The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-11-22

devotion, that IN one of her temperament
and blood AMOUNTED. almost to idelatry:-,.
Though meeting but rarely, and laterly only
by stealth, yet his image was continually
presentto her mind s'-1r9 ''17i 'o9ds -1a
|. OF. late there, had been many causes at
work to diminish the peace aud happiness
OF the maiden, - The country was oyerrun
by prowling bands Of tories, and nowhere
throughout thewhole State was there band
of patriots sufficiently formidable to stand
against the, invader, or to appear openly in
arms. The body under Marion, which still
refused to disband, could scarcely be called
an exception to this rule; for pent up in the
fastness of the swamp, it lay hidden from
the enemy, while its locality was mystery
even to the most undoubted patriots. of his
own party. .'@.' '
AS the maiden leaned over the balustrade,
the full light of the moon shining down
softly upon her beautiful, figure, that seemed
still more yoluptuous as she stood exposed
to the influence Of that bewitching light that
softens even the downy cheek of beauty, and
gives perfection to its loveliness, one might
almost observe the tear-drops flashing across
her bright eyes, while she mused alone on
her young hopes, the fruitjon of which
seemed yet SO distant. Around her, through
out the whole land, the foot of the invader
trod tri1mphantly upon the soil, and even
the most hopeful Of the patriots began to
tremble at the prospect Of subjugation.---
| Well did she know the fate that awaited her
! lover should the invader finally triumph over
PROSTATE country, Her hopes would then
be but delusive dream, and her heart, wild
owed in its affection, break with its burden
or beat on through. sad existence, madden
ed by its bereavement.
Besides these anticipations Of evils, as vel
distant and only conjectural, these were
more immediate causes OF anxiety and an.
noyance which harrassed her peace, and
were fruitful of much uneasiness and distress
|
even though it should be necessary to resort
to the most energetic measures Her home
had of late been frequently visited by the
leaders of the royalsts--mostly, if not al
together, men Of abandoned characters and
dissoute hubits--who could now with i'm.
punity venture abroad. and boldly, too in a
country where there was no power to keeF
them in wholesome awe, and more than one
Of these military lree-booters had cast CLAN.
ces of admiration and covetous expectations
upon the rich heiress of Sumter.
Foremost among these, and especially de.
tested by Dora was the tory leader Harl
son, who regarded her as prize. well wor
by his unscrupulous devotion to the cause o
the mother country Patiently had he borne
her indignant contempt, her withering scori
und her freely manifested detestation OF hi:
character, in the presumptuous hope that the
), final hour of triumph would wiring from hei
however reluctantly, consent to wed him
He had become frequent guest at her faith
er's house, who courted the society of the
bloody and wicked man whom his more cour
ageous daughter abhorred. '
The gentle Dora was leaning over the
balustrade and musing upon the mournfu
circumstances that darkened the sunshine o
her happiness, and bitter were her media
tions as she called to mind her nnfriendet
and desolate situation since she stood isola
ted from lhe world, and with scarcely on.
friend to whom she could unburden hersel
with a hope of sympathy. AS she stoo'
looking out upon the scene before her, sud
denly the neighing of q horse reached he
ears from the road which passed along a
right angles to the avenue, about half ,
mile distant. Again the sharp shrill neigl
rose upon the air like the clear blast of |
clarion, and Dora imagined that she coult
almost hear the tramp Of her lovers stee'
along the firm ana we'll trodden highway
She gazed intenty down the long avenue
taxing her eyes to the utmost, to distinguish
the horse or rider through the gloom us HI
passed the point where,the avenue intersect
ed the highway.
at is the day he should have come," muir
INJURED the maiden. as with her he nd sh'
shaded her eyes fromethe strong glare of thu
moon, and gazed intently down the avenue
A moment more and she beheld the moon
light glisten upon the sleek coat of pow
erful animal, as he turned off from the high
: way, and entered the avenue leading to tn
: house.
d "God be praised, il is indeed he," she ex
d claimed, as she recognized the well know
$ s,eed of her lover "Michel comes," an
e retiring to her chamber, she re.lighted he
' lamp, and waved it thrice joyfully at he
: window, to tell her lover thatshe had watch
q ed for and discovered his coming. The
!, casting herself upon her knees and buryin
r her face in her hands, wept tears of thank
e fulness and joy for the safe return of on
r who was dearer TO her heart than life il
e self. ~"
i Some ten or fifteen minutes had elapse
+ and this beautiful woman still knelt with he
d face buried in her hands; when suddenly
d rustling was heard among the leaves of til
oak that grew near her window to the rigl
s Of the portico, and slight jarring anon
y its boughs, and q grating against its trunl