The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-08-09
Frc... re Columbia Banner.
FHHeST PRIZE TAEE.
NnlCRH "A EL !ALLSCOT:
THE SM0T IN TIME.
A STORY OF NIARI0N'S MEN,
BY j. w. ERWIN.
BY J. w. ERWIN.
CHAPTER II.
CONTINUED FROM LAST ISSUE.

CONTINUED FROM LAST ISSrE
Michael would Eain have turned
aside to seek shelter from the storm
IN some of the scattered habitations
that lay by the roadside, for the hurr
cane was now upon him in all its fury ::
but his past experience had taught him
to act with cautious circumspcction in a
country where civil war had loosencd
the bands OF society, and set neighbor
against naglibor III hitter and EXTERN
mating strite. We'll known through
all that portion Of the country as an
active and uncompromising whg. he
was equally al object Of terror and
bitter hatred to ali who were enlisted
against the Independence of their coun.
try. Fearing lest in seeking shelter
from the storm he might uneweres
ip!acc himself in the power of the tones,
III whose hands his fate would soon
have been scaled, he hurried by dwell
ing after dwelling, preferring rather to
suffer exposure to the elements than
to risk falling into the hands of BLOODY
minded and unscrurulous mon.
AS the road, however, emerged from
the forest into al open clearing of con
siderable extent, hc found himself with.
i'll few rods of Il house which lay up-
on his right, too dilapidatcd in appear
anae to rohGa- it probable that he
Alright there meet with dangerous nd.
wersares. Ilhe rain too was nearly
upon him, just as he reach, d the mar.
row lane which led down to the build.
ing. laesita:ing only for auomcnt
aIe turned his .hurse's head snd enlIonsd
up to the house, turning his horse into
the shelter Of an unoccupicd stable, the
door OF which opened into the lane.
Entering the gateway, where, half torn
from its hinges, the gate hung obstruct-
ing his way, with few hasty strides
ne mounted the steps Of the piazza that
tottered under his tread, and raped
loudly at the door for admittancc.
livery thing about the place wore a
deserted and chcerlcss aspect. ahe
magnificent shadc4trees, stood unprun.
ed and neglected, with their inesed
'toughs descending within q few feet Of
the ground the rank grass was allow
ed to cover the entire yard, and grew
up even to the door steps, while here
and there refractory shutter, too rot.
ten to be retained by its hinges, was
kept in its place by a rail or pole cut
from the woods aud placed as prop
against it. The hand railing around
the piazza was partially gone, and the
pillars which supported the roof were
nearly rotted away at the base. AL
though the building was rs diapidated
and ehcerlcss as if it had .remujned I'm.
tenanted for whole generation.
Ills first summons failing to attrao.
attention, Michael knocked more loud
~ than before, and in o moment after
firm and masculine step was heard
advancing within the apartment-the
door was thrown open, and he found
M'mselt face to face with tall, athletic
and powerful man Of about forty wears
who invited him to enter.
1he furniture of the room into whic]
Michael was ushc:cd was of the mos
costly and luxurious description. In
deed, considering the time and condi
ton OF the country, it might have beer
esteemed elegant and tasteful. Ricl
carpets Of rare manufacture yielded te
his tread as he passed along, and pol
ishcd inallogony tables, with skiIfull,
ca' we'd ,arrn Chairs of oak, met his view
Oh eTcry side. y beautiful clock Of,
most costly style licked upon TIN
mantclboard, which was elegantly or
namentel with vases Of pure alabastc
nnd costly byoute'ie Of exquisite work
'Ransl.Ip. SO richly JUDGED was tn
apartment furnished, that Miclac
could not reprcss II glance of surpris
and wonder, when he compared tn
interior of the apartment with tn
l4ra' and tiIarida,cl appearance Q