The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-05-30

gambling barOnet, or old creation, II IS
true, but bankrupt alike III health and
fortune, known, in factto be overwhelmed
with debt-was scarcely very desirable
as father-in-law; and yet Francis Trav-
ers, as he took leave of Lady Wharton and
her daughter, after attending his father' S
funeral, could not help wondering, as he
gazed upon the fair, gentle girl, and felt
her calm reserYeGness of tone and manner
sweep coldly across his beating heart, at
his presumptious folly OF having loved
- 4 bright, particular star,
And though, to wed it.
SO strange are the tricks which the blind
god sometimes plays with the eyes, and
unuel standings of his more enthusiastic
votaries.
The frigate to which Lieutenant Trav-
ers was first appointed, after knocking
about the channel through the winter,
picking up few trifing prizes, was or
dered to Portsmouth, to be overhauled,
and have her defects made good; but being
found thoroughly infected with dry rot,
was put out of commission and ultimately
broken up The brush off Trafalgar had
crippled Napoleon's marine; and as the
breeze with Brother Jonathan had not yet
sprung up, lieutenants were in somewhat
less request than usual, and Travers took
up his abode at Marlands, undisturbed for
a considerable time by intimatlon or COM
mand from the Admiralty. Mary Whar-
ton, more beautiful, more interesting than
ever, received him, he imagined, with
much more cordial frankness than former
ly; Lady Wharton seemed pleased with
his return; whilst Sir Richard who, he
instinctively felt, had long since penetra-
ted his secret, and with whom by the
way, he had always been great favorlte,
expressed unqualified pleasure at seeing
him. What wonder, then, that the lllu-
sions dispelled by former coldness should
reappear beneath the genial warmth Of
such reception? There was no rival in
the case; of that he felt assured. Indeed,
with the exception of the Rev. Edmund
Hartford, cura:e of the Parish church, and
Mary's cousin, Lady Wharton and her
daughter lived in Archer's Lodge in almost
entire seclusion. Sir Richard for three
fourths of the year resided in London, and
when visiting Devonshire. surrounded HIM
self with associates whose manners and
pursuits were anything but congenial with
those of his wife and daughter. As to the
curdle, SCtiOidi dlld
devine as he was, and much as Miss Whar-
ton seemed to take pleasure in his varied
and brilliant conversatiOn-nOt more how
ever, than did her mother and Travers
himsef-any notion of marriage with him
was, the lieutenant felt, quite out Of the
question. Edmund Harford's salary as
curate was only about ninety pounds
year-he had no influential connexions to
push him on in the church-and Travers
thought he had i'll read human character
if Lady Wharton, did any chance exist
Of Mary allying herself with poverty and
wretchedness, would permit an intercourse
likely TO have SO fatal a result. Thus rea-
soning, believing, hoping, Travers surren-
dered himself INCREASINGLY to the infu-
enee by which he was enthralled. He
walked, fshed, played at billiards with
the baronet, participated freely in the va
rious modes for killing time, except ga
ming, and awaited with tortufing anxiety
a favorable moment for terminating the
feverish doubts which, reason as he might,
still haunted him necessarily. i circum-
stance, sudden, unexpected, and terrible,
cut short his hesitation, and pushed him
to decision he might have else delayed
for months-perhaps years.
A dispute arose late one night between
Sir Richard Wharton and one of his COM
panions respecting alleged unfair play at
cards. Injurious epithets were freely in
terchanged; and, after fruitless attempt
by the persons present to adjust the quar-
rel amicably, an appeal to the arbitrament
of the pistol, was arranged for an early
hour the next morning. The meeting
took place, and both combattants were
wounded at the first fre-Sir Richard as
it proved MORALLY.
The baronet was hastily conveyed TO
the nearest public house, and such medi-
cal aid as the locality afforded was in
stantly procured. On examining the
wound, which was in the chest, and bled
internally, the surgeon at once informed
the sufferer that nothing could be done ts
prolong, much less to save his life.
81 ,hought so-felt so!' murmured the
unfortunate gentleman, with white lips,
"Accursed ehance!'' A few moments af-
terwards he added, allow long, think you,
my life-this agony-may last!''
mot long; an hour perhaPs-no more.
$50 soon! | must be quick then. Let
the room be cleared at once of all except
my servant. James," he added, as soon
as his orders were obeyed, "hasten to
Marlands to Mr.. Travcrs; tell him | must