546 ELLERY TRUMAN AND EMILY RAYMOND, morning to set out for the army. As the family | spur to know the cause of their appearing on his sat down by the winter's fire, he placed himself by the side of the apparently abstracted Emily, but the moment the letter was unfolded, and displayed the name of Ellery Truman, than the sheet and Emily were vanished-she snatched the paper and rushed into her own room. Bertram and the family, struck with unutterable astonishment, were many minutes deprived of motion; and when restored to their recollection, all attempts short of actual violence was found ineffectual to reach Emily, who, to all their pleading, remained completely silent. God of heaven! thy ways are inscrutable,' ejaculated Bertram, as he wrung his hands; and departed the next morning after this new mystery in the malady of Emily was added to a case already bevond all medical skill. "The conduct of Truman remained as inexplicable as that of Emily; to letters stating in the most delicate and pathetic terms the state of her mind, he maintained total silence; in no one letter he wrote, was found the slightest allusion to her name. ""Truman, you have deceived us all,' painfully ejaculated Bertram, as on a heavy, cloudy, and stermy morning of March, 1776, he set out to meet, to him, the infinitely less appalling horrors of war, than those he had encountered on his native spot, within the preceding six weeks. "We may pass over the scenes of seventeen months, and suppose ourselves on the fields near Saratoga. From his knowledge of the rifle, Wilson Bertram had been transferred into Morgan's far-famed regiment. Ellery Truman, now a colonel, and to all outward appearance entirely restored to health and strength, made a part, and an efficient part, of that army which gave Great Britain a lesson she might have used to better advantage. "Morgan's corps was regarded as the most suitable to oppose the savage allies of the civilized invaders, and from that corps detachments frequently were despatched on secret and dangerous night marches to circumvent or surprise both species of enemy. On one particular occasion, Wilson Bertram was, with twenty more men, ordered from the camp in the evening. The service was effectually performed, and at an early hour next morning, the small band was cautiously treading their way back to their regiment, when their ears caught first the sound of extended but scattered firing. The signals of battle increased every moment, until the discharge of small arms, artillery, and the shouts of thousands of men mingled in one common tumult. It was the morning of the battle of Stillwater, and the little platoon stood in great danger of being enveloped by the larger bodies, and exposed to the fury of friends and enemies. Their gallant and intelligent commanding officer took his determination at once to march forward as rapidly as possible, and join any of the continental infantry regiments he could reach. By good fortune, this attempt succeeded; but the moment that Bertram saw the colonel galloping up to their front, glad would he have been to escape recognition:-that colonel was Ellery TruThe uniform of the riflemen caught the eagle eye of Truman, and he came up on the nan. left flank. In few words the officer gave him the required explanation; but though done in an instant, the eyes of Truman and Bertram metthey steadily regarded each other for a moment, when Truman, wheeling his horse and waving his sword over his head, gave the charge in a voice which resounded to the ranks of the ene my, and was responded to; and in a few minutes the continental regiment was fiercely and orderly met, out-flanked, and thrown into disorder. A most deadly fire, however, on the left, from the rifle band, to whom every tree was a fortress and every British officer a mark, in some measure checked the assailants; but the riflemen were thus most exposed, and incurred the mo mentary danger of utter destruction by the advancing line, when a tremendous shout from the British drew their attention to the right, where, through the smoke, they saw Col. Truman and his horse fall to the ground. Without a moment's hesitation, Bertram dashed towards the still cherished friend of his youth; and by one impulse, so decisive in battle, drew with him all that remained of his own corps and a number of others, and a most sanguinary conflict commenced around the fallen officer. Numbers were on the point of prevailing, when a shout seemed to shake the earth and overpower the sound of all the fire arms on the field. A pause of a moment, a death-like pause, was followed by another and still more appalling shout. The cause was soon made terribly known to the regiment opposed to that of Colonel Truman. The British army was broken, and flying before those battalions which British pride a few months before affected to despise. Those