Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-08

1he vessel which bore the brother and
sister, intended to land on the Western
coast of France, reached the Straits of
Gibraltar in safety. Soon afterwards.
however, when the passengers, attracted
by the beauty of evening in that latitude,
had assembled in group on deck, an
old negress in attendance on Aline pointed
out dark spot in the sea at a distance.
The captain was present at the moment,
and was observed to grow pale as he turn
ed his eye on the object pointed out, but
he made no remark, and the passengers
retired for the night. In the morning
they found nothing but hustle and alarm
on board. The vessel was pursued by a
swift-sailing Algerine corSair, of size
which rendered it almost hopeless for a
petty merchantmen to attempt any resis-
tance. Nevertheless, the crew took to
their arms, resolved to sell their liberty
dearly. The pirates were not long in
coming up and boarding, and. as might
have been expected, soon:overpoweredal all
opposition. Aline had kept close by the
side of her brother, determined to perish
with him if he fell, and when the capture
took place, she was bound with him to
the same chain. This association greatly
lightened their sufferings on the occasion,
but it did not last long. When the cor
sair reached the port of Algiers, an order
was issued for the conveyance of all the
male prisoners ashore, and the retention
of the females. The language spoken
around her was unintelligible to Aline,
but she soon became sensible of the in
tended separation. Her agony was
dreadful at the moment : the past mishap
seemed to her insignificant in comparison
with this crowning ill. She fell on her
knees before the barbarians of the vessel,
and used every entreaty, by words and
gestures, which might have chance of
moving them to permit her to accompany
her brother. Her tears and imploring
looks fully expressed the meaning which
her language could not convey, but they
were totally disregarded, and her brother
was carried off with his companions. All
hope seemed to depart with him, and
Aline, fell down in swoon. .-..
Her insensibility, at least to partial
extent, was of long continuance, every
return of her powers of reflection serving
only to renew her grief, and throw her
back into state of lethargy, which rem
dered her needless of all around her.
lara, meanwhile, the old negrcss, watch
ed over her with incessant care. When
Aline regained something like composure,
she found herself on board of different
vessel, and again upon the open sea.
Zara informed her that she had been pur-
chased by an Armenian merchant, and
was now On the way to Smyrna, whence,
after taking on board some Circassian
and Georgian captives, Achmet, as the
merchant was called, intended to proceed
to Constantinople. lara likewise added,
that Achmet seemed to take strong in
terest in her restoration to health. This
last piece of intelligence was anything
but pleasing to the poor captive, and her
mind was so heavily oppressed with a
foreboding dread of the fate that seemed
to await her, that she resolved to escape
from it at the cost of her life. No other
way of effecting this object was in her
power save that of starving herself. For
two DAYS she maintained this determina-
ton; and was already beginning to feel
her strength diminishing, when some pro-
ceedings on the part of lara changed al
together the train of her thoughts. The
old negress, like many of her race, affect
ed the power of reading the cards, or of
telling fortunes, and she artfully led her
languid mistress to express wish to
know what would be her brothers fate,
the subject everuppermostin her thoughts.
lara used the opportunity given to her
most dexterously. Consulting the cards,
she assumed, after time, an aspect of
great Joy. Your brother shall vet be
free and great! The cards declare it
and by you-by you-shall he be saved !"
The suggestion of such possibility made
an instantaneous and striking impression
upon Alinc, and raised in her mind new
course of action. She resolved to desist
from her abstinence, and preserve her life,
in the hope that whatever might be her
own fate, she might yet have it in her
power to alleviate the sufferings of her be-
loved brother.
When the vessel arrived at Smyr-
ma, it chanced that while Achmet was
getting on board his other captives, he
met the French consul in society, and
mentioned his having with him beauti-
full slave of French descent. The consul
Immediately requested to see her, and af-
ter some difficulty this was accomplished.
On seeing Aline, Monsieur l. gener-
ouSly offered to purchase her from the Ar
menian, and set her at liberty.
"My brother" said Aline " will you
set him, too, at liberty 2"
% Alas ~ said the consul, that is not
possible. How could he now be found
out? The intervention of the Sultan
alone, fear, could avail to discover his
retreat and procure his freedom"
1.-The Sultan - replied Aline, and for