Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-06-09

at than thus to insult a distressed and helple.
'e female! She needs our mercy and prt
t, lection, and shall not bear your abuse an
l. ridicule.'' @"1 e=--'
e saint Christopher! How long since vo
turned prelate? haughtily asked Mortimer
e "You had better preach US a lecture upo
e manly dignity and propriety."
It :sIhis is no time or place for such re
o marks as these, Mortimer said Hervey
t and turning to Mary, while the othe
s precipitately left the house, he continued
Il have come, not to alarm or. insult YOU
Il but to-render any assistance in my powe
!; ut least, to protect you. otlr CIV 10 j
/. distress arrested my atteftion and sayef
4 yonr residences from the flames, and perhap:
j the lives of yourself and mother
/ ''Heaven bless you for your kind-hearted
j ness,' said Mrs. Ashton, while the tears
! told the gratitude she felt. ~
II II "You are too noble to be considered ar
; enemy" returned Mary, 'sand would to Goo
the cause you are engaged in was worthy
of so lofty spirit."- q. 4'f-. f----
"True, my cause, when viewed as / now
view it, is an inglorious one. But it was
embraced in obedience to my sovereign.
not from choice. You have cause, from nv
position, to consider me none other than an
enemy; but- if in my power, I am ready
to prove myself friend. Forgive me, fair
lady, for confessing that, at the first view
Of your lovely face, my heart lost all its
hostility; and wait but your pleasure to
prove my sincerity. 1 desire that your
heart may feel something Of that emotion
with which this interview of a few mom-
ents has inspired mine.''
"Believe me, sir,'' returned Mary, s'when
| assure you that l admire your magnani-
nifty, and that my heart harbors toward
you no sterner feelings than those of graft
tude and respect. l ask of you no proof of
your sincerity of motive, and have no re-
quest to make but that you will accept my
professions OF gratitude for the mercy you
have so nobly extended to myself and inva-
lid mother. shall never cease to respect
your memory
''But may | not hope that with the flame
of gratitude, feeling, deeper, softer, holier,
may kindle and expand until it blesses him
for whom it burns?'' =,
-"Will not deed of humanity find its
compensation in the ceaseless aspirations of
grateful heart?"
''True, this will more than compensate
a~deed, 1.-The rperpetration Of which, humani-
ty made duty; but, pardon me, glow Of
gratitude can never reciprocate a flame of
loye.'' .ss-~r .N
"But, sir, how can hear of love from an
enemy of my country? Has not your hand
been dipped in the blood ofmy countrymen,
their homes made .desolate and their wild
ows and orphans shelterless?''
''Oh, name it not! 1t was through q
blind zeal of an accursed cause. My heart
has often bled for brave America-and
might | but obtain the blessing it is yours
alone to confer, how gladly would adopt
her cause, her interests as my own. ssBut
harkn' he continued, ssthe contest deep
ens-1 must away, or bear the curse of a
defaulter's shame! Promise me one thing.
Shall not see you again?''
"Alas," sighed Mary, 81 fear we shall
never survive the terrors Of this dreadful
day! If kind Heaven should spare us,
cannot refuse you.''
'sThank you." replied Hervey, warmly;
''but your name?''
"Mary Ashton; and shall | be favored
with that of my preserver?"
"lndeed would have you know and es-
TEEN it as one far dearer than all others.
1t is Rhoderic Hervey." o. :
"Oh! my poor countrymen-my dear,
dear brother,' cried Mary, as tremend-
Gus discharge of heavy ordnance shook the
earth like some convulsion Of nature
"Shall l hope, sir,'' she continued, address
ing Heryey, who was hastily leaving,
''shall hope that your hand will never
again be raised to oppose my country's
cause? Forgive the request, but, alas, my
heart bleeds for poor America! would
not ask you to turn traitor. to your coun-
try, but it were far better you should do
thus than to continue in a service which |
the nobleness of your nature makes you
admit IS most unjust!''
Sand what may expect from Ameri- |
Ca and from you, her fairest daughter, if
adopt her cause and fight for her freedom?'
. ssYou may hope, sir, for my country's
eternal protection, the boundless gratitude
of her children, and all that your future
worthiness may enable the unbiased heart
of her patriotic daughter to bestow."
SIT is enough! 'Fhis arm, in its sturdy
strength, shall WELD the sword of oppressed
and down-trodden America! But did you
not speak of a brother?' 80.
81 have one on the field, who carries in
his bosom as noble heart as beats with
love and freedom. Stop, STRIP she contin-
ued, as Hervey passed from the room, at
the same time disengaging from her neck
small elegant miniature, the picture of
noble youth, her brother, ''look at this,
mark it well, and, if perchance you meet
him, which, if he still lives you rnsg go
where duty calls, and danger dares him
most, for the love Of heaven protect him.
Go: the prayers of a doating mother and
an adoring sister shall be with you!''
At length the day of terror passed, and
hushed and tranquil came the silent night
it was the calm that succeeds the ocean
storm, when the winds sleep and the slug
gish waves scarce nurmur as they roll
All was still and voieeless on the battle-
field where blood and smoke and fire had
paled the monday sun, and groans, and
| shout and thunder of artillery, made Hea-
ven echo to their hor. III dint S;ck1x, md