opposed to Truman's regiment now fled in the utmost disorder, dreading to be surrounded. The retreat of the enemy was just in time to save the few that remained to defend the bleeding Truman. ""The British have fled and you are safe,' was breathed into the ear of the mangled hero, by a man who supported him. "The voice was intentionally counterfeited; but nature was too true to herself, and Truman, with more strength than could have been expected, exclaimed, 'Wilson Bertram, is it possible?" He was blinded by his own blood, but the voice went to his heart; and as he was tenderly borne on a litter from the field, he several times repeated, 'saved by Wilson Bertram.' "The heart of his preserver was too full to make any farther reply, until every necessary attention was paid to a man admired by the whole army. By his repeated request, Bertram was permitted to be his attendant; but his wounds, examined and dressed, the surgeons gave no hopes of recovery; and a second time, Ellery Truman was considered as mortally wounded. In a few hours a violent fever dissipated all hopes that he would ever again be conscious of his own situation. In the paroxysm of delirium, the name of Emily was frequently and mournfully repeated. To an inquiry of one of the surgeons, Bertram replied, his sister.' "In armies, every common soldier becomes, in some degree, a surgeon; and such was the case with Bertram, who, from the first, indulged hopes that the firm constitution of Truman would still enable life to triumph. On the evening af- | that attended it, had a full effect, as the surter the battle of Stillwater, when his bloody charged breast of the man to whom it was adClothes were stripped off, a golden locket was dressed found instant relief; he saw that all men found suspended by a riband, on which was beautifully embroidered E. R. The locket was ying to his heart. Though to all appearance dying, the moment the locket was touched he made a grasp with both his hands, and pressed it down to its place. One of the surgeons-a man who deserved the title-felt the appeal, and forbid the relic to be touched. ""Your humanity will be returned to you a thousand fold,' exclaimed Bertram, as he assisted to re-adjust the riband locket, and hope beamed of better days. "The battle of Stillwater rendered the situation of the British army critical, and in a few days it became desperate-hopeless-and the destruction or capture of this invading force became evident. Whilst many, with wounds far tal danger was over, and hope whispered confi- ""Have surrendered prisoners of war'- "Very nearly so,' replied Bertram, who indeed would have at that moment sustained the opinion of the colonel, if any third instance of unexpected happiness had occurred, but summoning his presence of mind on an occasion where all danger was far from over, he continued, It is really true, the British army is in our hands.' "Both indeed had been imprudent; but who, in their situation, would not have been impruLess formidable in appearance, sunk, life linger- dent? Wilson was recalled to full recollection ed in the frame of Ellery Truman; but even by a long drawn sigh, and Truman sunk when the fever abated his reason wandered. In the battle he had received a contusion on the head, near his former wound; yet there was one near him, who still dared to hope. He had been removed to a farm house, at some distance from the noise and tumult of the camp. It was rather late in the night, the lamp on the wall threw a pale and flickering light on the still, fine, and really admirable face, rendered even more expressive by the now prominent features. His early and steady friend sat gazing on that face, and bitterly reflecting on the events of the last three years. The stillness of the night was faintly broken by the restless sighs of the invalid. These sighs gradually subsided, and Bertram, for a moment lost in his own mournful retrospect, did not perceive, that all was still; but when the calm was perceived, his abstraction vanished, and he sprung to his feet, exclaiming, he is dead. But ecstacy! Truman was not dead! he bad fallen into a soft and sweet sleep, his breathing was free and regular. What a night! for ten hours did the eyes of Bertram remain fixed on the placid visage. Every intruder was kept at a distance, by an expressive wave of the hand; and the distant clock sounded three, in the morning, before the patient began to move. The anxious and watchful Bertram saw the motion with dread, and his fears were not lessened when Truman vociferated, 'Level your pieces, give it to them, my boys.' The expression almost drove the attendant frantic, as, for a moment, he thought it madness; but it was the contrary, it was restored reason. All the intermediate events were lost to him, and for a moment he thought himself on the field of battle. As his powers of recollection were