The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1857-08-01

culties { Everington could not, while the deli
cious tone, that the beautiful Corolinn was faithful, wa
sounding in his ears. Hamors now struck up a sprightl
lay, and the prince and his companions, with their al
~tendants, left the bower and as they did so, a ligh
breeze waited aside the veil, and in the moonlight, Ever
ington saw that the eyes of the maiden were turne
upon him with such an appealing glance Of tenderness
that had a doubt Of her feelings existed before, tina
look would have removed them all. Everington replies
by placing his hand on his heart ; and after the prime
had departed, soon followed to the palace. Here, afte
~indulging a little longer in the mirth and festivities, h
listened to the music, which, from the gardens, the bank
Of the Bendemir, and the city, rose as if by magic, an,
mingled in the stiffness Of the night, like strains of tn
houris, in the mussulman paradise. Everington ant
Hamors left the palace in the same way they had en-
tered it, passed the guards without being discovered
and reached their lodgings in safety.
CHAPTER III.
The next day, and the next, passed away withou
Evcrington's being able to hear any thing from o person
in whose fate he was so deeply interested. The mer
chant too was invisible and though Hamors faithfully
watched all corners and goers to the palace, nothing O
them was to be seen. He indeed learned from some, il
the train of the prince, that in order more strongly t.
cement the friendship which existed between the prince
aud his new subjects of Schiras, he had declared to Sc
lect from the most beautiful of their women another
one to add to his harem and report, now as be
fore, fixed upon the daughter of the Circassiar
merchant as the happy individual who was to be thus
honored. It was further stated that the marriage cere
mony would be performed in a few days, and with al
imaginable splendor.
To Everington, who had strong reason for believing
that rumor was not in this instance the liar which it sc
often is, and with so much justice represented to be, this
intelligence, though not unexpected, was gall and worm
wood. If it was what he had feared, still until now
hope had whispered that the fears he felt arose from the
dread Of rival, and the intensity Of his affections fol-
the beautiful Corolinn. He spent the day in a thousand
wild and useless projects. In disguise, during the moon.
light evenings, he examined, as he dared, the pile Of
buildings in which fancy pictured his loved one to be a
prisoner. He gazed on the high walls which surrounded
the palace and gardens of the prince, but was unable to
catch a glimpse of her he so much wished to see. Ev.
erington recollected that the garden in which the enter.
tainment had been given reached the walls of the city,
and that they were washed by the Bendemir. Love is
fruitful in expedients. The thought occurred to him
that some spot might be found where he could, from the
river, enter the gardens, and though the enterprise
might be fraught with harvard, he determined on making
the attempt. Hamors procured a light boat, and in it,
when night came on, disguised as they were on the
evening OF the entertainment, they mingled with the
numerous parties, which in their fanciful water craft,
were enjoying all the g!ories Of an oriental evening
The air was balmy, music came over the waters-the
light dipping of the numerous oars fell upon the ear
with measured and soothing eHect-crowdsw were cluster
ed on the covered banks of the river-nightingales were
emulating the sweet tones of the Persian lutte and syrin-
ola the FREELY was darting amidst the thick woven and
deep green foliage of the 'pomegranate and Indian fig
tree and from the garden of the prince came the rich
doors OF the jessamine, citron and role. =
Everington and Hamors foated along through the de.
lightful scene, the former too deeply intent on another
object to enjoy fully the witcheries Of the present. The
walls next the water were carefully and anxiously exam
ined ; but even the searching eye of Everington could
discover no place where access appeared within the linn
Its OF possibility. Sometimes, mingled with the fragrance
which the light evening breeze waited from the gardens,
came the melting sounds of distant music-gay and
laughing voices-and once Everington started, as tones,
which he was willing to swear were those of the
Corolinn, and which sent the blood thrill
ling to his fingers ends, were heard ~warbling one of
those sweet and pathetic airs;s for which the maidens Of
her own country were so celebrated. They were about
to r%einquish their attempt as hopeless ; the river was
washing the last angle of the wall; the gay company
had begun to disperse, and Everington was about to
give orders for their return, when he happened to see
that from the branches of a pomegranate which rose
above the wall on the inner side, a vine, of that kind
which produces the rich wine of Schiras, had spread its
tendrils upon the wall, and loaded with fruit, had de-
scended till its clusters hung at the very waters edge.
"What think you" said Everington, as he turned
the light machine in which they were floating, SO as to
bring them close to the wall i" what think you Hamors,
Of making a ladder of these vines, with which to scale
the wall !! Is it practicable ?"
" Perfectly So" answered the slave, as he grasped
one of the vines and drew the boat to the wall; " but
would it not be advisable to wait until the moon has set,
as at this time we shall be more likly to be observed in
our attempt than then 2"
that by waiting we shall diminish the chance of
meeting those we wish to see. Now is the hour, but it
will soon be past" =
=" 1t is enough" said Hamors and in a moment the
light skif was secured to one of the vines !; thus, should
be necessary, a~fording the means of escape. An
angle OF the wall screened them, in some measure, by
lntercepting the light of the moon, and in a few moments,
Everington, followed by Hamors, stood in safety, on
the top of Pc wall, a distance of thirty feet from the
On the inside, the descent was attended with
little or no difficulty, and carefully accommodating the
ground, Everington advanced. It was not long before
he found himself in the vicinity of the very bower where
he had met the young Corolinn and the prince on the
night of the festival. Everington had already passed
several groups of gay and laughing hours, but she whom
he most wished to encounter, was not, he was confident,
among them.
As he and his servant cautiously and silently ap-
the secluded and beautiful retreat. they sud
denly heard voices, and listening a moment, perceived
they were females conversing lowly but earnestly. The
quicker ear of Everington instantly detected the silver
toned voice of Corolinn, and his heart futtered to think
he was so near the lovely object of his alteration. In a
whisper to Hamors, he directed him to remain where he
was, while he ventured to approach near enough to dis.
cover how many, and what persons were there, and how
employed.
If danger was approaching, Hamors was to communi-
the intelligence by a shrill Observation-Disclosures
then, with noiseless step, approached the bower, and
to his JOY saw that the beautiful Corolinn was reclining
on the very couch which she had occupied when be
the part Of a minstrel at her feet a place
now filled by a young woman who was evidently her at
tendant. Near her was one of the richest sofas of Is
pahan, which the prince, on her happening to mention
the pleasure she took in visiting that place, had ordered,
without her knowledge. to be placed there, and certainly
1t could not have been destined to support a lovelier
burden. Her hair was loosened from the diamond clasp.
flowing in rich curling tresses around her beautiful
and polished neck. She held in her hand a clusterAf
fragrant white roses, brought from the banks of the
and was while conversing, SLOWLY scatter
ing the pure leaves on the earth around her. 01Y
SO perish our sweetest, dearest hopes," said she
with a sigh 4" tomorrow, Myrtilda, you say the prince
has determined this hateful ceremony Shall be performed.
and the sacrifice completed Y
Not tomorrow, madam, but the day after" replied
the attendant.
=" One more day Of happy freedom is then mine,' said
Corolinn eff | must become the victim, let the sacri-