The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-05-17


With spirit deiicately wrought
With fear and feeling 'twined-
Art ever alive to every throe,
To burning bliss, and 'wildering wo
Catherine Cameron was alone In her
chamber. There were tears in the beau
tiful eyes that lay bowed on the cold hands.
The conversation of the last hour had call
ed up thoughts and feelings and memories
not soon forgotten. She had gone back
far into the mocking Past. She was
thinking of the time when she, child OF
ten, accompanied he parents TO the very
place where she now resided-her uncle
Emerson's.
She had stolen away from her mothers
side and gone upon deck to find her father.
She did not see him, but still remained
watching the wild waves, the flushing foam
and the blue restless waters. All had lett
the spot, she thought she stood alone, but
close by her side leaned a youth pale and
sick. His dress was plain but costly
mourning, and his features told that 1t hid
from view smitten heart. And there
she still stood, with brow and neck uncov-
cred, save by the long ungathered ringlets
with which the quivering breeze was sport
ing, and her small white hands clasping
and playing with small cut glass cologne
bottle round which she had tied some blue
ribbons, and knew not with what eager
intensity the pale young stranger was re-
garding her. She heard deep sigh, and
turning quickly around beheld the delicate
youth staggering TO seat, which he reach
ed and fell fainting upon 1t.
With childish eagerness she flew to his
a. lo nd
ted phial on her handkerchief, bathed his
cold brow and hollow temples. And as
she pushed back the rich clusters of dark
hair, and met his large and strangely tacl-
mating eye, melting with melancholy, and
touched with tenderness, she almost shrank
from the singular beauty OF the being her
drops were fast restoring.
In a. low, sweet tone, and with qulver-
ing lip, he thanked her for her opportune
attentions, and bent his aching brow upon
her barred arm. The ice had fled, for the
brain was burning with wild fever fire.
And the hot tears, like drops OF flame
rolled down and fell upon the folds OF her
dress. and hers too, the while, were flash
ing quickly and heavily among them.-
Moments passed. She had forgotten all
but the suffering and afflicted youth.
NV child, how came you here; and
what is the matter?' Mr.. Cameron had
lust discovered his daughter.
Catharine started. The stranger sprang
to his feet, and attempted to apologize, bu
he fell upon the arm of MIR. Cameron, and
his voice was lost, and pressed his white
hand upon his heart as if the pain was
there.
Several gentlemen came up; all seemed
deferentially attentive, and offered to con
duct him below. With sweet smile he
thanked them, and said he should be com
pelled to accept the offered kindness as he
felt faint and sick, but trusted he woulc
soon be better.
And Catharine still stood there, one
hand in her fathers, and gazing on the
sick stranger with anxious curiosity. lie
turned one more glance to her as he was
moving away. Oh how softened anc
saddened! And the pale blood struggled
to his temple. Catharine bent her eyes
on the rich fancy bottle she still held in hel
hand. A few drops were LETT OF the Perfu
med contents. She started forward, weep
ing with plying earnestness, while the
large tears lay upon the long lashes.
sTake this, please take this, sir-ths
cologne will help you.'
God bless you. child!' were the talter
ing words, as he took the simple offering
and grasped for moment the fair finger:
that presented it. God bless you.
Catharine still stood gazing at him.
Mr.. Cameron led his daughter below
and she heard him say few hours after
wards, when they were landing, that the
stranger was on his way to a foreign port
and that he was now in high fever.
Often, oh how often, had Catherine
Cameron thought of this, but never to NOR
fal being had she told it. And now, 1t al
came up as an event of yesterday. She
was child. She stood by the sick
youths side, and bathed his brow. She
started. Perhaps that brow was cold in
the grave, or lay bleeching beneath the
Atlantic waters. She felt aoain upon
her arm the hot and flame like breath: She
felt the flashing, fearful fire Of his veins
she felt that last burning pressure upon he,
hand and upon her heart. The past ant
the present were all struggling there, anc
the future. And the world called her colo
and unfeeling. Little did ii know her,