we say Johnnies,' said the soldier, smiling.? 'But, come ! don't stand trembling in the corner.' 'We tremble from vexation, sir; not from fear,' said Susan, taking Ellen by the hand and leading her towards the door. 'Now, don't leave in that kind of way,' I said the soldier, approaching the door, and standing directly before the girls. Then suddenly starting and looking inquiringly upon Susan, he said, 'whose likeness are you wearing in that broooh on your bosom ? ?let me see it! and be readied out his hand to take bold of it. 'Oh ! do not take it from me,' pleaded Susan. 'Any other article of jewelry but that, you are weloome to.' And she slipped off her rings, one by one, and handed them to bim. 'What do I want of your rings, I should like to know ? Take away your hand from that ambrotype on your bosom,' said the j:~- ,r 1 1. ? ; > 0U1U1C1. 'JL JU^l waubiu IUUA a? lb. It is poor, dear papa's likeness, sir,' said Susao, her eyes filling with tears. 'Please don't take it from me !' Then, observing a sadden change in the soldier's countenance, she asked. 'But what is the matter, sir ?' 'Matter ? why, my God 1 if that is your father's likeness, I am your brother, and you are Susan Mansfield?my long lost sister !' A long, loud pieroing scream of ineffable joy broke from the lips of Susao, and she fell insensible in the arms of Arthur Mansfield. ******* 'ThiR way, sir, this way,' said Mr. Rogers, bowing and entering backwards into the 1 __j rr 3 1 ?n_ J parior; ana an omcer uiuaacu uuu uiuiucu to the ohiD, with a black slouched hat pulled down over eyes, walked silently in and sat himself down by the fire Thrusting hiB great, heavy army boots almost into the fire, and bowing bis head down upon his breast be remained as silent and motionless as a statute for some moments, when, hearing the voice of Arthur, addressing his new found sister, he said without raising his head, 'Mansfield, rejoin your command, sir! This family are under my protection.' 'Is that an order, or a request, captain ?' asked the soldier, rising. 'Both.' 'Bat, suppose we have no objections to him remaining where he is, and there is no necessity for his absence V asked Susan. Then,' said the officer timidly glancing towards the speaker, aud then quickly averting his glance, 'let him suit himself. 1 Stay or go, as he pleases/ Arthur resumed his former seat beside Susan, and the silent officer watched the steam arisiog from his drying boots with a troubled and anxious oounteoaDoe. Suddenly tbe rush and bustle in the passage or entry, the confused noise of many voices and the patter of many footsteps upon the floor, startled tbe captain from his revery and brought the entire family hastily to tbeir feet. A moment after, Aristotle rushed into the room exclaiming, at the top of his voice, 'Bress de Lord 1 worrah dis now !' 'What is the matter!' asked Ellen, in much alarm. 'De yankee dne out Cap'n Faulkener, fuh tra, an gwine broke tbe door opin, tab sartin.' 'What is all this ?' asked the captain, hastily throwing baok the door, and stepping ont npon the passage. 'Every man of yon leave this honse instantly !' 'Bat,' replied one of the soldiers, touching his hat, 'there is a rebel offioer in that room.' And he pointed to the door, at which Ellen now stood trembling. 'Bat I order yoa to leave this boase, sir!' said tbe officer sternly. The soldier looked at Ellen, then at his comrades, wonderingly, but observing the determined posture of their offioer, sullenlyobeyed the order, and left tbe house. 'And now, Miss,' said the offioer turning to Ellen, 'you will please open that door.' 'For what?' asked Ellen, bracing herself agaiost the door aDd looking defiantly upon him. 'You would not measure swords with a disabled foe !' 'Not if he is disabled,' said the officer; 'but I must be the best judge of that. Open the door !' 'For God's sake! open the door Ellen,' said a voice within. 'Don't keep me looked up here, as though I were afraid to face that fellow, outside. If you have any respect for my honor, as a soldier, open the door.' What madness I' said Susau, to herself, growing pale as death; then, whispering something to her brother, who stood beside her, she suid aloud, 'The poor fellow is wounded, sir.' 'Very well,' said the officer, with a sigh, which surprised tbe party. 