gradually restored, his looks wandered for some time; but soon settled on the fixed, mute, and suffused face of Bertram, exclaiming in a low but steady voice, 'Where are we? Is not that you, Bertram?" "Overpowered by excess of joy, Bertram ran some risk of being reduced to the mental state he so much dreaded in the case of his charge; but Truman, who, though slowly, at length fully comprehended his situation, observed, 'why Wilson.' This short expression, with the look back exhausted on his pillow. At that moment the surgeon who had first dressed his wound, on the evening of the battle of Stillwater, entered; and finding the happy change, recommended quiet, and having previously learned the fact of both having been bred in the same neighbourhood, observed to Bertram, apart, as he was mounting his horse, 'Avoid all conversation on subjects of excitement, joyful or sorrowful:' and giving a look that penetrated the heart of the hearer, wheeled his horse and rode off. It was the same surgeon who ordered Colonel Truman's locket to be left undisturbed. He was a man who had studied more of the human than the anatomy of the body. The import of his order Bertram understood, but found not easy in practice. A composing draught had once more sunk Truman into a calm sleep, which lasted some hours; but on waking, on a fine autumn afternoon, his senses perfectly restored, he again found his old school mate, Bertram, eyeing him with unfeigned joy. ""Do you feel any pain,' demanded the delighted, but still anxious attendant. ""No,' replied Truman, 'I am weak, but perfectly free from pain. Bertram, the only pain I feel is, the singular mystery of finding ourselves here together.' "The injunction of the surgeon darted into the mind of Bertram, who remained in embarrassed silence. Truman penetrated the cause, and continued. Wilson Bertram, I am fully able to sustain an explanation.' Bertram reflected that unsatisfied curiosity, in a case where the deepest feelings were called into action, must be more dangerous than any other species of excitement, gazed a few moments on the inquiring visage intensely fixed on him, commenced and gave a concise but connected account of all that had passed in which they had been mutually concerned since the morning of the battle of Stillwater. Colonel Truman listened with profound attention, and when his attendant closed, observed, Wilson Bertram, why do you begin your story so near the end?' "Because, replied Bertram,' 'I thought these circumstances were the only objects of your inquiry.' 548 1 ELLERY TRUMAN AND EMILY RAYMOND, "Truman eyed him steadily for some time, then deliberately opening his bosom, untied the blood stained riband, and drew forth the locket, handed it to Bertram, shewing him a spring, observing, 'press it.' The order was obeyed, and exposed a most exquisite miniature of Emily Raymond, with a lock of her hair. "Bertram was utterly overpowered, as he sat transfixed viewing the mute and smiling image. At length Truman observed, 'There must be some frightful mystery, or why are we both here? Wilson Bertram, do you remember the evening you were with, under the double oak?' "This demand roused every latent feeling of Bertram, and at once tore away from his eyes the dark veil which had long rendered to him the conduct of Truman so inexplicable; but the demand did more, it broke down at a blow all false inequality created by military rank. Bertram felt himself doubly an injured man; and he felt, and keenly felt, that a most innocent and lovely being had been crushed to the earth by a mistake. These reflections were borne to his mind by one flash of thought, and he promptly replied, Yes, Ellery Truman, I very well remember being under the double oak, with Emily Raymond; do not start at the name, for if you have not heard, you have much to hear.' Here Bertram then commenced, and with all the energy of innocence, unmindful of the surgeon's precaution, minutely went over what I have here related. As before, not a whisper from Truman interrupted the dreadful tale; but when it was closed, the gulf his unfounded suspicions had created yawned before him, and clasping his thin and emaciated hands together, exclaimed, in agony, 'What a friend, and what a woman have I sacrificed. Oh! Wilson Bertram, I have been ungrateful-mad-frantically bent on my own destruction. But it is done.' "The contrition and self-condemnation of a haughty spirit, is the most overpowering of all appeals. Bertram was completely subdued, and he exclaimed with affectionate warmth. Col. Truman, in a month you will be at the head of your regiment.' ""Head of my regiment,' slowly responded Truman, Wilson Bertram, call me not Colonel Truman. I will not-cannot bear the title from my more than equal-from my earliest friend, my latest friend-my preserver. Colonel, I know too well at what expense it has been