The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-05-01
NEW SERIES.---VOL 2, NO. 3S

10; and out Tor her, the aged patrlot1 per
hsps, would have scorned to purchase Il on
any terms.
AS we have said, therefore, a secret pre-
sentiment filled Mr.. Mowbray's heart with
sadness. Something seemed to whisper to
him that it was not too late to draw back
He seemed, indeed, like one going to q
scaffold, rather than the parent Of bride.
Directly the bride entered, attended by
her aunt and the daughter Of one of the
officers. Kate was dressed in simple white,
without single ornament, and without a
single vestige Of color on her face, which
looked like snowy wax. Stllshe was won
drous beautiful. Even her deathly pallOr
so like that Of corpse that some of the fe.
males actually shuddered and drew back as
she approached, could not entirely destroy
the effect of her surprising figure and the
grace of every movement. Her smiles were
no longer at her command-for the near ap-
proach of her doom completely prostrated
her. She seemed now--what she was-a
victim wreathed for the sacrifice.
She had sat in her room all that after
noon in sort of stupor, her fingers convul.
sively clasping and unclasping each other
and her eyes bent on the floor listessly.-
The going out and coming in Of her atten-
dants attracted no attention. But she had
not shed tear. The fountain of her eyes
seemed dried up. When the time came to
attire her for the ceremony, they had to
rouse her; and the vacant gaze of inquiry
she turned on the servant made the slave for
a moment think her insane. But when her
aunt came 10 to superintend her toilet, she
from her chair and welcomed her with
smile--but one like sunbeam on a wintry
day, cold and sbuddering to look upon
From this moment, however, she was more
like herself, though at times the muscles of
the mouth would twich convulsively. At
other times she would turn away her head,
and an expression of eart-breaking wo
would shoot across her Countenance; but on
meeting her aunt's eye once more she would
essay again to smile.
A few minutes before the ceremony was
to begin, they left her alone for a moment.
She was standing before the mirror, and her
eyes fell on the reflection of her form. ~@
THE sacrifice will soon be complete"
she said bitterly. "God forgive me-yet
surely l am doing no wrong. Oh! that
could weep hut there is load here" and
she pressed both hands on her breast, "that
keeps back the tears. 1t is like burning
fire.
Who could have believed that this ghastly
face was the once radiant one of Kate Now
bray
Her father stood near the door as she en-
tered He was struck with the dry stony
expression of her face, and started forward
to her side. He spake in whisper, but
with startling earnestness.
81 adjure you, my daugb,er," he said "tell
me--are you willing to 60 on with this mat
ter! Say but word, and it shall be bro
ken off" ~
Kate lifted her eyes to his with sudden
and the glance was full of unut-
teraole love. 1t was such, if we might say
so without presumption, a martyred spirit
might have turned to Heaven from the stake.
1t thrilled every nerve in that fathers frame
That same, sad, sweet smile, too, was on her
face, as she placed her hand in his and said:
"Let it 90 on, dear father. am only
faint and nervous. shall soon be better"
All better in the grave.
His doubts were only half resolved, but
le could say no more, and together they ad-
'anced to the temporary altar, where the
bridegroom and priest stood awaiting them.
Kate felt choaking in her throat as her
'yes first fell on Major Lindsay, and it seem
ID to her, for an instant, as if her knees i
we're failing her. But she remembered that
Ter fathers eyes were bent anxiously on her.
md from that moment there was no longer ,
my faItering on her part.
The bvzz which attended her entrance had
?ow subsidized, ard deep hush fell on the
oom. Every ear was strained to catch the
irst sound of the minister's voice. A watch :
night have been heard to tick.
"Dearly beloved" began the minister, in
he time hallowed form of the Episcopal :
'hurch, "we are gathered together here in
he sight Of Cod"
He had proceeded thus far, when such
hidden and startling burst of tumult arose
rom the distant street that he raised his
yes, with look of alarm, from his book.
t was like the confused ringing Of bells,
alf drowned in the shouts of the people.
Nj at once the town bell itself, close at 8
and, lookup the uprour. and its iron tongue e
vas heard changing hurredly and fercely 0
N the night.
The male part Of the company sprang to II
heir feet. y
"Hark" said Col. Campbell, "can it be \
he townon fre?' u
"There it goes louder and louder" ex- .
laimed second; sit must be an insurrec- Il
ion I" sst!.5s p
The women now lent their shricks to the in
lmuit. The officers, with their hands on u
heir swords, rushed toward the door The al
ivina had drannnd hi. v..,a. kooL .~a III. a,