'I hope that I know how to treat a fallen foe. The gentleman in this room understands these matters more than you do, ladies; and, if you will but do him justice, and give me an opportunity of discharging my duty without resource to harsh measures, I pledge you my word, that no barm will come of this affair.' 'Open the door, I tell you!' shouted Cantain Fntilknner from widhin. 'What in the devil's name do I want with a woman between me and my foe ? Say !?you fellow out there ! are you an officer ?' 'Captain ia the United States army,' replied the officer. j 'All right, old fellow!' said Faulkener, I through the key hole. <1 am Julius S j Faulkener, Captain in the Army of the [ Confederate States of America, wounded I during the engagement at the bridge yest terday and your prisoner now.' That is decidedly cool,' said Arthur, laughing. 'And spoken like a man, too,' said the officer. Then, turning to Ellen, who had been gazing spell-bound upon his features for some moments, with a strange, indefinable sensation of heart, he said, to her utter surprise, 'Miss Ellen are you aware, that I have the power to compel you to surrender the key of that door ? Are you aware that just such conduct as this is what gives rise to the falsehoods circulated about yankee cruelty to helpless women ? Could I be blamed, if, in the discharge of my duty, I found it necessary to lay violent hands upon you ?' Violent hands upon me, sir!' repeated Ellen, quickly drawing a repeater from her bosom, much to the surprise of all parties and to the consternation of the ladies. >1 have only to step out upoo the piazza Miss Ellen, and make known this act of yours,' said the officer coldly, 'and everything around these premises will be in dames, aud your life, and those dearest to you, be worth about that!' and be snapped bis Sogers. 'But I have reasons, which you know oothiug about, for controlling my temper and adopting no such measures.? Now put up that pistol, and, for God's sake! do not let any of my men see it iu your hands. Nay! I insist upon it. By this time, half of the corps have been informed that a rebel officer is secreted in this house; and you may rest assured, that uui? _ii? u:_ ?:_?i_ ?- j-_ less yuu aiiuw uiui cjuieuijr wu ounouucr himself into my hands, the building will be laid iD ashes, sooner than he sh-ould escape. Now, should another officer come in just at this juncture and find matters as they are, I tell you that it will go very hard with the prisooer, as well as yourselves. But, I will make a fair proposition : Put the key undor the door, and let Captain Faulkenor do as he thinks proper.' 'Do as he bids you, Ellen,' said Mr. Rogers. 'I shall give no o&untenance to such behaviour as this. Who is Captain Faulkener, that the lives of my household and the safety of my property should thus be risked and trifled with for him ? Open the door!' 'Say?you lanatics out there !' shouted the captain, 'if you don't let me out of this, I'll jump out of the window !' -r ti _ ?: ? 4? i 9 : J 'X snail wain nve miuuies luugei, oaiu the officer. The rapid discharge of a few pieces of musketry, accompanied by a shout from without, startled the party. 'Your time is Dearly out, Miss Ellen,'said the officer; then turning to Arthur, he said, "See what that firing is about.' 'Dear Ellen,' said Susan, her eyes filling with tears, 'for my sake open the door.? Your conduct amazes me beyond measure.' 'If you wish it,' said Ellen, bandiog her the key, <1 have nothing more to say.' And, so saying, she burst into tears and vacated her position. 'She loves him !' said the officer to himself, looking sadly down upon the oarpet aod tapping his boot with his sword. Then silently taking the key from Susan's trembling hand, he unlocked and opened the door. 'Captain Fanlkener/ said he, throwing the door wide open and walking in, 'you are my prisoner. I . The devil!' Ellen and Snsan, who stood weeping without, raised their heads upon hearing the officer's exclamation, when, to their utter surprise and amazement, they discovered mat uaptain JiauiKener was doc tnere. ac that moment, Arthur Mansfield, who had been sent to ascertain the oaase of the firing, hastily entered the room. <By heavens!' he exoiaimed, 'did mortal ever hear of anything so desperately absnrd !?so fool hardy I' 'What? what?' asked half a dozen voices at onoe. 