Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-11-17


| A heavenly apparition --."
dined, the other day, with retired
sea.otficer, who is as well known for his
goodness Of heart as for his wealth. After
The ladies had retired, the conversation
turned on the (Fripolitan war.za z,.f.4a.
''By the BY" said Captain Drew, for by
this name shall call my host, sit was, MT
that time won my wife. Have you heard
the sloryl You will learn from it then
that / have no cause to love the Tripoli.
tan Pirates.''y .rE.A. .-a-a-.. 81
begged,o hear the narrative, in which
was ndulged. sa~a s5i5
s.It was in the first years of the present
century," said the captain, ''that the out
RACES inflicted on our commerce by the
Barbarya powers, induced our government
TO send sqadron up the Mediterranean,
in order TO proven, such injuries by nego-
,ialion, or if necessary by force Of arms.
We had gone into one Of the neutral ports
to provision, and as it was a gay capital,
| our days were spent in a continual round
Of dissipation. One evening, however, /
had been persuaded to attend ball at the
ambassadors and the first object that met
my sight on entering the room, was a be-
ing SO dazziingly beautiful as instantly TO
chain my attention. was lost in admi-
ration, and hearing she was an American,
sought and obtained On in.rodu ction.
had seen many beauties before and had al.
ways escaped their fascination;4 but then
there was a charm about this Beatrice
VerDon,I found in vain to resist. From
the first moment we met, her wltchery be.
gan to take hold on me, and every hour |
spent with her, only increased the, spell!
She was not like the rest Of her sex, her
kmind seemed OF a purer, and sweeler ma
Eture, and yet she had a brillaincy in her
Conversational moments which enchanted
all. But it was not those admired. II
was not her classic brow; and soft, melting
blue eye; II was neither her faultless
shape, nor her rich auburn tresses slun.
bering in gold. 1t was the gentle sweet.
ness of her manners--the sure index of a
pure and innocent young heart. never
entered her presence without an awe fall
ing upon me, checking my usual audacily
and almost chaining me in silence. The
words | would have uttered died upon my
tongue; and trembled before the being
adored Il could no longer conceol it from
myself; | loved Beatrice; loved her with
the ardor of q warm and generous heart;
and loved too in all the holiness Of first
passion. believe that early affection re.
awakening as it did my purer. better na.
ture, was the instrument Of my salvation.
| resolved from that moment, 10 be no lon
ger as ] had been. t.-z..g -. s-.,.-. s..
"From that day saw Beatrice, there.
fore, was an altered being. In her pres.
ence seemed to breathe n holier almos.
phere-and when away, that innocent
smile attended me like a guardian angel.
We me. daily, and at first freely. Blu. af-
ter a while an embarrassment came over
Beatrice, which puzzled and ,confounded
me. saw my danger, | feared that my
sentiments might not be. reciprocated, YET.
like the poor wretch in the magic circle, |
could not break away from their presence.
Meanwhile The. winter passed. Our ac>
quaintance was ripening into intimacy,
and | was binding my, eyes daily, more
and more, to relarn 10 America in ship
then in port. It fell upon me like thun-
derboit. | was startled from my dream.
Beatrice was soon to depart, and might,
perhaps, see her no more, or, only as the
bride Of another. This thought was mad.