The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-12-05
From Ballous Pictorial.
The CipT0R CAPTIVE.
a TALE OF TEXAN TRIUMPH.
BY BEN: PERLEY POORE.

BY BEN: PERLEY PoORE.
"ExpELLED?" Yes, Horace Morgan
was sent away from West Point in dis
grace, instead OF remaining to graduate
at the head of his class, as had been pre-
Idicted. Although reared among the temp
tstions OF New York city, the young man
had entered the Military Academy with
an enviahIe scholastic reputation for good
behaviour and diiigent attention to study,
with natural fondness for martial eXer-
cises. Iideed, his uncle guardian (for
HORACE was an orphan) would fain have
received him into his counting-room but
the lad was bent on becoming soldier.
In this prediction he was somewhat en-
Icouraged by an old friend Of his fathers,
who had political influence enough to pro-
cure for him an appointment" consoling
his uncle by an assurance that the cadets
found their pay sufficient for all necessary
expenses SO Horace entered the scad-
eay, nor had he been long at West Point
ere he gained the affection of his comrades
and the appreciation Of his professors;
winning respect by his mental superiority,
and retaining it by his gehtlcman-liked de-
pertinent. Nor was his fine personal
appearance without its share in rendering
him thus popular. A compact form, clas-
sical features clustering brown hair snd
dark blue eyes, made Horace Morgan, in
his well fitting grey uniform, the very
beau-ideal of cadet.
A yesr passed by. and Horace, profit
! ing by his furlough, visited his uncle, where
he naturally fell desperately in love with
his cousin Katrina. He had left her a
mere girl-he found her noble-hearted
woman, in the sunlight OF whose smiles
he bs-Scd with delight. Yet it was not
merely the marvellous radiance OF her
lustroas e:es, OF tha ',c;ss.sns saile that
swept over be, CHECKS, that thrilled through
his very soul IS he s.sed upon her vita
delight. iie iss:e.ed basse!f tas. his
ardent affection was reciprecatsd, although
he never confessed his .sassioa, and at the
| expiration ef iis farioasa, he returned 10
West Point. inspired by chitslrons &c
sire to prove himself worthy of his ceasin' 5
love. Fervent were bis dreams of love
and fame il the short hours of feverish
repose which he enjoyed between the ex-
tinguishing Of his lamp and the morning
| drum.
Months passed on, during which the
cadet added to his repntation,a and again he
obtained leave Of absence Need we say
that he went to New York by the first
.,est, and that, on his arrival In that bus
Ting metropolis, he at once repaired to
the re.i,icace Of his uncle, IN Bleeker
Street, :h.n fashionable snsrtcrH He
was kindly received By his sunt-a lady
vho wishes to he considered sristocratic,
but who was decidedly partial to uniform
or titles.
"Your cousin Katrina is out" she soon
remarked. 1--WE are having her portrait
painted"
| "Her portrait! Who can do her JUS
tice7"
"Why, Horace, how complimentary you
are growing! though have always heard
officers were go. rockingham is painting
your cousin, aud is getting an excellent
likeness. 1t vii. bc such . comfort to
US when she is gone
"Gone?" falteringiy inquired the aston
lshed cadet.
Dear me, have you not heard the
news?"
"No," replied Horace, with unfeigned
surprise.
Dear me, how remiss your uncle is !!
Katrina is engaged to Don Francisco de
los Naranjos a gradee of Spain, who is
at present an aid de-camp to general San
to Anna, of Mexico 0, he's such ahaud-
some man, Horace! And he's so wealthy,
for he owns silver mines, and ever 50 many
ranches. Then-but this is secret,
Horace, general means to drive the
squatters out of Texas, and the don is to
be governor. Isn't it match for Katrina
Mason?"
Horace mechanically replied in the af-
! firmative, for he felt as if molten lead had
been poured into his every vein. His
brain rang with confused sound, as of a
thousand waterfalls, and it was lucky for
| him that the announcement of visitor
afforded him an opportunity of escape
from the house. He did not dare meet
his cousin, and left by the afternoons boat
i FOR West Point, in hopeless misery. A
few hours before, with the bright star of
love beaming before him, he had rejoiced
in the promise of radiant future; now
he was plunged into the seclusion Of his
own dark thoughts. Visions of his child
hood passed through his throbbing brain
tones unheeded at the time-words
which had waited until that hour for their
meaning looks which he now interpreted
and Katrina's form was in ALL An
unquenchable feeling, like the thirst of one
who dies in the desert parehed his lips;
dark shadows clouded the future, and ere
he was again in his tent, his blighted
heart had experienced all that revnlsiop of
feeling which is deemed the work of years
Of sorrow
From that day, the academical career