The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-03

and the eagerness, but partially suppressed,
which now, in every visage, follows prompt up
on its former simple look of doubt and anxiety,
may well encourage US to hope for the gratif-
cation Of our own curiosity. Patience, the door
of the cabin is thrown open!
The group which appears within is one to
add somewhat to the interest of expectation.
Iu the foreground appears person seated in
chair, one of those ancient high backed fabrics
used, about that period, in all European coun-
tries which had reached any degree of civiliza-
ton. This person is man Of countenance
more striking than impressive. He is, we may
he permitted to say at once, the captain OF the
Daina-.Don Veasquez de Tornel-a person.
age, short and corpulent with great hands and
limbs, neck thick and short like that of a
bull, and of face plethoric and fiery red.
His features are dark and fierce, and marked
by the signs of an angry passion, the appear
ance Of which he seems laboring to suppress.
His eyes are small, intense, and cat-hke of ex-
preston, keen, vigilant and cunning. His nose
is short and sharp, his lips thick, and marked,
at moments, by a slight quiver, which betrays
the secret emotion. A thin, but grisly beard
overspreads his chin aud cheeks. He would
seem to be person about fifty years Of age
man of strifes and violence, of quick and ir-
ritable temper, and of restless and unforgiving
moods His feet are wrapped in bandages Of
flannel, and suggest the true reason why he re-
mains seated at time when his thoughts and
passions would seem disposed to goad him into
the most eager exercise. Thus seated, he is
wheeled out upon the deck by his attendants;
while, slowly following him, appears female
whose highly expressive features, and wildly
peculiar beauty, make her less an object ol in
terest than study. Her person is small, but
highly formed; commanding, from its case Of
carriage, its erectness, the bold defiance in her
eye, and the imperious curling Of her lip. The
style of her beauty is not of the noblest order.
1t possesses but little of the spiritual, but is of
a kind more likely to secure admiration during
an age, and in region, where the passions
learn to triumph and command in the absence
of the sentiments. She takes her place at
little distance in front of the spot occupied by
Velasquez Her arms folded across her breast,
she preserves an erect posture. while her eyes,
neither gazing npon, nor averted from him,
seem to be filled with two-fold expression of
wounded pride and lurking aniety. His glance
surveys her keenly and unreservedly. There
is mixture of tenderness and suspicion in his
gaze, while the sinister smile which now curls
his lips, gives to his whole couutenance the air
of brooding and sleepless malignity. This
silent watch is so prolonged as to be painful;
but her features never swerve; nor does her ex.
preston alter She looks as she did when she
took her first position. There is evidently
motive for this inAexibility, which she maintains
without faltering, so long as his eye is upon
her. But when he turns away and summons
the pilot to his side, then it is seen that her
breast heaves as if to throw off the oppressive
burden of self.constraint-the it is that her
cheek pales and lip quivers, and all her counten-
ance betrays a fear which it has hitherto been
its business to suppress.
But a few words are spoken by the captain
to his pilot; question is asked-a command
is given and while the latter is retiring, he is
remindcd-to "see that all things are in readi
ness, and to keep bright look out" The
pilot withdrawn, the eyes OF Velasqucz once
more, but slowly address themselves to the
lady. But she has recovered from the momen.
tary emotion which oppressed her. Her fea-
lures are once more infexible; she has nerved
herselfto resolute endurance of his gaze; and
the muscles Of her face, like the strings of her
soul, are rendered tenacious by a will which
his would vanly endeavor to overcome. Fail.
ing in this sort of examination, he addressed
her-seemingly resuming dialogue which the
previous scene had interrupted.
"You have answered clearly, Maria! 1t is
well for us both that you did so. 1t would
have been grief to me that should visit your
head with my wrath, even though it should be
shown-Madre de Dos that you had mcrited
it by such crime as this. For, did not pluck
you from the accursed gypsy-have not made
you lady, and bestowed my love upon yous
1t were crime against God if you had been
false to me!'
al have answered you Don Velasquez!'
$50 you have, my beauty-so you have!
But it is not enough to answer. Must one
look angry because one is virtuous eh9"
But to be wrongfully accused-to be
wrongfully threatened -"
"Oh! oh! one gets used to such things, all
other things 60 right. Of course know that
you are innocent. But how did | know it
thens For you will admit, my life, that the
affair looked ver,' suspicious. There was l,
groaning in my agony with this accursed pain,
and where were you? ALI well! you were
not with this whelp of musician You did