Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-29


officers-nay, as good as any OF the
spanish aud French who exhibited OH
thai evening their active powers
Whether it was that our English sty le Of
dancing at that time wanted something
to be added 10 ITS grace by a communi-
cation with the Continent or not, 1 viii
not pretend to say; but certain 1t is, that
my countrymen were not so happy III
plucking the laurels from the French that
night in the dance, as they had been
few days before in the fight.
With qualifications such as | have de-
scribed, il is not to be wondered at if
the eyes and hearts of many fair ladies
followed the young Captain; it would
rather have excited wonder If they had
not. The warm hearts OF the Spanish
SigaOrios arc but too susceptible to the
charms Of Love when his godship dres-
ses IN British regimcntals.
My friend ID. Of the thirteenth light
Dragons and |, were admiring the walt
zers of the evening, when he observed to
me that the young officer OF the 5lst
vas not only the best dancer, but had
the prcttiest and best partner; " and"
said he, 81 think the lady seems quite
smitten with him: they have been part
ncrs the whole Of the evening From
tLis observation I! was led to remark the
young lady more closely than had done
before, and the result in my mind was,
that Captain Gore was blest with part
ner the most bewitching in all Spain,
and that he was of the same opinion -
she VS. about seventeen, rather en- bon
po,m, and middle-sized, large, dark, and
ianguishing eyes; black, glossy ringlets
with a beautifully fair skin; she was
dressed in the graceful black costume of
OF her country, and appeared personit-
lcation o. the Beauty of Castlian ro-
nance, her manners were gentle, and
with Captain Gore as her partner, she
attracted the admiration Of every one
present.
Where is the mora'st who has looked
into the book o! nature, and will say
that they were CulpabIe in loving each
other, although circumstances wholly
! forbade their union? Let US draw aveil
over the weakness Of human nature,
when opposed by such powerful innucn-
ccs as those which surrounded these
young persons. Let us nor, with the
auslerIty of mature and experienced WIS
dom, censuro, but pity them, circled as
they were with glowing halo of youth
and love. They ioved--marriage was
impossible she left her fathers house
and fled to him, while he vowed to pro-
tect her with his life, even unto the end
of it. This happened about three weeks
after the ball
The lady's father at first knew not of
the rash step whic!, his daughter had ta-
ken, but soon learnt the distressing
truth; he became almost frantic, and ap-
| piled to the authorities for the ir iniericr-
ence, representing young Gore as a Sc
ducer and hereto The authorities Ga
very inferior description Of men at that
tiine) Immediately ordered Il sergeant's
guard (Spapsh) to accompany the faith
er to the quarters Of the captain; they
| arrived.-his apartments were on the first
iloor--and the soldiers were already in
the courtyard below. Gore was inform.
ed of the intended purposc, through Il
) ansh domestic Of the house he lived
in. His own servant, brave and de-
termlned soldier, hurried to the apart
ment in which his master was, with bis
bayonet drawn, and observed that there
would be no great difficulty IN driving
away the "spanish fellows below" If
necessary. The young lady chung to
Captain Gore for protection, and be-
sought him nor to give her up; declaring
that she would never survive, if he sui
fered her TO be taken away The SOL
diers were mounting the stairs--Captain
Gore was decided There was very III
tie ceremony in the affair; he and his
servant in a few minutes drove them out
of the house, and secured the door with
bolts and locks. Few blows were struck
, by either the Captain or his servant the
success which frequently attends sudden
and rcsolute assaults against superior
force, was in this instance manifesto d;
md considering The opinion which the
! Spanish soidiery entertained q: the Brit
ish prowess, 1t was not surprising thai
the guard was ousted
| The defeated soldiers returned to the
authorities and related the failure OF
their enterprise; they were answered by
abuse, and their officer having been sent
for, was peremptorily ordered to take
his men to Captain Cores quarters and
force the lady away. AT the same time
he was tauntingly asked whether two
: Englishmcn were equal to dozen
Spaniards
The guard, under the command Of the
/ officer, Immediately repaired to the
place for the purpose Of executing theil
orders, and demanded admission in the
most fcrocious manner but not waiting