The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-01-07
On them shall light at midnight,
A strange and sudden fear.
"A moment in the British camp
A moment and away
Back to the pathless forest,
Before the peep Of day"

"A moment IN the British camp
A moment and away
Back to the pathless forest,
Before the peep Of day."
a BRYANT.
1t was evening. In large and spacious
apartment, elegantly wainscotted, and filed
with rich furniture, an innumerable number
ol lights were blazing, as if the room was
shortly to witness festival Disposed about
on little exquisitely lacquered Chinese stands
were yasss filled with flowers, most of them
white. A rich Prayerbook lay open on a
table at the head of the room. AT the side
a place had been fitted up for an orchestra.
These were the preparations made for the
bridal of our heorins-strangc mockery!
At length the company began to gather.
Among numerous officers and other guests
came Col. Campbell, the commander of the
post, little dreaming of the tragedy in which
unssemingly he was playing so very promi-
nent part. He was followed by Mr.. Now
bray, accompanied by the groom. Major
Lindsay was dressed in uniform, but he wore
a white favor on his breast, and his sword
knot was of snowy ribbon. He walked with
a firm, proud step, and looked around smi
ling. He knew that there was scarcely o
brother officer that did not envy him the pos
session of his bride, and the consciousness
of this increased the exuberancs of his spir-
its. The prize he had SO long struggled for
was now about to be won; and all regret
for his conduct had long since vanished
Gratifed triumph was written on every fea-
ture of his lace.
Mr. Nowbray was attired with becoming
elegance, though the guests remarked thai
his dress was almost too sad for a wedding.
1t might, indeed, with almost equal proprie,
flty, have been worn st funeral. The dress,
N fact, was no bad type of Mr.. Nowbray's
feelings, and, perhaps, had been chosen or
that account. The truth was, that in secret
be could not reconcile himself to this union
}, Though Kate herself, weeping on his bosom
had declared that she was ready to marry
Major Lindsay, and though Mrs. Blakeley
herself decsiYed, had assured him that Kate's
agitation arose only from the usual coyness
J of a maid, he could not expel from his hear
an uneasy fear lest Kate had consented te
this marriage only to save his life. Why
else was she so pale? Why were her spir.
its 80 high in company while she bore ira
ces, as he thought, of iears in secret? Only
5 that morning he had caught her weeping
and when he pressed to know the cause, sh,
declared she was merely ncrvous-an asser
ton which Mrs. Blske!ey coroborated. To
purchase life with her unhAppness, was wha
he could not consent TO; and but for her. th'
0 aged patriot would have Scorned to purchas
= it on any terms.
: AS we have said, therefore, secret pre-
sentiment filled Mr.. Mowbray's heart Wit
d sadness. Something seemed to whisper t,
d him that it was not too late to draw back
8 He seemed, like one going to a seatfold, ra
t ther than like the parent Of q bride.
t Directly the bride entered, attended b
:. her aunt, and the daughter of one of the oI
: fieers. Kate was dressed in simple white
: without single ornament, and every yes
> tige of color had fled from her face, whic
t looked almost like snowy wax, Still ,esh
I, was wondrously beautiful. Even her death
/ ly pallor, SO like that of corpse, that som
, of the females present actually shuddered
$ and drew back as she approached, could nc
entirely destroy the effect Of her surpassin
= figure, and the grace of every movement
}, Yet she looked rather like q nun about t
, take the veil, than like bride. Her smile
y we no longer at her command, for the nea
o approach of her doom had completely pros
trated her. She seemed now what she res
J, ly was-a beautiful victim wreathed for th
s sacrifice. A
e She had sat in her room all that afternoo
+ in sort of stupor, her fingers convulsivel
n clasping and unslasping each other, and he
eyes bent on the floor liStlessly, The goin
e out and coming in of her attendants attracte
r. no attention. But she had not shed tea
0 The fountains of her eyes seemed scorche
Il up. When the time came to attire her f
the ceremony, they had to rouse her; an
d the vacant gaze of inquiry she turned on tl
t. servant, made the slave, for moment, thin
d her insane. But when her aunt came in
/ superintend her toilet, she seemed to reviv
y and with an effort rose from her chair, an
q welcomed her with smile--but one like
- SUNBEAM on Wintry day, cold and shudde
l. ing to look upon. From this moment, hov
ever, she was more like herself, though
e times her mouth would twitch convulsiyel
9 At other times she would turn away b,
head, and an expression Of heart breakin
rt wo would then shoot across her countensnct
70 but on meeting her auRt's eye ones more, 81
at would essay again to smile,
"A few moments before the ceremony W
o. to begin, they left her alone for momer
g, She was standing before the mirror, and h
eyes fell on the reflection Of her form.
"The sacrifice will soon be complete" 81
it said bitterly. "God forgive me--yet sure
ar ! am doing right Oh that could wee
but there is load here" and she press'
n both hands on her breast, "thst keeps ba,
N the tears. 1t is like burning ERE p
Who could have believed that this ghast
is face was the once radiant one Of Miss La
to Mowbrsy?
y Her father stood near the door as she e
he tered. He was struck with the dry stol
expression Of her beautiful face, and start
nd forward to her side, He spoke in whisp
Du but with startling earnestness
ne '1 adjure you, my daughter" he sal
50 sstell me----are you willing to 60 on with q
h matter? Say but word, and il shall
. broken of. n.
lis Kate lifted her eyes to his with sudd
Z movement, and the glance they gave v
~ full of unutterable love. Il was such, if
ID may say 80 without presumption, Is q mi
at tyred spirit might have turned 10 heav
" from the stake 1t thrilled every nerve
r. that fathers frame. That same sad, sws
smile, too, was on her face, as shs, placed }
hand in his, and said:
4 "Iet it 70 on, dear father. 4 am or