'Why he actually jumped out of the window; dashed right in among our men; mounted the Colonel's horse, bofore they had time to think what was up, and is now going like five hundred, God knows where ! Our 'boys gave him a parting shot, which seemed to stagger him a little; but, away ire went, for all that.' 'Escaped." asked the officer, biting his Hps and looking considerably confused and alarmed. 'Well, that remains to 6e told,' said Arthur. 'Our boys arc In pursuit of him, however.' 'A wounded man, eh !' said the officer, glancing upon the triumphant countenance of Ellen. 'There was no necessity for deception, Miss Ellen, and, I must confess, no reason In the world for so hazardous aa undertaking, on the part of the captain.' 'There has been no deception practiced upon you, sir,' said Ellen, turning quickly away from a glance which she could not endure, and which troubled the depths of her hearty 'Captain Faulkcner it wounded, and 1 cannot Imagine how he has been able to accomplish the brilliant feat, Imputed to him. 'Brilliant feats sometimes cost people their lives, Miss Ellen,' said the officer. Then, suddenly throwing aside his cloak and HAlng his broad rimmed hat from his head, hs said, In an undertone, 'Although an enemy of mine, Miss Ellen, both nationally and personally, I cannot but hope, for your sake, that he will escape his pursuers.' Ellen gazed upon him a few moments In speechless surprise, blushed, and looked confusedly down. ' You recognize me then, Miss Ellen." said the officer.? 'Aye,'he continued turning to the party present, 'you all most recognize mc, in spite df the changes which time, exposure and sorrow may have wrought.' 'Williams !?Edwin Williams ! by all that's strange !' exclaimed Mr. Sogers, extending bis hand, and then suddenly withdrawing it, with a look of aversion. 'Mr. Williams! and thus!'exclaimed Susan. 'Why the Lord help us! Ills Mr. Williams, sure enough,' said Mrs. Rogers. 'And pray, what does this mean, sir." asked Mr. Rogers. 'Was It for this that you left us so suddenly two years ago ? What wrongs have you to revenge 'I am here, sir,' replied Williams, at my country's call. I have no personal interest in the matter, no personal wrongs to redress, no lnjurleato revenge.' 'Papa, we do not blame Captain Faulkener for taking sides with the South, and doing battle In her behalf, because we know that he is conscientious, and fights from principle; neither con wc blame Mr. WUIlama, or be angry with him because he differs with us, and leans towards the other side of the question. Every Southern man should be enrolled In the Southern army, and we cannot sec any impropriety j in the same course being pursued by men of Northern birth towards the United States Army.' Ellen was rewnrded by a look of thankj, for this kind interposition, which gradually changed to that of surprise and wonder, as Williams recalled the last, sad and painful Interview, and compared It with the present favorable sentiments, from a quarter least expected. But with all the suddenness of thought, came back the memory of Captain Faulkenerand the deep Interest which Ellen had manifested in him. Ah ! with that bitter thought came the impression that the kindly spoken words of Ellen were, after all, but a mere cordial administered to soothe and calm the wound which she knew had been inflicted?not to heal and cure effectually. While these dark thoughts harrassed his mind and clouded his fine brow, poor Susan, with a heart-consuming interest was watching the ever varying countenance of Ellen, who sat directly opposite, with hands clasped upon her lap and head meekly bowed upon her bosonf. Susan remera* bored the ever-repeated, constantly occurring manifestations of affection and strong attachment, which Ellen had shown for and towards Captain Faulkener. The frank, open, undisguised Interest and anxiety In,and for his safety, upon the present occasion. Ah ! what but love could be the motive ?f all this??the clue to all these otherwise Improper and culpable attentions ? 'Poor fellow!' said Arthur Mnnsfield, walking leisurely Into the room, and seating himself beside Susan, dejectedly, 'rebel as he Is, I do wish he could have given our boys the slip!' 'What now, Mansfield." asked Williams, coloring, as he beheld the calm, blue eyes of Ellen fixed seorchlngly upon him. 