Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-11-30
CHAPTER I.-T'he Encounter. !.
on, mischief thou art swift 10 enter
ln the thoughts of desperate men.

II was towards the conclusion of the reg of
Charles the Second, that man might have been
seen one dark night, making his way through one
Of the narrow lanes leading from Cheapside.
He was mufled IN large cloak, and that and
his hat, which was pulled closely over his brows,
completely shielded him from obervation. He
walked with hasty steps, and looked about him
with cautious eye, If conscious Of the danger
ous nature of the neighborhood he was threading.
Hiss caution was not thrown away. Three men
suddeniya issued from an alley and threw them-
selves upon him. The stranger was not taken by
surprise with this sudden attack. He drew his
sword, and placing his back against the nearest
wall, stood upon the defensive at the same time
shouting loudly for help E.a sa
THE assassins were eager for their prey, and
pressed upon him with great fury. The combat
would have terminated fatally to the stranger, in
afew moments, had he not received assistance, in
the shape Of young cavalier, whom his cries led
to the spot aa:ii q tleE1}a9s s IS z5@f.s e.: 81
The rufians did not wait to encounter him, but
hurried into the numerous allies, and disappeared
gAsIhe .nimble rascalsp' exclaimed the new
conner ssfo run into their holes before could get
thrust at them. A little blood-letting would
have done them good. Are you hurt, sir!' he ad-
ded, turning to the stranger he had befriended.
astsA trh4l-nothing mere Young man, you
hare aaved my iite to-night What accident
brought you to this spot!" s.fs si3ssfi lss.E3a5k
vssssFai,h!n mo accident, at all-mercly a pair Of
sparkiiag eyes,, ss:7aI .asi,ssr7e4 ID. ss..ssa
sssAIi iitrieueis stss ~ e.gfaa sa szeE1 !srs..
batEct SO; you shall hear how it chanced. L was
riding down Cheapside, to-day, when, lifting my
syesto small ement, ] beheld the loyeleasst
face It was ever my good fortune to see. 1t was
but passing glance, for my horse carried me
swiftly 81 IeigEed ilimgin and retraced my
sseps but the bright Eisionshad disappeared, and
lookedif vain for the particular easement where
shs1 had appeared, but could not distinguish ii
among the number around bas@sf.,r.~,as. .ft:.
assA recend look would have disseminated you.''
essf do not think so.F My life has been a rowing
one, and / have mingled with the high and low
thesr.chl and poor, I have seen proud danes and
fair maidens-I have found favor in the eyes OF
sacbs. have received smiles from some, others
have yielded the dewy, perfumeaof their lips; yet
never did see . face that could compare with the
feet vision to-day!'' ..~sss 81 sa, rs -f.,-a..r
aagsSaccess attend the wooing. Ere you 60, tell
me your name; you have done me good service
and Il may be IN my power to serve you in return
d.'I am caalled Richard Wright ,a<. II II 5,.,
lsFsRiehard NETightl .7exclamed the. stranger, in
6toae Of deep surprise. ta@s 9n.#Ta4f $. 9Ts g.
dAye; did youevet hear the name before?'
~ have. ! knew Of one who bore that name
+-a YOUTH rashss obstinate and headstrong. He
repaid his benefactor.s kindness with the blaekes
ingrattud until he was at length forced to drive
him irom beneath his roof: So have heard the
my version is different" replied Richare
Wright, gazing with serutinizing eye upon The
stranger 81 knew one who held those beneath
him TO- be 1T objects for his tyranny to prey upon
He was unbending, selfish and revengeful HI
treatedhis dady-Mife witheb brutality and neglect
Scorn ON him for it, when he married her he hat
not farfhing that he could call his own. Sht
was the mistress of broad lands left to her by he
late lord, for she was widow, with one little girl
left ast1e pledge of her first affection, and so h
married her to gain her gold. But his cupidit.
was deceived. The widow only held the land
an4 revenues in trust for the infant heiress, an
therefereshe could not touch them unless the chill
should die, and then the estates would revert aga
TO the mother Lord Mordaunt wa; not man t
suffer his schemes to be thwarted by puny girl
One day the child ,disappeared-all search wa
useless-she was never found. ae..
e aYears passed on, and Mordaunt grew more an
more brutal to his wife. See had refused to Civ
him reyersion of the estates, and he hated he
bitterly. One day, in anger, he struck her! Th
-tntnanly act was witnessed by her page-a bo
whom she had reared from intangible last branc
sof. family distantly related to her. Think 20
he could stand idly by and see his benefactres
thus nsulted. No! he seized the base lord by tn
throat, and dashed him to the earth. That be
9was-Rehard' Wright -. .-
+ 'sH was--it was muttered the, stranger, b
tween his teeth. ~ a5.saa73 - ~ q.
o7aaFrom that moment continued Richard, g
became impossible for him to remain longer
Elmbury. The lady entreated him to leave h
for her aewn sake,l for, notwithstanding her hu
bands cruelty, that angel woman still hoped
win his love. He departed, for he despised Lo
.Mordaunt too much to yield to him. He becan
sasoldier. Fer twelve years he served his count
i'm the Lowlands, and has returned at twenty-riv
d acaptain.'o i 52.452 e.s- e9s .sa@ p
Sds. sss ''sE-'1 rs 9.