The National Register.
London, England, 1821-01-08 00:00:00

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THE SACRIFICE.
[Front Gold's London Magazine]
The Count Cherie was a powerful Italian nobleman,
Who possessed, in en eminent degree, the peculiar charac-
teristics of his nation. Proud in his disposition,liberal in his
establishment, hat revengeful in his nature; his temper was
perpetually nailed. from the want of that mumble propen-
sity a hick induces its possessors to regard the petty failures of
inniikind, as object. rather of pity than disgust. Though
naturally high-spirited, and even magnanimous when his
prejudices did not interfere to thwart his better feeling+, he
was subjected to occasional fits of the darkest malevolence,
runt the dereliction of his favotirite daughter, Maritsa. who
had placed her affections upon an object iotinitely beneath
the Count's consideration. had iutlamed his mind to a mate
of irritation that bantered upon phrenxy. Rankling with
the remembrance of her last interview, when with tears and !
burning blushes she confessed her atinchinent, he called her
how an leparimetit remote from the intrusion of strangers,
and imprecated on her head the bitterest anathemas of
'revenge, if for an instant she withheld her compliance of
discarding her lover fur ever from her sight. Terrified at
the menaces of her father, and shrinking from the malicious
expression of his dark countenance, the poor girl knew
scarcely what reply to make. The thoughts of the young
Juan Sba:zarro came across her imagination; she recalled his
last looks—the insineating tenderness of his voice—tile
respectful deference of his attachment, and ..he reflection
inspired her with addit Mani cuurage. to a voice faulterin;
with emotiou, sod a ith eyes bent towards the earth, the
eitil-avoured to mitigate the phrensy of her isuliAnant parent;
but when site found that even the tears of n favourite child
were not proof against the pride of a parent, she refused ter
comply with his request, sad left the apaitineuts, with the
imprecations of the Cuunt Cuero) haunting her imagination
At she a ithdrew. On crossinl the Orr-6114dd of the great
palace-wall, the was addressed by Joan, alto eagerly in.
quired what success she had met with from her father.—
NV hen informed of his barbarity, and the cruel request that
accompanied it, he poetised his beloved still closer to his
bosom; and as she codjureo hint by all that he held mo,t
dear upon earth, to avoid the pekoe of her father, as he
would the resort of an enemy, promined implicit obedieuce,
and with a soul deeply lacerated with the fears of eternal
separation, telactlantly withdrew.
Time, that soother of alliction, rolled on, but brought no
balm to the depressed spirits of Marion. She lied received
no intelligence of Juan ; and her desponding Soucy, sad-
dening every thing with its own gloomy colours, suggested
the probability of his departure. Iler family cool and in,-
different to her happiness or misery provided her marriage
brought with it an accession of wealth and honour. were but
11l calculated to wean her from the care that hung
nrouud her ; and as the Count, whenever he addressed her,
spoke with the voice and command of a tyrant, her situa-
tion son because irretrievably wretched. Such was the stale
•f her mind, a hen, tale morning, a bile the rest nt the fa-
mily acre employed in their different occupations, a message
was delivered to Marina, commanding her immediate at-
tendance in the library of her father. On entering the room
she diveuvered him seated in a moody sternness by the win.
claw. He had scarcely noticed her oil her entrance, but
motioned with his hand to a seat After a short pause he
again addressed her on the subject of their late interview,
wad wills mute 6oftnem than he had hitherto used, gently
seised her band. and besought her compliance a ilk his a ilk%
Deward that base-bolo churl, my Marion," he exclaimed,
and the Iseart ut a fattier will be satisfied. Tit-eight you
will be intro laced to the only soil of the powerful Duke Di
Armour; and remeniber"—his countenance darkened co he
Coat nued,—" and remember, Marion, I expect that you
should receive bins us your husband. He is noble, chivalrous,
and patriotic, and has r undescended to honour our family
with the utterof his alliance. Accept him, and the blessings
of an affectioinue parent, the gratitude a food family, will
smwereterstal happiness on your head; but dare fur an in-
stout to reface, and take with you in your exile from the
bowie, for no rebellious ingrate than ever lodge ander the
ime roof with Cheri°, the deepest curses of your father
of that father, *Nue existence the ingratitude of his child
will bow to the tomb. But no, any Marion, I cannot, will
not believe, that the murder of a parent cum be perpetrated
by his child; yowl averted countenance, your tearful eyes,
read a tale of softness i and to cantina the favourable int.
preplan, to restore a daughter to tier duty, the proud, tile
haughty Übertu, whine knee was never yet bent to mortal
woo, now amiably mipplicates obedience from his child. See,
an Ms knee, he uses,' —e' Father, dearest father," frantically
•actainied Machu)," bend not (hub to me, l cannot, wi I ant
hear its I am wholly y oanymilie of me what:yaw will; for
say widowed heart has nu sours to louse, nud lute no mote to
to idler. I will discard Juan; amid grout as is ahe sti toggle,
will accept Di Magnate fur my husbioid. Have you any fut.
titers:la-dice to exact Speak! nod I will perform it all.—
But oh, dearest, dearest fat her, authar of my being, ;rod sill
that li e 10114 sa red, ;Ise from that supplicam posture, and
let ri daughter sue forgiveness, and humbly implore
compassina.
4. Now, my Marion! you are indeed the daughter of
atherta," he replied, us he folded her affectionately al Isis
embrbi ta " and thus let me seal our remnion a it Is a kiss.—
Dui swear to the fulfiltuesit of your pron;i6e, for duly. my
love i.blit a freak battik,. a hen the betialoilil uur nature
is °mimed to it." Trembling, and a lilt r)et WK.(' aWI tears
the poor girl sealed the penance that tore her for f.,s'l' tr
Juan, and, with a soul racked a ith anguish retired to
aulitude of her chamber.
jo the evening are aus introduced to Won who was heltre.
forth to hr her loohand He 61116 cone nutting and gallaut ;
but oh I huts unlike that softiies., tempered with amity dig-
pity ; gramroily, regulated by transit, that delighted
her in tile disposition of Juan, In spite of her end. uvours
to the contrary, etimparisolis detrimental to Aranla wire
perpetually thorn' tau her mind ; and while she dwell on her
lost love and blights d prospects, her fair and delicate fie m
aunt: daily beneath the suniggle, tier eye lu,t it. brightness,
stud her heart it. manse elasticity ; site was never happy but
alien u'one I and vs lien alone tam always in team Wie bad
borne much ; but tiam. tide loon OA cut her to the heal I, was
the apparent deal 'ion of hi t liner. To leave, tool at sut
moment, trio, when friends mid relativeb. and est a her own
family, bad cualnicil sls neAlret her. Tar
worm++ ood, and sewed the first seeds of that dasoroci vsh ich
death i.his r could tcuut ;file.
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