But
time was beginning to deprive him, even of the mortifying reflection
that he was intentionally, though perhaps temporarily, deserted, and
he was gradually yielding to the more painful conviction that she was
dead, when his hopes were suddenly revived, in a new and singular
manner.
The young commander was slowly and sorrowfully returning from an
evening parade of his troops, to his own quarters, which stood at some
little distance from the place of the encampment, and on the same high
bluff of land, when his vacant eyes fell on the figure of a man, who
by the regulations of the place, was not entitled to be there, at that
forbidden hour. The stranger was meanly dressed, with every appearance
about his person and countenance, of squalid poverty and of the most
dissolute habits. Sorrow had softened the military pride of Middleton,
and, as he passed the crouching form of the intruder, he said, in
tones of great mildness, or rather of kindness--
"You will be given a night in the guard-house, friend, should the
patrol find you here;--there is a dollar,--go, and get a better place
to sleep in, and something to eat!"
"I swallow all my food, captain, without chewing," returned the
vagabond, with the low exultation of an accomplished villain, as he
eagerly seized the silver.
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