Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-04-22
CHAPTER TX

family what measures were in operation TO
prove his daughters innocence, and they
oil agreed to wait the issue with patience.
But
The sun just breaking through the gloom,
Began to smile shining day,
When threatening still darker doom,
And ere the storm all passed away,
Another angry cloud appeared
Fast rising with portenung dread
On black and ragged wings it steered,
And hung its terroIs DER their head
The reader will recollect its having been
previously said, that Sophia was only a.
bout l3 years old, when her la ther re.
moved TO the country. She however, had
been sent two years to n female boarding
school at Bethlehem, in Pa. and her educa-
Ition was completed at about fifteen. She
had made great proficiency in all her stud.
les, and was highly accomplished, in all
those arts of refinement, which embellish
the female character. Still she was rs
unassuming as an infant, beautiful as an
angel, and in the full freshness Of her
charms, and an object so attracting where.
ensnare the heart.
Although she secluded herself as much
as possible, yet a young gentleman of
great pretensions-
"-Fell dreadfully in love, poor soul.
Signing and hooting from his lonely hole"
where he was employed in quill-driving as
n clerk TO the city recorder, and seemed
determined to work her ruin, out of the
pure love which he professed; for Sophia
ind rejected all his overtures with con.
tempt, not because he was too ignorant to
know that he was imprudent. He was,
however, of genleel appearance and pret.
ty respectful bic family, with whom Mr.. and
Mrs, Thompson were acquainted. But
had he been perfect in oil respects, the
heart Of Sophia was preoccupied, and that
was enough.
Finding repulse at every attack, and
being in great eagerness for victory, he
resolved on o masked battery stratagem.-
He went to the parents and solicited per.
mission for the daughter to take ride with
him few miles into the country, in q tan
dem gig in company with several other
young gentlemen and ladies', who had made
up party of pleasure composed Of some
of the young people of the city, whom he
named quite fllppantly.
For The benefit Of Sopha's health, and
not wishing 10 offend the young man, the
parents consented, and persuaded their
daughter to go,
This was in the morning and they were to
start precisely at two in the afternoon for
Kingston, bridge, about fifteen miles
She was ready at two O'Clock, but no
partner appeared yet. She waited till
three, and was about to give up the chase
when the beau appeared before the door,
in his tandem style, in high glee. He
pretended that he had been Detained by
unavoidable incidents, and begged pardon
for the delay. ....
Sophia skipped into the gig with appa-
rent pleasure, and off wheeled the vehicle,
ssWith gathering, dashing, rapid fight,
Till all was fairly out of sight."-
But instead Of steering for Kingston
bridge, he took the road leading towards
Bridgeport, in Connecticut, for a while
driving Jehu like on pretence that the
company had gone on before, and he was
fastening to overtake them.
Sophia did not know the way, and did
not suspect any deception, until they had
travelled about three hours, and it began
to grow towards the close ofthe day. when
Mr. quill,drive drove up to public house
and ordered some refreshment for them,
and for his horses.
He conducted Sophia into q room and
presented her with glass of wine. She
trembled, looked pale, and inquired with
(altering voice where were the party: and
how much farther they had to go! adding
that sit would be very unpleasant 10 travel
back after dark
He answered all these inquiries, by say
ing he had taken circuitous route for the
pleasure OF riding, but he should now alter
his course directly for the place where the
company were to meet. and that they
would soon be there. The weather (he
said was fine, there would be a moon, and
they could return in season, and with much
pleasur
He called for his carriage handed Sophia
into it, sprang in himself, and drove off,
keeping much the same course as before
Sophia, who had not been very we'll
satisfied with his answers, began to be
more alarmed than ever especially as the
night was approacbing,and she in strange
part Of the country. She however dis
! guised her fears and said nothing.