Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-11-03
II. W. Brooks and dang hter-aL-


cried out, s:what fool wrote that?o and a
laugh strangely unmusicaI ended the inoui.
ry, as if be would ridiculs his own unsc.
counlable impetuosity w hat do YOU
mean, Mr.. Melville2" said his companion.
now for the first time speak king-...I. see
no mark Of folly about tie signature. On
the contrary, ii was vfiilei by an elderly
Egentleman of elegant dfess, and what is
.Imare, he IS aceenlp enss perfect
1specinen of farnsI Io asa ever, be-
flhsld she Is aa though st,ps asaus.
leasa syhat eyes sttlsey taze tosyeuS like an
ffaHgel' 'srs Melville seemed to fisseflso this
eulogy, but he heard it not. Rapidly he
was threading the laby flnth of deceuion
and cruelty he had planned, and was well
nigh lost in the tortuous halls his own hands
had followed. He was calculating each
chance of detection, and devising means to
shut out every glimmer Of light that might
reveal him. the contriver Of the mystery.
can old fame Of yours, isn't she, Mel
ville:' laughingly asked the clerk; 'you
have been in brown study for the last
five minutes; pray excuse the warmth of
my eulogium; it was but the involuntary
homage that beauty always wrings, even
from an incorrigible old bachelor, like my.
selE-You look dark yet: we'll if 1 must,
here's the word," playfuly added the jolly
fellow, 'pistols for two, and coffee for one
-"four O'clock, M, and anywhere you
like. Don't look-' his voice lowered,
and abruptly stoppin 6 before the conclusion
of the sentence, he added in a whisper,
''there he is now just entering the room-''
Melville's hand clutched the page upon
which it had rested, but regaining his com
posure, he cast hasty glance round the
ample apartment. There indeed was Mr..
Brooks, the father Of her whom he was
sacrificing upon the altar of an unhoy RI
valry, whose fires were kindled ere he had
thrown by the satchel Of the school-boy!
The recognition was mutual, for MIR.
Brooks, with an excitement as Of surprise,
advanced toward him, with the free, easy
air of one "who fears not any man." The
contrast was singular; Melville hesitated,
advanced step or two, hesitated again, as
if to summon his usual assurance, that had,
for once played truant- Finally, assum.
ing IN air of extravagant welcome, he
grasped his hand almost convulsivelv; ex-
pressed the delight he felt in meeting his
old and respected friend once more; asked
with fraternal solicitude after Miss Frances;
regretted, how deeply! her illness; lauded
the balmy air of southern winter; re-
joiced that it ght be in his power to serve
them, and closed by requesting to be con-
Quoted Immediately into the presence of his
lovely schoolmate. Together they left the
room, and scarcely had the door closed up
| h. III -
claimed, "upon my word now, but that
Melville is a villain, and that sneaking fel-
low, Rexford, with whom he confers so fire.
quenlly, is another. Were Judge Brooks,
he would find himself-kicked out of the Of
flee some morning. If ever bit Of news
was unwelcome TO man, the intelligence
of that gentleman S arrival was to him, and
yet. did you see how he smiled. and con-
graduated, and regretted, and rejoiced: like
contemplate puppet as he is! declare
it is outrageous" and the generous fellow
brought his hand down upon the desk, most
emphaiicallv; remark or two was made
by some other person present, and the mat
ter was unmentioned if not forgotten.
Frances had rapidly declined with the
year, and her father suddenly determined
to try the influence of milder cline upon
the fading flower that Heaven had entrust.
ed to his keeping. and with the secret hope
however faint, that the firm belief anchor
ed like truth, in the bosom of his daugh.
ter, might not be without reason, he select
ed New Orleans as the refuge of the fail
invalid, from the rude blasts of northern
winter. His decision communicated to
Frances, became her law, and the poor
futtered girl found herself almost before
time had been allowed fer thought, in the
same city, and for aught she knew, within
J few blocks of him whom she worshppec
with devotion that whispered, ''thou shall
have no other gods before mel" And now
was she breathing the self same air with
her lover! Her lover? And was it true
that he had wooed another, and faire
than she? And was she tall and noble, ant
altogether unlike herself? and she sighe(
) as she caught reflection in tho miro
that adorned the opposite wall; so slight 81
} trail, how could he love her, and yet he did
! he must, for he had said so, and woul'
t Charles, her Charles, deceive! Such were
= the thoughts that huttered and nestled lik
young doves in the midst Of her heart, ant
] their little wings had, as it, famed open
rose.leaf upon each cheek, and the bloom
l of health seemed magically to revive; bu
, ah! it was the flush Of twilight that pre-
) cedes the gray and the gloom of nigh
3 without stars! Thus had she sat alone il
, ''Number 80" during the brief absence O
her father, when she was awakened fror
her reverie by the sound of voices and ap
: preaching footsteps. One voice she recog
nized as her fathers, and the other, atho
: not quite familiar, was not strange to her
, Could it be Charles? she scarcely breathe
as she thought it, when the door opened
e and Harry Melville stood before her! Sh
Y attempted to rise, but the rush Of recolec
S tions, the exhibition, the rivalry, her dream
; all woven into the aO"king dream of Charlie
: and happiness that almost ,uoofed her being
= deprived her Of the power to move, and sh
t welcomed him without rising. Relvill
s perceived her agitation and was not slow t
k divine the cause. which his better iudgmer
!, whispered was not altogether fattering t
: himself. Kindly and tenderly he inquire