The National Register.
London, England, 1821-01-07 00:00:00

THE SACRIFICE.

-"110.•• •
[Prom Gold's Lotion Itiagaz:Nej
The Coast tdiserto was a powerfut Italian nobleman,
wire possessed, is an eminent degree, the peculiar clusrac-
teristin
his ratios. Proud in his disposfi itin,liberal in his
wetablishment, hut revengefal in ir's nature; his temper was
perpetually ruffled, from the want of that amiable propen-
sity which induces Its possessors congaed the petty failures of
isituskital, as objects rather of pity than disgust. Thousis
naturally high-spirited, and even rmag.notimuus whets his
prejudices did ism interfere to thirst: his better feelings, he
was witsjected to occasional Its of the darkest malevolence, I
and the dereliction of Ms favoarite daughter, Marion, who
bad placed her affections open au object iufiaitely beneath
the Count's consideratioa, had iudam^d his mind to a Wile
of irrioation that bordered upon phreway. Raol.r.az with
the remembrance of her last intervievr, when with tears awl
burning bluilies she cosafessed her attachment, he called her
into an apartment remote from the iatrasion of strangers.
and imprecated on her head the bitterest anathemas of
revenge, if for an hotrod she wi hiseld her compliance of
discarding her lover for ever from her sight. Terrified at
tie menaces of her father, and shrinking from the malicious
expressiou of his dark criervenaace, she poor girl knew
scarcely what reply to make. The thoushis of the young
leas Shown came across her imagination; she recalled his
last looks—the iusiestatisig tenderness of his voice—the
resit-viral deference of his attachment, anti the reflection
inspired her with adult Moat courage. Ins voice fault-tin.;
with emotion, and with eyes bent towards the earth, she
endeavoured to mitigate the phrensy of her iinii ,aaot parent;
but when she found that riven the tears of a favouriie child
were ant proof against the pride of a parent, she ,s fused to
comply with his request, and left the spat meats, with the
imprecations of the Colossi Überto hamming her imaaMatioa
as she withdrew. Oa crossing the threshold of the great
palace-wall, she was addrewd by Juan, who eagerly in-
quired what success she had met with from her father.—
When informed of his barbarity, and she duet request that
accompaaled it, be pressed Isis Ireloved still closer to his
bosom; and as she conjured him by all that he held most
dear epos earth, to avoid:the pala, e her father, as Ise
would the resort of an enemy, promised implicit obedience,
and with a soul deeply lacerated with the fears of eteruel
separatioo, seluctliustly withdrew.
Time, that soother of &Melina. rolled en, but brought as
balm to the depressed spirits of Matioo. She bad received
no
intrlligesee of Juan; and her clespoodinz Macy, sod.
deniogevery thing with its own gloomy colours, remplated
the probability of his departure. Her family cool and ho
difereal to her happiness or misery provided her asarriage
brought with it an accession of wealth and homer. were but
ill calcels.ed to wean her from the care that hung
around her ; and as the Count, whenever be addressed bee,
spoke with the voice and cornsmod of • tyrant. her Mobs
Hooves became irretriesably wretched. ..soch was the ease
of her mind, when, one notirssin, while the rest to the fa-
mily were employed in their differeat i a message
was delivlred to Marion, co.nonanding her immediate at.
Modellex in the library of her father. U.. ratertni the MHO
she discovered blot waled is a moody sternness by the win-
dow. He had scarcely noticed her ms ,her entrain-0o bet
motioned with his hand to a seat After a short pause be
again addressed her on the subject of their late interview,
and with more softness than he bad hitherto used, gently
seized her hand, and besought her compliance with his oisbes.
" Discard that tease-born churl, my Marion," he esclaimed,
and the heart of a father will be satisfied. Tra-aig'•t you
will be introduced to the only sod of the powerful fake di I
Aran= ; and remember"—his couritenaw e darkened as he
contiuued,—" and reusemher, Marion, I expect that you
should receive him as your husband. He is noble, ciiiiral.ma,
and patriotic, and has cionJescended to no lour on • family
with the oder of his alliance. Acceirt hint, and the itlessings
of an affectionate parent, the gratitude a fond family, will
shower eternal happinem on your head; but dare for at. in•
staut to refuse, and take with you no your exile film the
beam, for no rebellious ingrate thall ever lodge Roder the
same roof with Überio, the deepeiit curses of your father;
of that father, whew existence the inkras.. ode of his child
will how to the tomb. Hui nu, my Mathis, I cannot, will
sot believe, that the murder of a parent can be perpetrated
by his child; yous averted countenente, your tearful e:,es,
read a tale of softness; and so confirm the favourable has
pressioss, to restore a daughter to her duty, the proud, the
haughty I..lberto, whose knee was never yet bent to snot al
man, now humbly supplicates obedience from his cls:•d. Sees
on his knee, se sues,"—" Father, dearest father," frantically
exclaimed Marion." bead nut thus to me, I cannot, wiii asst
bear it; I ant wholly your's,make of me wont:you v ill; fee
my widowed heart bus no more to loose, and lily no more to
to offer. I will discard at,..,, ; add greet as M t:te st .mule,
will accept Manta fur my husbard. Have you any fur-
ther sacrifice to exact ? Speak I and I will perform' it all.—
But oh, dearest, dearest father, author of my being, and all
that lite holds sacred. rise from that supplicant posture, nod
let a daughter see forgiveness, turd humbly isasplure
compassion.
" Now. my Marion! you are indeed the daughter of
Uherto," be replied, as be folded her nii .7.ionately ho his
embrace; " and thus let me seal our remiiims nith a kis,
Bus swear to the fulfilment of your premise, fur di.ty. my
love isbut a feeble barrier, when the sensil,ility 'adore
is opposed to it." Trembling, and twills eyes tilled with teats
the poor girl sealed the penance that tore her for ever from
Juan, and. with a soul racked with. anguish retired o the
solitude of her chamber.

In the evening olio was introduced to hMs vs hit was be..ce•
furtb to be her husband. He was coacil;iitigg and gclinut ;
but oh huw unlike that softness, tempered a h.' tangly dig-
nity ; that generosity, regulated by fer;1111, that o..".giited
her in the dispositioa of Juan. to spite of her ea avows
to the contrary, comparisons detrimental to .! masa were
perpetually raising in her mind ; and white she dwelt on her
lust love and hieghted prospects, ber fair and delicate ruins
soak daily beeinith the struggle. tier eye Itht its brigh:ness,
as/ her heart its native elasticity ; she was never happy but
whew a owes aid w hen alone was always iu tears. She had
berme meth hot the feller tine that cut her to the beset, was
the apparent desertion of her lover. To leave, and tit such
a moment. too, when friends and relatives, and even her own
family, hail conspired to neglect her. The thought was
wormwood, and sowed the first seeds .•f that Jimmie, which
death show could terminate.

Poor misguided woman, the child of innocence, the imrs.
ling of loveliness, nom little thinks when he courts thee •
thine hour of pride,that thou bast a heart that,can feel,
• 'Mod that ran inspire attachment. He woos thee a
wanton zephyr that frolics with the summer rose, and
leuves it to wither on its stein ; and when be hos impel
thee wole sentinsents of love, consigns them to perish '
they 1.1.9010 rd. Ilr lutl, Ibiakt that the cheek thit
blcockd at hi, low oath, the hunt that is todulturcut

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