Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/133

Rh into which she had fallen during the discussion, and laid her upon deck. The pirates immediately set themselves at work to cut the lanyards of the ship's rigging, and having effected it, cast off the fasts that bound the two vessels together, made sail, and were soon out of sight.

" With a bosom torn by a thousand contending emotions, I raised the loved form from her prostrate position , and carrying her into the cabin , placed her upon the cot you saw swinging there. By the aid of a little cold water, she at length revived, and opening her eyes timidly, and staring wildly around for a moment, she hastily closed them again, as if to shut out some object of fear, moaning out at the same time, ' Oh ! spare me ! -have mercy upon me !' Her lips then became dyed with blood, and I perceived, with anguish, that she had burst a blood-vessel in the lungs. ' They have gone, dearest,' said I, seizing her hand, and covering her cheeks with kisses, as I spoke. 6 They are all gone. There is no one with you but myself. Open those dear eyes once more. Look at me ---speak to me yet once again .'

" Soothed and encouraged by my words, she opened her eyes, and turning them full upon me, while her countenance beamed with affection, she said :

" I knew you would not desert me : but they have murdered my father-my poor dear father l'—and streams of tears rolled down her cheeks, as her mind dwelt upon the scene.

" Be calm, ' said I, for my sake- for your own, pray be calm. See there is blood issuing from your mouth ; and you but increase its flow by your emotion.'

" I feel that I shall not long survive,' she replied, in a melancholy voice. ' I do not desire to live. Oh ! the horrors I have passed through !'

" You will live long, yet, ' said I, endeavouring to comfort her : I will love you, watch over you, be always near you. Some vessel will fall in with us, and take us on board. We shall once more be happy-you will yet be the wife of one who"

Never !' she cried, earnestly- ' never ! Would you marry the polluted being you now see before you ? Would it be a proof of affection in me to attach disgrace to you, by accepting so generous a sacrifice ? No-it can never be !'

"In a voice gradually weakening, she found words to express her undiminished affection for me, and to inform me that broken in spirit by the opposition of her parents to a union with me, and their endeavours to effect a match of interest' with her cousin, her health had gradually declined, until a