The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-10-19
THE INNKEEPER AND THE SKULL.
"A Story of TectriFDllaiORa.

once sailed from London in the
ship Lion rs n common sailor. She
was bound for India. On her deck.
just before starting, were several
groups-merchant's clerks bustling
about to deliver packets of letters
the Captain convcrsing with two or
three OF his employers commercial ac-
quantance exchanging cent. per cent.
adieus-and eight or ten sailors, un-
der the superintendent of the mate,
standing ready to hoist anchor, when
the command should be given.
In the aft" part of the ship stood
II fair young man, of the middle size,
an elderly lady dressed in widows
weeds, and two remarkably handsome
girls. The widow, reclining against n
mast, seemed overwhelmed with sor.
row; and every now and then, with n
mothers Importantly, she reiterated
her injnnctions on her son to write
often, and take care of his health.
The young man, Charles Endicott,
had taken each sister by the hand, and
was cndcavoring in play iiil way, though
a tear stood in his bright blue eye, to
bcguile them of their grief. "Nhat's
the use: girls" said he, "of making
such q tuss-you know have always
plagued you to death? should think
you'd rcj"ice TO bc rid Of me. How.
ever, II shall soon return as rich as
Crnsus- -and-thcn, my pretty Bess,' y
giving his Youngest sister nm affection
ate kiss, ''you shall come and he house.
keeper for your old bachelor brother"
/ Here c summons of the bell inter.
rupted the conference, and those who
were not passengers began to leave the
vessel. Charles threw himself into
his mothers arms, and wcpt ont a
farewell; embraced each sister; saw
them all leave the ship in the boat,
and reach the landing place; waved
his handkerchief to them all till their
beloved forms vanished in the distance:
and then reclining over the taffarel,
gave himself up to melancholy reflec.
tons, tinctured with n slight glow OF
4 antisipated happiness. 7g3S,ss &
>S''Su 'Shi't'a''ScS vi infancy !tsfu pres
cnts from her son. II S letters uni.
torrflS contained accounts of his good
health and increasing prosperity. AT
length letter was received, in which
Charles stated, that having settled all
his fathers affairs, and enriched him
self to his reasonable expectations,
having reduced his wealth 10 rs com.
pact form as possible, he was about
to return to his native country; and rs
agood opportunity offered, he was 90.
ing overland to the Mediterranean, nnd
thence by water home. Once more
did the mother hear from the son. and
then years and years rolled away and
no t'dngs of him came. Inquiry was
made for him in almost every port in
the Mediterranean, and in various pla-
ces along the coast Of England, but all
in vain. At one time it .was stated
that M e glshman, apparently from
the Indies, and answering, in many res
poets, TO the desert ption given of Mr..
f., had landed ut Dover, from France;
but; owing to The multitude of travel
lers who disembarkcd daily and al.
most hourly at that port, ali attempts
to trace this person further proved
! trnitless. The Poor mother, sickening
under disappointment, soon died, and
all hope of seeing their brother again
was given up by the sisters, though
their anxiety to know what had been
his fate was intense.
1t was about six years after the re
ccption of the mothers last letter, tllnt
q gentleman and lady, seated in n
barouche, slowly approached towards
the obscure village of N. The
lady was Charles, elder sister, and the
gentleman, Mr.. X, her husband. 1t
appeared they had been conversing on
some sad topic, for the lady's eyes
were wet with tears, and they both
seemed absorped in melancholy
thought. Their reveries were at length
interrupted by their approaching tho
brow Of a hill which overlooked the
village. The prospect from the place
was beautiful. Directly before them
the road descended considerable de
clivity, and shadowed by graceful
elms, stretched before them for sever
al miles. To their left, about the base
OF the hill, a beautiful broad basin OF
transparent water lay expanded. The
shores, gracefully curved, were cover.
ed on the one side with verdant forest
trees, scattered here and there with
white cottages, and terminated on the
opposite side by broken and precpi.
tous lodges of rocks, beyond which an
uneven and stony country could be
seen. TO the right the prospect was
limited by ridge Of dark bluo hills
whose bold outline gave an air of un
usual majesty to the landscape. Di
rectly before them, at about miles