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

+ Al length Van Dormun (sueh we shall
call his naha) broke silence in words lo
The following puryorl:-
"Sophia you will fergive the trick
which / have played upon You, when de
clare in the presence Of my God, that my
love for you, above oil earthly objects, has
prompted me 10 the act. canno. live
without you. Until We are joined in wed
lock, or in death, ! shall never let go my
hold. need not tell you that there was
no party of pleasure lormed-it was all 9
stratagem Of my own. Your virtue shall
not be violated-that is nottmy object
You must be mine or must be elernally
miserable. Here is pistol
- sssTha in amoment pats me to an c1tss'' e 49,,
If you refuse to make me happy by mar.
riage this night, your spirit shall uccompc-
ny mine to the shades Of DEATH"
These words were ultered..in manner so
firm and frantic, as to rouse oil the fort-
tude and presence of mind, which Sophia
possessed. 1t was dark, and the horses
were on slow walk, in by road, through
thicket Of woods, in the county of West
chester. She sprang in an instant from
the carriage, and darted into the lhi:ket,
like a hare pursued by the hounds
He leaped after her and the horses
started in full run, with the empty gig,
and soon dashed it in thousand fragments.
The ,hcke, was swampy piece ofground,
full fquagmires, and our hero had not
gone far before he found himself nearly
up to the chin in one Of those clay pits
that are very 10th 10 give up their prey.
In word he stuck fast and found il i'm.
possible TO extricate him self without help;
he called aloud-"Sophia! Sophia! So
phia!"-but Sophia, flying with the nim-
bleness Of deer, was not within the rench
of his sweet voice, or if she were, did not
know it was the cry Of distress.
The horses, however, in their route, met
a couple of the neighboring farmers, who
stopped their wild career, and led them
back in search of carriage and owner. -
Coming near the place whence they start
ed, Van Dorman was still calling on Sc
phia. EYES," says the other, '''fire, fire,
let us fasten the horses and go-it comes
from the grislmill-let US cross the
swamp"
They had not gone half way TO the mill,
before they began to think it was bull
frog, so hoarse was The voice: 10 cut the
matter short they found the man-dragged
him out all besmeared with MUD, instead of
blood-took him and his horses home with
them-learned his story and went next
morning at day light, in search OF Sophia.
CHAPTFRx
Sophia 1it across the bogs through the
swamp with the lightness Of fairy. and
when she arrived on terra frma, steered
her course across the cultivated fields, in
that direction which she judged 10 be to.
wards New. Y ork, until she came to road
which appeared to be considerably travel
led, running east and west, here she was
at stand; but finally concluded to take
the western course, in hopes 10 find ii
soon crossed and turned to the southern
direction. She kept it until quite late, and
found herself in danger of being torn 10
pieces by those watchful sentinels the
farm dogs. TO avoid these noisy and
fierce assaulters, she ventured at last TO
knock at the door Of q small house where
she discovered light, and found kind re-
ceptlon.
The woman made her dish Of good by
son, and showed her into clean room and
wholesome bed The people were neither
suspicious nor inquisilive-a thing very
rare indeed. They saw she wus q stran.
ger and in distress and that was sufficient.
She arose at day break-lound the pee
pie up-lhanked them and was about 60
ing, when they asked her if she would not
stay till after prayers. She consen, ed
with joy, kEeeled with the family, joined
most lervently in the davotions of the morn
ing, in the way in which she had been
taught by her pious mother. They invited
her to stay to breakfast, but she politely
declined and departed, not daring 10 in
quire the way home.
She had travelled about an hour: the
sun rose with unclouded splendor, land threw
the beams Of gladness on the path before
her. All was tranquility and joy,
'On earth, in Heaven, or oer the deep profound"
After rising long hill, in step of pen.
and observed Two men on horseback, n bout
half mile in the rear, making towards
her with full speed-one Of them was Van
Dorman.
The country was open-there was no
where to flee: but she saw sign about
thirty rods ahead, and flew 10 reach the
tavern. A traveller at the door, just en-.
tering his chaise to depart, witnessed the
race; the two horsemen on full run, and
Sophia but few rods before them.
They oil reached the steps of the door
about the same time. Sophia flew into
the house, and they after her. Van Dor
man caught her by the clothes-she shrek
ed for help: and the landlord, his wife and
daughters, and the traveller ran to her u.s.
sislance, and beat off the pursuers.
"Who is she?-what has she done?"-
was the cry. "Nothing." "was the answer,
'but ran away from her lover" "What
a beautiful creature,'' said the traveller,
"who can she be?" ''No NATTER" said
Van Dorman, s:she is mine" "Not by
force l hope''-said the traveller, and went
into the room where Sophia was resting
herself.
The moment he had full view of her
he exclaimed, "My God! is it Sophia
Thompson? Angel of Heaven! what bro't
YOU here2' From this situation Sophia
was struck with dread-.for it was the very
flesh and bones of Tivingham.
''Be not alarmed lovely creature" said