purchased.' ""Your bravery, good conduct, and coolness,' quickly responded Bertram. ""Bravery-good conduct-coolness,' repeated Truman. Well, let the world think so, and a bitter smile writhed rather than played upon his wan features. Bertram could hold out no longer, his heart seemed bursting; before him sat almost the shade of the man who even his recent estrangement and its cause, poured a flood of mingled recollections too overwhelming to be sustained, and he sunk to a chair and sobbed like an infant. "Truman beheld his friend thus for some minutes, until the tide of regret was subsiding, when he reached his hand, and seizing with all his remaining strength that of Bertram, ex claimed, 'Why is our better knowledge the las we learn? I thought I knew you, Bertram, te I was mistaken. But, oh! why were you on the field of Stillwater-But-I do not deserve die as Dixon died, or sleep as Montgomery as Dixon sleep.' ""Honour and fame still await you, Eller Truman,' interrupted Bertram, with a coule nance on which the smile of hope struggled w the tear of tender solicitude. ""Honour and fame!' emphatically repeate Truman, in such a cause, honour and fame an worth both life and death; but I know my ow constitution too well. Immediate death I ne ther fear or expect; some years I may lingeryears, if a thousand, too short to expiate thei justice, the cruelty-But why wound you wil my remorse. Bertram, my body and spirits an broken. You may think me still raving, but my resolutions are taken, and whatever may be the consequence, they shall be executed, if the dregi of strength will admit.' "Bertram sat in inquiring silence until, after a long pause, Truman resumed, 'In the first instance, you must take charge of my will; it is in my portmanteau. In the next place-l see your inquiries in your face-I return to Swata ra, and as far as man can repair' 6 "Here Bertram forgot himself, and vehemently ejaculated, There is no hope! But with one of those sudden changes in the human heart. swerved in a moment from despair to hope, and before the somewhat counfounded Truman could reply, contradicted his rash expression, by exclaiming-Yes, there is hope! redeeming hope! and-all may yet be happy. "The flash threw its its light into the heart of Truman, who, with a smile playing upon his manly, noble, and now animated race, exclaimed, 'Yes, Wilson, and you shall be discharged, and return with me.' "This last proposal touched a concealed cord iu the breast of Bertram, who replied, Return with you I must-but as to the discharge, let it be a furlough for the present.' "The next morning after this eclaircissement Truman requested the attendance of the favourite surgeon, who with great pleasure complied, and Truman, without stating his reasons, requested a candid opinion on his case, 'Your health, replied the surgeon, demands only proper care, and your bodily strength time,' and he paused. ""Much time,' calmly observed Truman. ""You understand your own case,' rejoined the surgeon. ""Too well,' interrupted Truman, 'to stand in the way of a young, active, and brave man. The united colonies need soldiers and not invalids.' " I only express the feelings of all the army,' rejoined the surgeon, 'when I say, and ardently say, I wish to see Colonel Ellery Truman at the head of his regiment. But a few months reposedespair is a disgrace to our profession. Let me give one advice-retain your commission six months. Adieu.' "The second day after the interview with the surgeon, Colonel Truman and Wilson Bertram were on their way to their native place, on Swa ara. It was a time when detachments of men | ral Burgoin and his red coats, nor killed myself vere constantly marching to and from the army. runnin-but I'd have walked home to Swatara Decent accommodation was difficult, and quiet odgings almost impossible to procure. It was ""Tom Dooling, was you at Derry MeetingHouse, last Sunday?' ""I was, replied Tom, and unless in heaven I'll never hear such magic again.' ""In heaven, Tom, that's where I never ex pect to see you.' ""May be not,' replied Tom, 'that's where you'll never pop your eye.' and Emily.' "Once more poor Tom had to stand a storm louder and longer than before, which he very patiently bore, and then added, 'Yes, by all that's good, I would; and may be as she has come to her senses, so may Wilson yet. If she'd not been mad from the beginning, she'd never have lik'd that grim.' "Rough as were the interlocutors, their conversation became most intensely interesting to the two listeners, who learned from the confused expressions which fell from the boisterous speakers, that, from some unknown cause, Emily Raymond, though no smile appeared upon her face, had again mingled her sympathies with society-that the dark and heavy mental cloud had been in great part dissipated. Sleep to either was impossible, and to speak without being heard