Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-06-03


| was, and the manner in which I.came
there. a,''Whefe you are,p said the old wo-
mang SLAM not at present permitted to
tell; but you came here stark dead, and my
master told me to restore You and do eve
rything forly your comiort, till he could come
and see you.'' il3lsgsss aaa
sg The old woman then left time tony. own
reflections, Which were iioFf Ffntefrups6 6ns
til late in the evening, when my old nurse
again called on me. She said that she was
sent to inform me that her master would
visit me in half an hour, and that he would
have called before had not urgent business
detained him. She left, assuring me- that
he would certainly come. About eight o.
clock he did come, attended by two men in
masques, one OF whom soon found to be a
friar, for my captor told him that was the
woman he intended to marry. He came
to me and taking me by the hand, told me
to rise, which hesitased in doing and ask
ed half an hour to reflect upon ii and in
which to compose myself. This, after
some hesitation, he agreed to. & "a
/ determined to resist to the last, for had
made up my mind never to marry the man
who could use my parents thus barbarously.
The half hour soon elapsed, and my for
mer visitors again made their appearance.
l. did not look up as they entered, but my
captor came to me and taking me by the
hand, again told me to rise. / had collect
ed all my resolution for the trying moment,
and | looked boldly into his face and told
him that never would be his bride. He
bit his lip which curled with indignant rage,
and said in voice hoarse with anger, and
with powerful emphasis, "Then you die!"
and motioning to his companions to follow,
turned towards the door," But stay" he
continued, softening his voice, "retract
those cruel words andI will yet be happy.
| give you till tomorrow evening to make
your choice between death and marriage
with me-" He abruptly leftme, and to my
horror, heard him bolt my door on the out
side. What was to do2 TO escape SEEM
] ed impossible, as my room was. situated in
the second story Of the building, | could not
escape by$way of the windows, for the
rooms were very lofty and it was utterly
impossible for me to descend, after having
gained the case Of the window. | was,
therefore, completely at a loss to determine
what was my best course. While was
meditating upon the matter, / heard tho
sound Of loot steps approaching my room
seemingly with the utmost caution. stood
motionless with fear, awaiting the arrival
of the unknown. Presently voice scarce
ly audible reached my ear. listened4-it
was repeated. stepped softly to the door
and in a low wisper was informed that
must Immediately make my escape from
the castle or be sacrificed to the base and
cruel Lavelle (for that was the name of my
captor) or suffer horrible death at his oft
blood stained hand. Finding that my Wis
itor was friend, at my request he unfas-
tened and opened the door, and beheld
standing before me man about forty-ive
years Of age, one who before | had often
noticed, gazed upon me with sympathy. His
name was Anderson; though he was called
by the bandits Ortamus He was of giant
frame and possessed savage expression of
countenance, which made me shudder, al
though knew him to be my friend. He
hastily told me the plan of Lavelle, which
was to make me one more proposal, anc
then if failed to comply, either to murder
me with his own hand, or keep me in clos
confinement never to behold any other per
son than himself and an old woman wht
was to bring my food and supply my fire
The latter | considered worse than deatl
itself. Ortamus then told me that he woult
assist me to make my escape, and that
had no time to lose, threw my shawl a
cross my shoulders, and snatching my bon
net, gave my hand to the rude bandit, ant
we cautiously descenned the stairs. sa,
;. We had assed most of the danger ant
F were just turning the key to the last lock
when an adjoining door opened, and to ou
} establishment, Lavelle, with four. of hi
, companions, entered the apartment. W.
t all stood motionless; Ortamus with the KEY
4 half turned, and Lavelle with his hand lol
! the hilt of his sword, which he instinctivel,
: grasped on first entering the apartment
| In voice of thunder ne demanded of Orta
r mus how he had dareG 10 betray his trust
and stepping into the middle Of the room
! told him to defend himself, at the same me
: ment drawing pistol from his belt he lev
| eled it and fired. | watched his motor
and throwing up his arm with my hand, tn
} ball passed harmless over the head of o.
}, tamus and lodged in the heavy ceiling ,
: bove; Ortamus, at the same time, wit
5 sword drawn, rushed like a hungry tige
upon his antagonist. They exchanges
!, blows, and their swords clashing, Lavells
} was broken. Ortamus aimed second blo'
I at the monsters heart, but just as he mad
, the plunge, sword from one of Lavelle
f party reached his heart and he fell upo
! his face. But he did not, entirely miss h
5 aim; his sword entered Layelle's left sit
) nd brought him to the floor.