Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-07-21

J low tone with the lewelier, and seemed |
be giving directions respecting the settin
of a miniature, while was drinking il
new draughts Of hopeless and ,pnssionat
love from her exquisite beauty. AS sh'
returned to the carrmge hasteneo to en-
gross the attention Of The polite Mr.. 49,
and soon contrved 10 be allowed glanc,
at the miniature. Ii was small and high
ly finished likeness Of the brother who hat
been her colnpanion.in the gallery, bu, the
jeweller could afford me no other inlorma
tion than that il was TO be set in plain gold
with the initials c. Al. on the back, ano
that it must be finished by the next eve-
ming, as the lady intended leaving town.
The next evening found me again at the
shop, but was destined to disappointment;
the brother came. received the miniature
and departed, leaving no possible clue to
the object Of my cherished interest. -.
"W carried and disappointed / fingered in
London will that nimless aid idle spiri. OF
ioitering that now so fully possessed me,
until friend, from whom had received
many kindnesses, insisted upon my accom-
panying him TO his country house previous
10 my leaving England. The beauties OF
rural scenery in that noble island can
never be viewed too often, and ] gladly
found myself in the quiet of seqaesiered
village, where, with the genuine hospitali-
~ so well understood in England, | was
surrounded by all the means of enjoyment,
and then left 10 choose that which best suit.
ed my mood. ! visited every place in the
neighborhood which contained objects OF
interest, ard found much to divert the
melancholy that was rapidly settling upon
my feelings, but still had become morbid.
y sensitive, and wherever went seemed
10 find new food for my love sick fancy.
Accidentally hearing Of a barionial resi-.
dence some twenty miles distant, which.
though somewhat dilapidated, like the for.
tunes Of the family 10 which it belonged,
still contained some fine pictures, deter.
mined to visit it. My friends dissuaded
me BY assuring me that would scarcely
obtain admission, as the owner usually oc.
cupied the mansion, and was somewhat &C.
centric and unsocial. He is a Catholic,
is said to be in bad health, and to live in
great seclusion onaccount Of his sister, who
is under some eclesiastic vow. This ac.
count, instead of deterring me, only stimu.
lated my curiosity, and taking advantage
OF a beautiful autunnal day,l rode along
to Mordaun, Hall. -
u always had a passion for rambling
over old houses, and The newness of every.
thing in Americo makes US all peculiarly
alive TO the charm Of grey antiquity abroad.
Il was with no little regret, therefore, that
! found nv self excluded from the old Hall
by venerable man, who looked as antique
as the oaken door which he kept so inhos.
pitable closed. Mr.. Mordaunt was absent,
he said-'he had left hone only. two weeks
before. in the hope that the climate of lia-
ly might restore him to health, and the
rooms were not in proper order for stran-
gers Inspection Upon my informing
him, however, Of my vocation, and my de-
sire to behold only the pictures, he consent
ed to admit me, and after had entered
he summoned the old housekeeper, who
received me with degree Of stately civil,
ty that would have done honor to dowa-
ger duchess. The old lady was glad to
find some one who was willing TO listen 10
her gar6lity, and the attention which
paid to her long stories about the buckrum
squires and shepardess ladies in the picture
gallery, SO far won her favor that she
wanted me TO visit the tapes.ral chambers,
where were still preserved the relics Of by.
gone splendor. Charmed with the interest
/ took in these OLD world matters, she final.
ly conducted me into the part of the man.
sion usually occupied by the family.
This is Miss Helen's room," said she
as she opened the door Of a beautiful apart-
meni, lighted by large stained glass win.
dow. i s}s M IL z7Ss Issysi esga s -
l''And who is iss Helen?' asked, as.
observed the traces of elegant occupation;
in the music, the books, and the imple-
ments OF drawing, scattered around the
roam. .s sisss 81 a ~ sss
':She is the sister Of my young master;
their parents died while they were yet
children, and they have ever since lived
here with their grandfather at whose
death, two years since, Mr.. Charles Nor
daunts came into possession. But 1 am
afraid he will not live long to enjoy his es.
tate. He inheris his mothers dellcacy
along with her beauty, and / who sat be>
side his cradle may vel live to watch be.
side his death bed. Miss Helen manages
everything for him, she saves him oil trou.
BILE, and indeed she is like an angelic eve.
rybody. We always keep her picture cur.
tanned when she is not here, for. it is too
beautiful to be spoiled by dust and SUM-
st,ine.' s sS.s .gs zsl,~zas 5. Ez.s3.e ia
As she spoke, the old man drew aside a
heavy crimson curtain and displayed the
exq uisite features of her whom L had so
long sought in vain. The lady of the gal.
lery was at length made known to me, and
10 Helen Mordaunt beheld the idol Of my
dreaming fancy. BE- a!i sssla4 9f.e
Il need not tell you how gladly Inow
listened TO every "reminiscences Of the fami.
ly, how fondly dwelt upon everything
which concerned Helen, and how eagerly
| lgathered every incident which could con.
firm me ip q. belief Of her nobleness of
character. learned that their seclusions
was caused by Mr.. Mordaunt's ill health;
and yet there seemed to be some mys.eri.