'Have they captured the brave captain 'Captured him! Poor fellow 1 not until tbey had so disabled him that he could not manage his horse.' 'Wounded him ngain asked Ellen, In a voice scarcely audible from suppressed emotion. 'I should rather think they had,' said Arthur. 'If he don't die before sunset ?.' 'Die!' exclaimed Ellen, starting up wildly from her seat, while Susan and Williams instinctively glanced at each other with a slgli, 'did you say die." 'Ellen 1'said Mr. Rogers, reprovingly, 'no more of this ! Sit down, and compose yourself!' 'Sit down and compose myself??and lie dying ?' said Ellen, pale as marble. 'But why do I linger here, when his dear head should be pillowed upon this bosom and his dear 'Silence !' said Mr. Rogers. 'Nay! do not speak so harshly to her,'inld Williams,her grief is sacred, at least. Where are you going, Miss Ellen V 'And where should I go but to him." she said, staggering towards the door. 'Dear Ellen, you are beside yourself,' said Susan, with a sorrowful look. It Is I thru should be beside him?not you. Oh, Ellen! Ellen! you have denied in vain, what your present conduct reveals, alas ! too surely! Be calm, at least, for my sake.' 'Calm, Susan ?' she replied, pressing her hands to her throbbing temples, 'Calm ? Oh! Susan, I can bear it no longer!?It trill come!?he is mv brother !' And she fell insensible, at tbe feet of her friend, as still, pale and cold as a lifeless corpse. 'Poor Ellen,' said Susan, a& Captain Williams and herself sat alone in the little parlor the next morning, 'how cruel have I been In my distrust and unjust suspicions both to herself and brother. VBut, what think you,' said Williams, could have been he motive of young Mr. Rogers, to adopt an assumed name and to keep his true relationship a secret even to bis father." 'From what I can gather from Ellen,' said Susan, 'his motive was a singular and most extraordinary one. We cannot appreciate such conduct nor perceive Its necessity under any circumstances; but, nevertheless, he deemed It perfectly consistent, and seems to have succeeded in leaving the same Impression upon his sister's mind. His father had long since despaired of ever beholding his son again, ??iil ttmt ?nn_ rather than make himself known to his father, only to be taken from hli embrace again by some fatal bub let, preferred to allow him to remain in Ignorance of hi* existence until the war was orer. If killed In battle hi* father would be spared the sorrow which such a knowledge would impart, but if spared to the close of the war he Intended to make himself known to his family, generally.' 'Very extraordinary, indeed,' said William*. 'Much mental suffering,long sleepless nights and sorrowful days mlght^lave been spared me, had Ellen entrusted me with her secret. By the course of action which sh? has pursued, she has made herself as well a* her poor brother and myself very unhappy, and?though I would not mention it to her for the world?I cannot but feel that she is responsible for what occurred yesterday.' 'Her brother himself, Miss Susan, is responsible ; for she merely acted In keeping with her promfcc of secresy imposed upon her by hlin.' Then after a pause he said, 'Do you know that this very secret between Ellen and her brother was the Indirect cause of my joining the array.' 'Indeed ! really, I cannot see how that can be,' said Susan, surprised. 'I will tell you, then,' said Williams. 'In the first place, I never would have proposed to Mln Ellen at the tine <* In the manner which I did, had it not been on account of my Jaalouiy of the captain, and my fear of rivalahip. ltow, of course, had I known him to be her brother, no raeb fears or feelings could have existed. You know the result, of my last Interview with Misa Ellen, and that I left the South Immediately after.' Yes.' 'Well, I was actuated In such a course by the conviction that the Captain had been before me and won the heart of Miss EUen. That was what maddened me, that was what made tile hope of success in any after effort on my part utterly vain. The mere Oct of a non-rtclprocattoirof my lore was not the cause of my sudden removal from the South, but the impression that that love was given toanoth? ??il ?K?? tka fntiirn /-tills) nssvmr Oflln AMfl tin IIn iVC? nue of hope to me. New don't you see, Mian Susan, that had I known that my Imagined Ural washer brother, I would not have gone North; and if I had not done so, why, of course, I would not have been a captain in the United States Army now.' Then after a pause, he added: 'Not that I think it at all necessary, Miss Susan, to seek some excuse for the coarse I have taken, (be 1 consider my position one of honor and of which I have reason to he proud; but that does not at all alter the case, for It is Just as true as ever, that Miss Chen's conduct drove me into the army.' 