Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-06-09
RAVENNA, OHIO, WEDNESDAY,, JUNE 9 1917

y Carefully, for Gods sake, the least nois
] may ruin usi'' e--~. -
i The: negro did as desired, and soon. th
V iastenlngs began to yield; one by one h,
MASSIVE rlpets gave way, and but q mo
s ment m had passed ere the heavy bolt turnee
down on It's pivot and the door stood before
d them waiting to turn upon its willing HING
: es, assif it appreciated the business and inn q
RI portance oftheir object ss4.ss.s 81
Cautiously -noiselessly- pedrei = s,i ugaiis
whispered the wary girI--s'1here may be ,
81 guard upon theinside!!o e!o -
q Slowly they advanced allong dark mar; lar
[ row passage wa which saarcely 81. permit
ted them to walk abreast but n Pedra knew
) the premises well, his quick eve having
marked well the locality on the day before:
while all Gqnsuspected. he played the spy al
young. Hervey's imprisonment. They
paused TO listen, but heard no sound save
the muffied beating of their hearts-the
place was breathessly still as the house
OF death. The darkness was so deep it
seemed tangible, and Mary thought she
had never found it so difficult to breathe.
AS they advanced, Pedro run his hand a.
long upon the wall, and presently, ere Ma
ry was aware Of his intention, cautiously
opened the swinging blind Of a low grated
window, through which the sickly light of
the declining moon struggled family, chang
ing the deep darkness of this horrid place
into gray, ghastly twilight, like that with
which imagination curtains the regions of
the lost. Mary started involuntarily and
with difficulty suppressed an exclamation
OF surprise, as she saw before her,and with
IN reach of her hand, the form of man.
He was stretched upon a low wooden bench.
without couch Or covering, and was evident
ly in deep slumber, which the stealthiness
of their entrance had not disturbed; that he
slept, they were convinced by his slow
measured breathing, which they could now
distinctly hear. Mary approached his head
and noiselessly stopped over him, if posi-
bic to distinguish his features. This she
found no difficulty in doing-the light be-
ing sufficient to enable her at once 10 recog-
nize the handsome features of Hervev. of
which, and there is nothing strange in it
The pure, impressive mirror of her heart,
had taken faithful daguerreotype, upon
which her minds eye had never ceased to
rest its gaze. Motioning to the black to
keep silent, she softly placed her hand up
on that ofthe sleeper, and bending to his
ear, whispered 'Hervey!'-Quck as tho't
the young prisoner started to his feet, ex.-
claiming, while his eyes rested with look
OF doubtful surprise upon the face of the
young neutrality-suspicious. God! where am
|? Is this an angel, or do dream?o
"Hush! you will betray us,'' said Mary
"You are safe; we are your friends, and
are come to deliver you.''
"Merciful heavens! can it be possible
this is Mary Ashtont Noblest of women
may God bless you'll" and his emotion pre-
vented him from saying more. but seizing
her raised hand he imprinted burning kiss
upon it, while his tears, and they were
tears warm from manly heart overflow
ing with a gratitude it could not express:
not the few cold tears that fall so heavily,
when meekness weeps, told for him all he
would have uttered.
'Lead on, Pedro,'' said Mary, and turn
ing to Hervey, beckoned him with her fin
ger, whispered ''follow US to light and lib
erty once more, and thank Con, not US for
your deliverance."
Again there was q noiseless dipping Of
oars in the silvrv bosom of the Charles,
and that returning boat had stronger if
not truer hand at its helm than it had an
hour before. Hervey's story was soon told.
Durine the contest on the day of battle, he
had watched for young Ashton long time
in the American ranks. He placed h i'm
self in the rear Of the British forces, where
it was true, he was most exposed to the A
merican fire, but where he could most read
lily effect his design. Wherever he saw q
plume wave loftier than the rest, there he
looked for the object Of his secret. His eye
caught glimpse of him at length just as
he fell beneath the sword Of his unlocked
for antagonist. So faithful had the minia-
ture represented him, that the recognition
was instantaneous, and dashing forward, he
saved him, as we have related, from meet
ing death at the hand Of MOI timer.
The soulless wretch, it would seem, had
been deeply impressed with the beauty of
Mary Ashton, and having net, as he de-
served, with scorn and repulse, the mean
ness Of his nature prompted in him desire
to be avenged. His love for the girl, would
not allow of his venting his malicious spir-
it on herself During the few moments he
He@u OooiA III AOl PA OSCilCe, le Hdu ny uCCl-
dent caught glimpse Of her brothers. min
iature, and supposing it to be that of low
er, fancied he saw sufficient reason for her
conduct towards him, and had left the house
hastily, hoping to encounter its original on
the field, and resolving, if so, to despatch
him if possible, which he supposed would O.
pen his way, sometime, to the tolerance, if
not the regard of the young girl. Having
failed in this design through the interposi-
ton Of Hervey, and otpossessing sufficient
strength and courage to subdue the latter, ;
he turned his hatred on him and effected his
and would soon his death,
had he not from Mary's hand received so
timely and effectual deliverance.
Time passed on, and month after month
Americas sons toiled ceaselessly and brave
ly for their freedom. Not the least among
her bravest ones was Roderick Hervey.-
He had been promoted to higher rank in the
American Army than he occupied in the
British, and well did he requite the trust
reposed in him. There was not an under
taking of moment or hazard but he was ev-
TO ho