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

young gentleman who presented ihem--
, What then could it all mean? He co1l
not think that 50 many people Of respecta
bility would combine together to ruin !!
, girl for no cause whatever. The youn)
man assured himsthat he believed it, an
this young gentleman was no mean char
acter. He thought upon it-slept upon
l. dreamed on it-accused himself Of beinJ
weak-easily duped-love sick ano every
thing else.. fle finally concluded 10 writ,
to5her father, of whom he had obtainee
lcousent He did write--tore up his lette
wrote -again-burnt that-wrote onct
Imore-hesitated- it over and over
sealed it--wherei was his usual decisioni
Ii nust be done-at last he seYit ii TO The
post Office and was sorry he had done SC
five minutes afierwards-bu the mail wa:
just going-it was gone! -,s!a.
This letter informed MIR. Thompson o
his resolution TO Withdraw his hand from
his daughter forever, enclosing the le!te,
and certificate before mentioned as the
cause OF his taking this painful step-stat
ing that every thing which he had engaged
10 do for him would be done, and that il
would be better for him to remain where
he was; he had settled all his debts, and he
might draw on house, in New York as he
wanted it, to the amount of the sum first
offered. He presumed that Mr.. Thomp'
son was innocent, although his daughter
might be criminal without his knowledge.
"My wife, if ever have one," said Mr..
Jackson, 'must be like that of Caesar, not
only spotless, but unsuspected."
Before this letter reached the village
where Mr.. Thompson resided, he had
started with his family for New York, and
arrived there totally ignorant of what had
been transacted.
Mr.. Jackson had told him at parting, 10
call Immediately on his arrival, at num-
Der designated in certain street, and MIR.
Thompson lost no time in going TO the
place. But how was he astonished on be-
ing told that Col. Jackson, three days be-
fore, had left the city for the Southwark
and was not expected TO return until the
lapse of a year. How mysterious! How
inexpllcable was his conduct.
He carried the news to the family yet
weak and gloomy from the fatigue of lrav.
elling, who received it like a shock Of sud-
den thunder-especially Sophia.
They took lodgings at boarding house,
and Mr.. Thompson went in search con-
stantly for two or three days in succession,
to see if he could possibly ascertain any
thing more particular concerning Mr..
Jackson. But every one who knew any
circumstances connected with his business,
told him pretty nearly the same story
that he had gone to the south to settle some
business Of importance connected with his
fathers estate, and was not expected back
short O. q year.
Mr.. Thompson at length came across
the young man to whom the letter and cer-
tifcate had been sent im2eaching the char
acter Of Sophia. They had been some
what acquainted, and Mr.. Thompson ven.
tured TO open very slight detail of his
concerns, and he found the young man
seemed 10 know more than he was willing
to tel. about. This alarmed Mr. Thomp-
son still more; but he could not decipher
the enigma. --.-
Poor Sophia was in tortures. So much
trouble can ''envy, hatred and malace'
make the most innocent people living, in
very short time. Set the tongue Of Sian
der going, and we shall soon find that
cit is an unruly evil, and ofdeadly poison'
that sit setteth on fire the course of na-
ture, and is set on fire Of hell"
They were all willing to think the best
Of their friend and benefactor; yet to leave
them in such situation could not be justi-
fed, even by the plea of necessity, howev-
ever imperious. There must be some
weighty cause for such unaccountable be.
naviour. What it could be was the desid-
eratum. Perhaps he went off in great
haste. and would still write back on expla-
nation. They concluded 10 wait while
longer before they settled on any course 10
take.
In this perturbation Of mind Sophia was
looking over an old book and found the
following lines, which she took paines to
transcribe:
The tender immaculate dove,
May fly and abandon its mate
Awhile-but his wanderings are love-
'Tis not in his nature to hate.
Returning in season to bring
Glad tidings the spirit to buoy,
He bears On his tremulous wing
Profusions of transport and joy,
And so shall thy lover return,
Thou maid of disconsolate soul
And kiss off those tear drops that burn
Deep channels wherever they roll.
! But darker and darker must grow
The night of distrust and dismay,
Till heaven shall give thee to know,
IT'S darkest not long before day.
And when the clear morning breaks out,
And shines On thy Pharos and thee,
No more shall the shadow of doubt
Raise spectres so frightful to see.
| CHAPTER VIII.
The solace which Sophia gathered from
the perusal of these stanzas, was OF short
duration; for as it is with person under
severe affliction-
-"The darkest day,
Wait till tomorrow will have passed away"
so on the contrary CLEAN of hope seems
often to twinkle on the surrounding
gloom for moment only 20 mock our mis-
Il f