'And made both of you unhappy to unnecessarlly,' aaid Susan, 'for Ellen did love you, after all, although the would not acknowledge It for many a long month after you ftH gone.' 'Did love, M1m Susan V asked Williams, sadly. 'Aye and dees love, Captain William*,' said Sana. The sword fell trom hie hand?the sword that he ban held firmly through the smoke and din, the rush and roar of many a battle?and the brave soldier felt wUhin him the gentleness of a little child. Starting up from his seat with the older hope all bright and beautiful within his boeom, and the peace-be-stills gliding whlsperingly about Me heart, lhat he had deemed Insensible aa steel, He grasped the hand of the beautiful woman, who had ever been his friend through Woe and weal, In peace and wtr, and said, with a . voice choked?and almost Inaudible With emotion : 'You are too kind, Miss Susan, to deceive me with n false hope ?good to lift my heart into this'blaze of light and ineffable Joy, only to plunge Into darkness and sorrow again. No, no; you would not thus deceive and trifle with a heart whose experiences have been so sad, and beget within it a blessedness which partook only of the Mies of a pleasant dream from which the sleeper most be rudely awakened. I can trust you, Miss Susan, my dear, faithful friend, and may God bless you for the sweetness of the hope you htave Imparted?the unspeakable Joy you have caused to sfdng up in my heart.' CONCLUSION. 'I have seen Captain Sogers this morning, Miss Susan,' said Williams, as he stood upon the piazza with the femily, 'and I am happy to inform you that since the amputation of bis arm he seems to be doing remarkably Well. The wound In his back is not as serious as at first supposed.? The General has paroled him, and promised me awhile ago thai before the hospital tents are taken down, be wilt remove him Just as he is, bed and alt, over here.' Then, turning to Mr. Bogen, he added. 'The captain is a noble fellow, sir, and our boys ore delighted wltbhim. Men can appreciate true courage and bravery under n grey coat aa well as a blue, though It does seem a pity that so gallant a fellow should not fight under the old flag. And now Mr. Bogen, I must bid you good bye, sir, for my time is up. I am your friend, sir, and can respect your devotion te the cause you have espoused, even though I cannot advocate I vour DrinciDles. When this unhappy state of things is over, which, God grant may he very soon, shall I again he a welcome visitor, If I come in neither blue or gray?* 'Captain Wflliami, I am a plain man, air, and use plain language,' said Mr. Sogers, grasping the proffered hand. 'In happier days, I was made yonr debtor for the preservation of my dear child's life, and now, amidst all the ruin, distress and desolation I behold around me, I find my property safe and the lives of my entire family preserved through your exertions and kind interference. We dreaded this hour, sir, and looked forward to it with sad forebodings and evil presentiments, but, under your protection, I bave yet to learn of the slightest inconvenience occasioned by the presence ot the Invading army, either to the iadiea or myself. Such could not have been the case, if Providence had not directed me to make application to you for the protection we so much needed, from outrage, insult and plunder. Under these circumstances I beg you to accept my thanks?the thanks of an old man?in behalf of his fhmliy, for your great kindness and invaluable services. As aoon as this unnatura 1 conflict is over, come among us again, and you shall always receive a hearty welcome ftom old Dun' can Rogers and bis family.' I 'And what does Miss Ellen say asked the captain, taking herhandgently whltin his own, while she blushed and hung down her head. 'Shall I return after the war A slight pressure of the hand was the icspons*. 