Port-Gibson herald., 1843-03-09


hate that has never slept since, day or
night You scorned love such as no NOR
tai ever befor5 felt You may Judge of its
intensity by my present hatred. Hearts
like mine are not as lava-and wo to those
y no rouse my vengeance! But away with
this triflng! Once | would have kissed
the earth where you tIod if you had pro-
missed to be mine, but now you shall pray
to me for The rites Of the church, and pray
in vain," and he laughed mockingiy, gaz-
ing on the agonized face Of his victim in
triumphant malice.
"Oh! for one moment, 'imploringly crl-
ed the girl, again clasping lis feet, and
looking up into his face, "hear me. know
you have been wronged, though never, as
God is my witness, did say or think
aught you have attributed 70 me. | will
be your slave for years, aye! for life itself
II will do the most menial offices for you
or will surrender my estates g. swear
never to marry any one, if you will only
save my honor Oh! turn not away. Re-
member the gruye-eternity-the iudg
ment day. Only save me, and will bless
you foreyer;" and she gazed up into his
face with countenance that might have
moved the tempter Of mankind himself It
was in vain.
"Tush, grip and his dark eyes glowed
with unholy passion, s.you only look more
beautiful, and thereby hasten your doom.
Ia! it would have been a refinement in re-
venge if | had saved your guardian until
this hour, that he might have seen your
degradation. But come now, let us have
done with this triaing. Your charms would
render an anchorite callous. Must needs
use force?'' and, for the first time, he laid
bis hand on the suppllcant, and would have
torn away the cover which yelled her pam
ting bosom.
Had he beheld the failed shield reyers-
ed and gazed upon the Gorgon's face, had
he seen one of his murdered victims start
up through the deck before him, the Ro-
yer could not have been more confounded
than at tie instantaneous and unexpected
change which came over the virgin when
she felt his anhely touch. Hitherto she
had played tie part Of the suppliant, ex-
hausting al the eIoqaence Of words, tears
and looks, 10 save herself from foul disho-
nor; and her captor would rs soon have
looked for tie lightning to have burst from
The calm, sunlit sky over head, as for her
to have eyinced any thing like daring or
defiance. But she did doits The instant
that she felt the brutal touch upon her
shoulder, she started to hel feet, and
sprano hack. with eyes flashing FIRE, and
nostfiIs dilated.
"Of-of, miscreant!" said she, with a
proud waive Of the arm, such as queen
would have used, Gas there is God in
heaven, if you approach one step nearer,
yon die =
Perhaps there was something Of admira-
ton for this conduct which induced the pi-
rate to pause, even afterhis first astonish
ment had subsded; for he certainly saw
no means bY which his victim could carry
her threat into execution. Folding his
arms composedly on his bosom, he laughed
contemptaonsly, and said,
Really, your rage becomes YOU, and
ike your spirit. You are not the tame
dove | thought, and | must watch YOU
well. Bit pray" he continued sneering
Ii, show long am to wait your pleasure,
Or by what means do you intend to keep
me away?"
DO you see this train Of powder2" said
the girl pointing to her feet, while she
kept her eye keenly watching the face Of
her captor, 70 anticipate any movement
lie might make; cit reaches to the maga-
zine, and was laid after we saw you would
oyertake US; but in the strife Of the battle
was forgotten. 4 lamp burns here at my
side, and with a single dash Of the hand
can throw the fire on that train. have
known this all along; but life is precious,
and we dare not part with it without weigh
ty cause. Think you else | wonld have
knelt SO long to yon, miscreant, murderer,
as you are? While there was hope pray
ed for mercy-I now demand safety at
your hands. Swear by your knightly an.
cestors, for that oath alone you will not
break, TO restore me unharmed to my
friends as speedily as possible, OF fire
the trang"
The cheeks of the Rover might have
turned shade paler when she mentioned
the means Of destruction she possessed
but, if SO, it was only momentary, and long
ere she had ceased speaking, his sunburnt
face was as dark as before. Not that he
misdoubted what she said, but then he had
too much confidence in his agility to sup.
pose she could carry her design into exc.
eution; and besides, he was constitutions
ally brave. The scornful look still wrea.
thed his lip, but he spoke not; and his eye
dared not leave that of the maiden. And
there they stood while one could have
countedten-eacha as motionless as if car.
we'd out Of stone. She pale as death, but
with form proudly erect, and on eye a;
an eagles inits wrath-he, like sneer
ing fend, awaiting the first symptom 9
faltering on her part, to spring upon hel