The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-01-23

fore by some literary vicar, and the
clerk, whose name was Bonham, relent.
ing, perhaps, in his cruel prejury
against the orphan, tacitly encouraged
the boys love Of learning, by leaving
always, through the long summer days,
the vcstry windows ajar, as secret
means of ingress. Yet, in truth, as he
grew older, it was not so much to read
or learn that the young heir so often
visited this ancient place as upon its
old worn aitar.stoncs to pray for the
mother he had never known. The old
miller, too, was his never-failing friend;
he vowed by all the silver drops which
beaded on his old mill-whcel, that whilst
penny was left in his oaken chest or
canvass bag, no man should do injury
to this rightful heir of the Verduns.
But those who have an honest love of
learning, have often added to it much
just and truthful pride; and the boy
possessing this in no common measure,
and learning, as lie grew older, that
Whitmore's cxactions had largely di-
minished the old millcr's substance, he
secretly left him and the village, about
year before old Johns visit to Lon
don, and people said that he had joined
company of strolling players.
Whitmore. now widower, had an
only son, for whom he destined both
the hand and and wealth of Lncy; for,
through The mcars Of having managed,
now for so long period. the entire bus
mess Of the estate, he had acquired
that uncontrolled influence over these
three recluse sisters as left little doubt
ofhis fully accomplishing his dream of
worldly ambition.
Good old John Glover and the gold
smith found the apothccary to be q
man well oblc to see his own self-intcr-
est. For now that Whitmvre's gold
flowed in far less lavishly than former
ly, he had no objection to sell the Sc
crct, as his visitors soon found, provided
he himself were safe. For some days,
however, his cautiousness was stronger
than his cupidity; but when, to his CON
stcrnation, he learnt that the flagon
yet keptits original shape, he found it
would be far more polite. and more to
his own seli-interest, to reveal all he
knew. Secretly in the power of the
law, though at liberty, he at length
produced the original leaf of tho stolen
parish register; for tho leaf for which
Whitmorc had paid so dear u price,
and whicl he had committed to the
flames, was simply copy of the origin
al, though So ably executed upon stain
cd parchment by an accustomed hand,
as to deceive even his sharrsightcdness.
And thus tue merry old goldsmith did
more than even what he promised.
1t was a lovely July evening some
months after this time, when, i'll little
village on the borders Nottinghamshire,
a small stroling company of players
were that night to astonish the rural
public with the representation of King
Richard the the Third. Their tempo
rary stage was a barn abutting on
green lane, or rather bride road, &C.
lected for its convenience, for, under
the deep hcdgc.rows, the two meagrc
horses, which dragged the company's
caravan, found ample and luxurious
food. The little theatre was lighted,
though twilight had not yet fully closed
around, and the play had commenced.
Soon after this there came along this
very lane n lady and gentleman on
horseback. The latter, as he approach
cd the barn, slackcned rein, inquired
of some of the hy ISLANDERS the cause Of
the lights which twinklcd ont so merrily
and then impcllcd by what simply
seemed curiosity. he dismountcd, and
throwing his bride over a gate-post,
entered under the roof, filled with the
living words of one mans mind. He
had entered but an instant; but once
therein, he fingered rs if bound By
spell, and soon his companion joined
him. In no great while, for the play
was much abridged, the curtain drew
up, and .rcvealedt he great battle scene,
the one where Richard falls. AS this
Sccilc proSrcSScu, ana the victor be-
comes triumphant over the king, one
standing at the rear Of the primitive
stage crossed it, and regardless of the
time and scene, whispered in the vic.
tors ear. Immediately he started and
looked round; his deep earnest gaze fall
ling at once upon n single spectator,
who, no other than Whitlnore, immcdi.
atcly called to his companion, and
sinking out. pursued his way in uncx.
planned silence.
And so on, till night had fallen over
brown health and wood; and till in the
old manor house Of the Vcrduns the
three solitary sisters sat wondering Why
Lucy, who was for the first time com
ing home in the care Of the agent, was
al