The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-03-06

sell aloof from her, giving her no chance
to assure herself of his love. Penthea
could no longer aid her, for she was
stretched upon her dying bed, poor lady,
and silently refused all food, as if her spirit
had already left her.
AT last one morning Calantha was walk
ing with the Prince Nearchus, surrounded
by the court, among whom was Ithocles,
silent and displrited, sad at his sister s
fate. and hopeless for his own. The
prince with gallant courtliness begged his
royal cousin to bestow upon him some
mark of her favor.
''This little spark" he said, play fully
attempting to take ring from her finger.
"Nay, that is toy" replied the pru-
! cess smiling.
"Loge feasts on toys, dear lady," said
Nearchus, '.for Cupid is child
"lou shall not value, cousin, at a price
what count cheap" answered Calantha;
then added with an assumed air of indiff-
erence, and tone of voice little louder
that those around might hear-"So cheap,
that let him take it who dares to stoop for
1t, and give it at his next meeting to his
mistress. who'll thank him for it, perhaps" {"
Whereupon she drew the ring from her
| finger, and threw 1t on the ground before
lthocles, who, despite the angry, jealous
glances of Nearchus, and murmured re-
monstrances of the courtlcrs, took it up,
and kneeling. presented it to the princess.
She was embarrassed for an instant, scarce
knew what 10 say, but answered with a
a light laugh, that 1t was pretty, wondrous
pretty, his taking her for mistress, but
he might keep the ring since he had found
IL; and taking her cousins arm passed on,
! leaving fthocles almost blinded with the
| sudden light of Loves scarce risen SUM-
| His friends demonstrated with him, and
the prince returning, treated him with con-
tempt for his presumption as he termed it:
| but lthocles bore it all with quiet grace;
| the f2vor &c his noble lady was so sgeet
| happiness to him, he cared for nothing
else, not even if distinctions gulf should
yawn before him. Soon after the prin-
cess sent for him, saying that she wished
him TO render to her in private an account
for taking up the ring; but well he knew
her real reason, his own heart gave him
wisdom, and gladly he fastened 10 the
audience, which ended in that perfect un-
derstanding true love alone can give.
Nearchus, when he saw the state Of
Calantha's heart, nobly Withdrew his
claim, saying. that though at first he was
angered, Ithocles was man most nobly
fashioned in honor and in person, and
worthy of noble lady's love, and when
his friend, Amelus. in private asked him
how he could brook to yield up to an in
/ ferior in rank, not only love but right, he
answered.
81 tell you, Amelus, the sight of poor,
life spent Penthea, and unhappy Orgilus,
has proved to me that affections injured by
| tyranny, or rigor of compulsion, like tenn
pest-threatened trees unfrmly rooted, ne 'er
spring to timely growth. l urge no claim
that chance of birth may give me, on Ca
lantha; willing love ask-no other would
have value for me-
The old king gladly bestowed his
daughter on young Ithocles, for his desire
to secure the happiness of his daughter
and his favorite, far outwelghed the fear
he had felt after reading the mysterious
warning of the oracle-now he fondly
| thought the budding grape sheltered under
| the warm shade of Love, would not quail
when Death, which he felt fast approach
ing, should take him from her.
At the time the princess told her father
of he love for Ithocles, the old king, after
joining their hands with loving consent.
gave orders that a splendid banquet should
| be given in honor of the bride Euphranea,
who had been welded with Prophilus a
short while before; and Notwithstanding
his increasing lnfrmities forbade his pres
ence at the feast, he earnestly insisted that
all merriment should 60 on without him.
While they were making gorgeous pre-
! parations for the feast, news came to Ith-
ocles, whose heart was filled with so much
happiness, that his sister was dead; with
out stopping to acquaint the princess who
was with her royal father, he hastened to
! Bassanes' house; Orgilus accompanied
him; for this halffrenzied young man still
covered his cherished hatred with preten-
ded friendship. Together they stood be-
side the wasted form Of the dead Penthea
the repentant brother and The wronged
lover. The woful sight caused Crgilus'
long pent up hatred to burst out, and
drawing a dagger he plunged it into the
heart of his enemy and killed him.
"You dreamt of Kingdoms, did you'll
ne exclaimed-"how with this nod TO
grace that subtle courtier-how with that
frowE to make this noble tremble, and so
forth: while Penthea's groans and ,ortures
her agonies; her miseries, and Affections
ne'er touched upon your thoughts! AS
' for my injuries, that were beneath your