Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-01-10
mated discussion of his merits Us a 5'

and genera! as-'
Such discussions. sometimes add al pi-
Equancy tolriendship, but no degree Of dis
,Ecord for LOVE; and our lovers had some Sc.
rious disagreemen,s. But reconciliation
4 always followed, Eugene usually conclu-
Eding that live friend was better than a
dead emperor, and frankly sending to the
faggrieved gentleman some pacific message.
/ During the summer and fall, Gen. LIE.
roux was absent on a tour through the
States; and as Henri was much engrossed
! by his studies,s Captain Hamilton was left
lFaetaiHs field. .farhis atooing Bratio 9
rode and walked, sung and rend English
with Mademoisefle, and all would have
gone on smoothly had he not also talked
But the ghost Of Bonaparte was never
laid; and that unfortunate last battle, when
4 the 1ittle corporal was defeated by FATE,
not by Wellington, was fought over again
almost daily.
On the return of the general, Captain
Hamilton thought best to consult him, be
fore making formal proposition of his
suit-leaving the matter wholly in his
daghter's hands. But Eugenie was too
arch coquette to decide at once--again
and again requested time for consideration,
until weeks slipped by and the merry skat-
ing days had come round again.
1t was clear luminous moonlight night,
late in December, when Captain Hamilton
and It. Thurston met at the house of Gen.
Leroux. Thurstors had but that day re-
turned from Quebec, where he had been
spending some months; and was, therefore,
not altogether au fuit Of the state of affairs
between his brother soldier and Madem-
oiselle Eugene. The friends, though, were
bound on the self-same errand-to solicit
the honor Of attending upon Mademoiselle
to military ball which was to be given
on New Years eve. AS neither gentle
man would resign his claims in favor OF
the other, playful alteration ensued-
Eugenie declaring herself unable to decide.
At this point Henri laughingly proposed
that as the night was magnificent, the i'm
portant question should be decided by a
skating match; or that Eugenie should
play sAtlanta upon skates.
The gentlemen joyfully assented: Eu-
genie clapped her LANDS with childish glee,
and retired to don her skating costume
This was somewhat different from the one
she had worn year before; the trimming g
being of white fur, and for the sake Of
greater conspicuousness on this occasion,
she had placed in her cap a long white os-
trich plume. The effect Of this dress was
to render her more bewitchingly beautiful
as she came bounding into the drawing
room for her companions. Gen. Leroux,
after gazing on her proudly for moment,
embraced her tenderly, and declared his in.
tention of joining the little party, to see
that no harm belel her, and that all went
fair in the race. .-.
On their way to the river, Captain Ham
ilton, whose arm Eugene had taken, look
ed with sudden seriousness into the roguish
eyes of her companion, and whispered
sMay not question Of more moment
than that of taking you to the ball, be also
decided tonight ...-..-.
'In the same manner, monsieur
yes, and may the swftness of my'hee
avail where the eloquence Of an admirine
heart has failed
'As you will she replied, laughing mer-
rily. 'Overtake me, and surrender pris.
oner for life; but fail, and it is the los
Waterloo Of your woong. Renaem6erP
The moon was at its full, and the Ice
bound ST. Lawrence lay like broad sheet
of glittering silver.
The race was soon fairly begun. Thurs.
ton at first seemed the likeliest to win, but
laying ou. all his strength in desperate ef
forts to head Eugene in her marvellous
evolu,ions, at length sank down utterly ex
hausted, and the provoking girl turnec
and flew past him like wild bird on the
wing The field was now left to Hamil
ton, who had infinitely more at stake, anc
he swore mighty oath, Ito himself nev
er to yield until the victory was his.
1t was scene of singular excitement
Hamilton, though an excellent skater, new
er seemed to gain on Eugenie, except by
her own permission; for she would now
and then flag, as though about to pause
place her hand on her side, and drop he
head, as if from weariness. Hamilton woule
redouble his efforts, and the next 'momen
she would be flying about him in bewilder.
ing circles nearer and nearer, till the ring
of her skates, and the merry laugh wer'
in his ear; and then, away shot her littl'
form with incredible swiftness, till far a
down the river her long white plume wa'
floating in the moonlight.
At Atlength, Eugene called back
4 am getting tired ofthis, Captain Ham
ilton. You can neuer overtake me; bu
stop where you are, and | will come 4
you
Hamilton paused, and soon beheld his in
amorata swiftly approaching. AS she drew
nearer, however, she glided along NOR
, leisurely and coquettishly. All, moment O
thrilling rapture to the lover, when h
watched the magnificent creature coming
T slowly, but steadily toward him with he
head archly inclined to one side; her lux
uriant hair loosed from her cap,and tallin,
over her shoulders; her arms crossed upo
her bosom; her lips apart, and her eye
flashing gloriously. and not unlovingly up
on him! Nearer, nearer; he reached fort
his arms with cry of joyful welcomed
Nearer, nearer; he could see her breath
silvered into small clouds, by the frost c
the still night!-when she bowed her heae
and shot beneath his extended arm like
winged arrow!
; The baf1led officer turned quickly, to
! quickly, alas! for his feet slid from unde
t him, and he measured his length on tn
: ice. He suddenly recovered himself