'But, will you make it worth my while to return/' 'I will!' she replied looking up into his free with the same, sweet fascinating smile that used ta thrill bis heart in days of yore. Pressing the little hand to his ilpa, and uttering a fervent, 'God bless you, ElJen!' be threw himself Into bU saddle and was gone. Ellen looked after him until his tall form waa lost and mimried in the vast mass of men In the distance; then, turning with a sigh she looked up and beheld the dear face of Susan, beaming with satisfaction and quiet delight.? Rushing Into her arms, and burying her head on her f aithful bosom, she wept as though her heart would break In the ery excess of joy and happiness. After awhile four soldiers bore the precious burden of poor Captain Rogers into the house. The bearers of the dejected, sad and dispirited Confederate officer, were rough looking men-enough, Judging from the exterior, but the kind pitying look bestowed upon the gallant sufferer, as they gently cased down his pallet and carefully adjusted the pillow, and the unmistakaable sincerity of the 'good-bye, old fell!?God- bless you!' sent them away ladened with the benedictions of loving and grateful hearts. There were many long months of acute physical pain in store for the gallant captain, many long months of intense depression of mind and disappointment of heart; but the poor fellow bore up heroically beneath it all, under tha gentle ministrations of the devoted Susan. Edwin Williams returned some months after the surrender of Gen. Lee's army, and, Mr. Rogers, after some very natural objections, which were Anally overcome, consented to his union with Ellen. Her brother, with e noble generosity, which Williams could not but admire, pleaded his ease so successfully, that the old man ceased to rebel against Love's universal government and in this respect, at least, became a ataunch union man. Arthur Mansfield, before returning to Providence to claim the hand of the genUe Alice Williams, visited the family of Mr. Sogers, and cordially consented to the marriage of Susan and Julius Sogers, better known to our readers as Captain Paulkener. Taking the wounded man by the band, as he was about to leave, ho said: 'We are both Englishmen, Julius, and neitbei of us are responsible for the terrible events of the past four years. Finding ourselves amlds{ a rebellion, the Isaues of which were to affect the destiny of the whole world, it became us as men to fall into line and do battle for a principle, not sectional but universal in Its application and influence. I believe, sir, that you wore perfectly honest and conscientious in the part you have taken, and In the adoption of the Confederate cause as your own. I honor your gallant and heroic conduct; your selfsacrificing devotion to principle, and would give some unmlstakeable evidence of the good will and friendship I feel towards you and every other soldier, like yourself, who wore a suit of grey In the late rebellion. I confeea that I think that you have all erred in opinion, and acted under the influence of a dangerous and fatal mistake, and I am rejoiced, as much for your sake as my own, that this gigantic rebellion has come to an end; but that does not make me think the less of you, as brave, valiant and gallant men, whose deeda of valor in the field has glorified ths rebellion with imperishable renown, and made the whole nation of soldiers at least, proud to welcome you back again under tbe flapping of the stars and stripes of our dear old flsg.Shoulder to shoulder may we henceforth stand; united, happy and prosperous as an undivided' people. Let the past be burled in oblivion, and tbe future find us ail diligently engaged In the peaceful cultivation and development of our vast resources as a nation.' Then turning to Susan, he as 1,1 llh,n I. nn. I.... I am dnirOUS Of bringing aboutand, placing bar little band In that of the wounded man, be said, 'and it la thl?Now good-bye, until we meet again.' 'Be sure to bring slater South, Arthur,' said Williams, as he stood upon the piazza, 'and tell bcr, that In spite of the desolated fields and smouldering villages; in spite of distress and almost despair in this once sunny section?in spite of all this, tbess ts urs in thjc old lakd tit! The Opinion op a Petersburg Darkey ?'Wish Marts Liooulo bad done kep bis freedom. It's jost iike Coofederik money?more yoa get oo it, the less ooant is it.'?Index.