The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-01-07
BEATRICE VERNON.
" She was vision of delight,
When first she beamed upon my sight
A heavenly apparition---."
BY c. j. PETERSON.

heart as for his wealth. After the ladies ha
retired, the conversation turned on the Trip
olitan war.
"By the by" said Captain Drew, for b
this name shall call my host /" it was at tina
time l won my wife. Have you heard tn
story? You will learn from it, then, that
had no cause to love the Tripolitan pirates.
| begged to hear the narrative, in which
was INDUCED.
I" 1t was in the first year of the present cen
tury," said the captain, " that the outrages in
tiicted on our commerce by the Barbary pow
ers induced our government to send squad
ron up the Mediterranean in order to proven
such injuries by negotiation, or, if necessary
by force of arms. We had gone into one o
the neutral ports to provision, and as it wa
gay capital, our days were spent in a con
tinued round of dissipation. One evening
had been persuaded to attend a ball at the
Ambassadors; and the first object that met
my sight on entering the room, was a being
so dazzlingly beautiful as instantly to chain
my attention. was lost in admiration and
hearing that she was an American, sought
and obtained an introduction. | had seen
many beauties before, and had always escap-
ed their fascination but there was charm
about BEATRICE VERNON found it in vain
W lColoI' IIODl UllC llISG lllOlnCuU VIC llCl,uCI
witchery began to take hold on me, and ev-
cry hour spent with her only increased the
spell. Her mind seemed of sweeter and
purer nature than most of her sex; and yet
she had a brilliancy in her conversational
moments which enchanted all. But it was
not these | admired most. 1t was the gener-
al sweetness of her manners-the sure index
OF pure and innocent heart. Inever enter
pI hpr, Nyitbo,1t 4.Iliprr
me, checking my usual audacity, and almost
claiming me in silence. could not conceal
it from myself loved Beatrice loved her
with the ardor offs warm and generous heart;
and loved her, too, in all the holiness of
first passion. believe that early affection,
re-awakening as it did, my purer better ma
ture, was the instrument of my salvation. |
resolved from that moment to be no longer as
l had been.
"From the day l saw Beatrice, therefore,
was an altered being In her presence
seemed to breathe holier atmosphere; and
when away, that innocent smile attended me
like guardian angel. We met daily, and at
first, freely. But after time an embarraSs-
ment came over Beatrice that puzzled and
contounded me. | saw my danger; feared
that my sentiments might not be reciprocal !
ed; yet, like the poor wretch in the magic |
circle, | could not break away from her pres
ence. Meanwhile the winter passed Our
acquaintance was ripening into intimacy, and
was binding my eyes daily more and more,
when Mr. Vernon announced his determina-
ton to return to America in a ship then in
port. 1t fell upon me like thunderbolt
thought Beatrice was soon to depart, and
might perhaps see her no more, or only as the
BRIDE of another, was madness yet | trem-
bled to speak out. | was in an agony of
doubt. Beatrice seemed rather to shun my
presence; her eye was ever longest in detect
ing, and her voice the last in welcoming me.
There were other things in her conduct that
puzzled me but it was all because could not
understand her exquisite dclicacy. The fear
that premature declaration might ruin all, !
me; while dreaded that absence
would even be more injurious to my hopes
Tortured by these doubts, and uncertain how
% act, determined to leave every thing to
chance, waited with beating heart some ia
yored opportunity, and at last saw Beatrice
lepart without daring to breathe my love-
As she waved her handkerchief for an adieu,
seemed to awake as from dream. Had |
zen able to speak to her at that moment, my
'ent up feelings would have found utterance.
But she was gone, and we might never meet
gain. At these thoughts my feelings almost
me,-such is the power of love.
In few days after, we put to sea to re-
ume our station. But was changed be- ,,
ng. My companions rallied me, but none
new my secret The old commodore, how
yer, who was a father to us all, had been !,
lose friend of Mr. Vernon, had met me daily
It his house, and suspected, / once or twice 5
bought, my feelings If so, he maintained
n inviolable secrecy.
awe had been out but few days, when, ! !
ne morning, amid the dim haze of the cast
IN. horizon which the rising sun had not
et dissipated, the delicate tracery of a ship 5
vas seen with its thousand cob-web ropes,
lintly marked upon the fast reddening back B
round. She seemed to be either an Ameri- $
an or an English vessel, of exquisite rig, and S
INNING free before the wind. As she drew
ear, she presented beautiful spectacle
Tor an instant | gazed on in silent delight; |
ut at this moment we came suddenly by the
yind and l noticed with surprise that the
tranger was not unaccompanied, but that
ong, felucca looking vessel was sticking close
nder her quarter in such a position as to I
ave been hitherto elfcctually concealed from d
s. The low, rakish appearance of her CON-
anton, and the instant change in the course
the stranger which followed our own, awoke l
ny suspicious. l turned to the first lieutcn- v
mt at the very moment the lookout hailed. c
{ A sail on the quarter of the stranger L
WAS she in company {? shouted the Off '
err; for by this time the maneuvre of the '
tranger had again hidden the fclucca on the q
pposite quarter. t
She seemed like tender sir c
Did you see her, Mr. Drew 2 he said, per-
Giving my anxiety to speak. /
Yes, sir; and l think her corsair' I
Indeed and you're right. said he, adopt {
ng my suspicion, and then lifting his voice, |
e shouted theoretically, Boatswain, pipe all c
lands to crowd sail t
" In few minutes every rag of canvass '
vas Delaying in the wind, and we were APP '
the suspicious stranger with a We t
Deity that made us hope we should soon over t