Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1854-11-09
MlisreIlaneolls
MICHAEL ALLSCOT,
ita THE SHOT IN TIME.
o IA STORY OF MARION'S MEN.
BYJ W. IRWIN.
(coEcLUDED.)
(co4cLUDED.)
CHAP TER ~.

bride OF the maiden as she dSmounted. She
hastened on TO the door of the hut, over which
growth of magnificent trees of The forest
flung their shadows, and without even the
ceremony Of knocking at the door for admis-
sion, crossedthe threshold and entered the sole
apartment Of the hut.
- The room was poorly and scantily furnished. {.
In one Corner stood a bedstead, eoarsely, yet
neatly supplied, and before the hearth, on
which were arranged the full culinary uten'
sis which the old man possessed stood rude
bench and couple Of oaken chairs The
floor was faullessly clean, and even the pine
shelves on which were arranged the bright tin
O. ware and cheap plates bore traces OF frequent
scouting.
The old man was sitting upon bench be-
fore the fire, and so deeply was he absorbed in
4, thought, or so duh ndinactive had his senses
become from long and painful Illness, that he
needed not her light footsteps as she crossed
his threshold. His feet encased in soft mOcea-
sins, and blanket thrown around bis shoul-
ders, supplying the place of a coat and waist
coat, he sat bending over the Scanly fire, on
which an iron pot was steamlng, his long bo-
nv fingers clasped together, seemingly lost in
81. thought. Dora paused and gazed upon him
for nome ut before she ventured to address
him.
Far b.yond the common height. with a
lro,d and canacious chest, his figure still bore
evidence of o, ,antic strength. As he sat bow
sd dawn 9th his head bent till il hung
g. obov. his knees. and his sinewy hands laid
unm his Ian. with his long pale fingers inter
wined with one another, and his siInken med
.;,a,ivs eves Eyed unon tbe fnor. his air was so
stern that the maii4n almost irembled before
Iin,t S,ifras the ouills oft the fretful porcupine
Ills bris,lpg hair grizzIed with age, rose above
his buee massive forehead, which was desply
: and thickly furrowed with wrinkles. His face
was long. witbered and darkened by exposure; /;
his long and aoriline nose added determination
and exnressiori TO his features, while hls full
ptoiectinp neither lin raye additional harshnrss
10 his countenance. ......
Dora pazed silently upon him fora moment,
q @and then advanced TO the spot where The old
y man sat. Hearing the ruatIing Of her dress, he
turned suddenly around, raised himself erect
on his 81 at. and fixed upon her bis keen gray
eve that twinkled suspicioasly under the long
,dblock husky broMs that projected over them
'"Ehaye heard Mr.. Kerr, YOU were extreme
ly,illn said she advancing and kindly ex-
tending her hand, ssand have come to visit
you.n tf....
The did man received her hand, while his
fac. relaxed someu hat of its sternness, and
gently molioned her 10 seat. Dora took an
arm chair onposiie 70 him, and made an effort
to engage the old man in conversation by
kindly icouiries as to his health and welfare
The old man answered her injuries cour-
teously. vet briefly, and il was not difficult to
see that some secret distrust of bis visitor, or
the object conpncted Herewith, haunted his
mind, and rendered him the less communica-
tive. ..,. i.
"Mr. Kerr" said she ot length. al am told
that Won know how 10 direct me on my way 10
Naion's camp. Can YOU DO so 2"
The old man started wildly, and fixed on
her gaze Of wonder and suspicion, while he
glanced apprehenslyely towards the door, as If
fearing he aad been betrayed 10 The tories.
"Narion's camp" calculated the OLD man
in surprise. 'Who told you So!'
"a. Zone moment, Mr.. Kerr beg you will lis
ten 10 me patiently" answered the ma den
in an earnest and appealing tone. "You can
snotbe ignorant ofthe gathering of tories which
is to take place within "a short distance Of this
place on to onoHow?"
r Tue old man held bis peace, and Dora con-
timed, with her dark eyes liked upon HIM:
"Marion ought to be informed OF that"
Kerr still continued silent. ..,
r. "Haye you," she continued, emo means OF
forwarding 10 him information so important as
th,St
Inc oiu pa'ho' gtoaheu aio"u' ou' ahS"ei-
ed; ,e,,
What business ,s tnls o' mihe' l marion
or any other general wlshes lnlormatlon, lnlnN
you II rs my business 10 emoroii mySeit oy NIX
ing IN hls ata!rs' ~ ne wishes 10 oe INFORM.
ed OF aiithat is passing, think you not that
there are spies ann scouts enough IN the coun'
trn alreadyr a.,
"But II his scouts are all iakenF suggest
ed Dora.
can taken," exclaimed the old man earnest
ly and wildly, while his eye began to fash
with interest : "Where's - but what do you
know aboutt, my child7 - Speak p' and he
leaned over and gazed earnestly upon her. %
"Jamison is taken" replied Dora.
"Well we'll p' asked Kerr impatiently and
eagerly - "what next p
Games is taken," she continued.
"Well we'll p' cried the old man, uncon-
sciously rising from his seat, while his gay eye
n u 4 4 1