equally impossible, and a long and sleepless night was followed by: a fine clear, calm winter morning. ""Why, Bertram,' observed Truman, in the morning, as the clear sunshine fell upon the curtains of the bed, is not this most beautifully prophetic? See this delightful morning, after the gloomy storm of yesterday?' "Bertram smiled from his heart, as he replied, 'Ellery Truman, you must remain concealed here until' "Now a boisterous burst of laughter deprived the travellers of some more rough wit; but their full attention was rivetted, as another voice gruf-go, and be a messenger of good.' fly observed, So, our old serious neighbour, Ellery Truman-that is, Colonel Truman-was killed at Saratoga.' ""Until you-It is right,' reflected, audibly, Truman, 'for you are truly her brother. Well, ""Dead,' roared another voice, 'dead, not he, so that's a no such thing. I expose you've not heard, that as the red coats knocked down Ellery Truman, that another Swatara boy rushed to his assistance and kilt six red coats, wounded eight or ten more, and carried off his old schoolmate on his shoulders-eh?' ""Who? Who was that Swatara boy?' came now from all quarters. ""Who should he be?" replied the veracious historian, but our smooth-faced Wilson Ber tram.' "At the name, wonder wrought a miraclethere was silence in the bar-room for at least a minute; which was broken by Tom Dooling, who grumbled, 'Well! well! so Wilson Bertram saved the life of Ellery Truman. Then I'll saywhy, he had little to do. If I'd been in his place' "A deafening thunder of laughter drowned the voice and a little confounded the humane Dooling, while at intervals burst forth-You in his place,'-' If Tom Dooling had been in place of Bertram, Lord help the red coats,'-'He'll drive Gineral Howe from Philadelfa, I'm certain.' "Tom preserved his temper, joined the laugh, and as soon as the storm a little abated, continued, 'If I'd been at Saramtoga I might have showed how fast ugly legs could carry an uglier body. Laugh away, boys, and I'll help you; but by Jove if I'd been at Saramtoga, and been Wilson Bertram, I'd not, may be, have killed Gine "We may now, after a long absence, return to Emily Raymond. Months passed away, after the departure of Bertram, before any change was perceptible on the mind of this truly deserted young woman, when, in the summer of 1777, she was seized with a violent fever and real delirium; her already enfeebled constitution, to all appearance, was rapidly yielding, and the termination of her innocent but ill-fated days approaching. Even in this condition, such is mysterious human nature, it was found utterly impracticable to steal from her the fearful relics she had concealed in her bosom. "Her hours are numbered,' said a physician, who passed for skilful, as he took his final leave of his patient. She may linger two or three days more, but medical aid is vain.' "The sufferer had fallen into a dose, however, in place of a lethargy; and left single to struggle with her complicated maladies, remained, during the night, more calm than for many preceding days. The eye of a tender aunt was on her, who, in the morning, was transported with joy to hear her neice, in a feeble voice, say, 'water.' It was the first word, for upwards of eighteen months, that she had addressed to any human being. Her request was complied with, and again she sunk to repose. Her recovery was slow, but attended with circumstances of peculiar interest. The mind seemed as if undergoing the process attending infancy, but memory gradually strengthened, and one morning she asked her aunt, " if it was yesterday, or day before, they had been at Mr. Dixon's; and whether Wilson had really left them without bidding adieu.' "The astonished, yet delighted aunt, replied 550 ELLERY TRUMAN AND EMILY RAYMOND. evasively, forcing a laugh, 'Why, Emily, child, it was a day before yesterday.' "The equivoque was lost on the musing girl, on whose mind ideas long forgotten were crowding. 'Aunt,' she at length continued, 'I have had a fearful dream, will you hear it?" ""Certainly, my dear,' replied her aunt. ""I dreamed,' continued Emily, that Ellery Truman sent home a bone of his head. I can speak of him now, aunt. Yes, I really thought that Colonel John Rogers took a bone from a letter, and that I ran away with it. It was a dreadful dream. Is it not strange he does not write?' "Her aunt, perplexed beyond all measure, had to resort to every stratagem to prevent any sinister circumstance or word from unsettling returning reason; and the first was to procure the horrid memorial from Emily, which it was now evident she was unconscious of possessing. This was effected with the utmost address. The letter was found crushed, but to appearance had never been opened by its possessor. "The still lovely Emily Raymond thus restored to the best gift of heaven, but carefully secluded, spoke frequently to her aunt of Truman, without either extremes of emotion; but her charity was not extended to Bertram; his supposed neglectful departure, she could not forget or forgive, nor dared her aunt explain. he playfully drew forth, as if carelessly, the important locket, which he had requested from Truman. It no sooner met the eye of Emily than she snatched it from Bertram, eyed the out side a few moments, and handing it back, observed, with astonishing calmness, 'you were surely not sent here to return that trinket?" | ""But I was,' said Bertram, with a provoking smile, 'and if you wont receive it from mewhy he declares positively that'-and he stopped short. ""He must come himself, 1 suppose,' exclaimed the aunt, smiling. ""You are both certainly in possession d something beyond my poor comprehension,' re plied Emily. "But there was a sparkle in her eye which proved rising hope, which was not blighted by Bertram's rising, and assuming an air of levity. observed, "Aunt Raymond, you know I was never much of a lawyer; so we must bring up the criminal to the bar, and let him plead hus cause, and snatching a kiss from the cheek of Emily, vanished like an arrow. "It would be lost words to tell you the result The criminal was heard, condemned and for given. "Noiseless and private was the wedding af Ellery Truman and Emily Raymond, and noiseless, happy, and private were their future days. Their little fortunes were prudently administerful dream, from which they had awaked to tranquil enjoyment." "Thus stood matters at Dixon's Ford, when, on a fine winter's morning, Mrs. Raymond re-ed, and they calmly reviewed the past as a fear ceived a note requesting her to step over to a near neighbour's house, where on her arrival, what was her astonishment to meet Wilson Bertram. 'Emily!' Emily!' was the first word that either pronounced. A rapid and mutual explanation took place, except that Bertram concealed the fact that Truman was most impatiently waiting his return to Millerstown, and in order to keep the secret closer, only observed, that 'it was probable Truman would soon be in Derry.' ""Will it be safe for me to see Emily?' at last demanded Bertram. ""For her, no doubt,' replied the aunt, it will be balm to her heart, but she is greatly hurt at your supposed neglect.' re ""I'll make her a present ere long,' cried the impatient Bertram, ,'that will compel her to member I am her brother indeed: and seizing his hat, half dragged the aunt along. My de dear child,' said her aunt, on her return, and looking down the lane with great assumed wonder, 'That man coming-why, it must beit is Wilson Bertram:' and in a moment the recreant soldier had the aunt on one arm and the neice on another. "Poor Emily forgot all her resentment as he placed her in the warm elbow chair, and sat down by her. 'Forgive me, Emily,' was returned by a shake of her head-'I am a little fool to make you walk back; but glad, truly glad, if you could be always with us.' ""When the war is over, perhaps I may,' replied Bertram, 'but Emily,' and he fixed a searching look on her languid countenance, 'is there on earth no other person you would delight to see?' ""Bertram, my brother, I know you cannot trifle with-What do you mean?' Bertram smiled as The old soldier now paused, as if his tale was told; but I demanded, " Wilson Bertram?" "Oh, of him," replied the soldier, " a short his. tory will tell his career. You have heard enough already to know his habits were singular. Disappointed in one hope, he steeled himself for the future. There were but two human beings for whose fate Bertram felt very strong interests, and those two in the haven of safety; the soldier felt no tie to bind him to one spot, and a spot where, if the truth must be told, the tax on his magnanimity was rather oppressive. You may think the poor man not very sound in his head, but he determined to be a soldier, and remained a soldier until within three months of this moment, and never rose above a sergeant's coat. Singular choice, you may say, for it was was his own choice; for thou though Colonel Truman resigned his own commission, his interest was pressed upon, as he was pleased to say, 'his benefactor;' but though even Emily condescended to press the acceptance, in that instance Bertram was inflexible, and remained forty-eight years a pri vate soldier, or a sergeant. "You are astonished. Well, I may as well complete the story. You may remember, the will of Colonel Truman was confided to Bertram. This will was returned, destroyed by the maker, and a joint will of husband and wife re newed and deposited in Lancaster, then the county town. "Colonel Truman and his angel wife had no children; but far contrary to their expectations, their peaceful lives were prolonged for twentythree years after their marriage. It seemed as if something extraordinary was to mark every |