The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-08-16

rlous Iynes, who is to take command.
is already in the neighborhood with
number OF active and au1acious follow
crs."
"On my soul, Dora" exclaimed
Michael, with an animated gesture.
"ths will be noble news for nv com.
Inandcr. But had the rascally tories no
fear that Marion would hear of their
gathering, and he an unbddcn guest 2"
indeed they do mot" replied she.
.'Nor do they drcaM of danger now.
Marion is believed to be far distant
and too feeble, even if aware of their
purpose, to venture abroad to oppose
thcm."
"On my soul they are fools as well
as cravens % muttered Michael. dis.
danfully. mo longer since than
morning left my brave general with
! two hundred us gallant soldiers as ever
fought under the banner of freedom.
Conyers, painting for the fight, is in
the camp with Il full troop, and we
hear ready at IL word to rush down
upon the enemy like thunderbolt.
But am astonIshed beyond measure
that our scouts, ever wont to be
prompt and viyiaut, failed to gcthcr
and transmit to Marion intelligence Of
this gathering"
Perhaps they, may have been
among those good ;,..J reliable wings
who were captured and sent Off under
guard to Camden" answered Dora.
"Beiore word was whispered abroad
OF the intended gathering, every man
even suspected OF being friendly to his
country was at once Sent of to prison"
II all have indeed fallen into the
power of the tories, there is All epau-
| ietted traitor in our camp" answered
Michael stcrnly; "Marion has scouts
abroad that you would scarcely dream
! OF, and such rs the tories could never
suspect, unless they are BETRAYED
None but his officers are permitted to
know the names Of his scouts, and
they are only trusted with the secret
when the good IF the public service
rn1nirns :. .,.yt,--.;anu. ,..L,t g.,
has befallen his scouts, and to do so.
must trust you with their names, which
otherwise not even torture could
wiring from my lips. trust you, but
let the silence of the grave forever af.
ter rest on their names"
''Speak on, Michael" answered the
maiden, 81 would die sooner than be
tray thcm.''
Michael drew yet nearer to her, and
sinking his voice to Il whisper, as
though he feared the walls had ears,
spoke slowly and solcmnly"
"Richbourg, Jamison, Amcs-can
you tell me aught of them? they are
our scouts. loyal and trusted. God
grant, they may be safe !"
No wonder that you failed to hear
from them" replieI Dora. "Jamison
and Alncs have been sent in irons to
Camden; but poor Richbourg preferred
u better fate lie died at his own door
battling like lion with those who
were sent to arrest him."
May he rest in peace" responded
Michcal solcmnly che was Il brave
soldier and IN honest man. But we
have one scout yet left, brave and
loyal old man, as true rs steel to the
cause of his adopted country. What
bad tidings have you to tell me of old
| Archy Kerr"
"OId Archy Kerr" asked Dora,
with il start Of surprise that taciturn,
moody and selfish old man, whom no
whig will trust: and whom tory as he
is, even his own party avoid AMI dis
like? You Jest, NIichcal, indeed you
but jest i'll speaking thus Of mis-
anthr"pic rcclusc.
"On my word ! do not" responded
her lover gravcly. sold Archy Kerr,
for reasons that do honor to his heart,
has been content 10 endure the i'll will
and contempt Of those whose devotion
to their country does not even equal
his own. Too proud, indeed too much
OF christian, to practice imposition
or deceit, even for the promotion of II
righteous cause, he would sooner tear
his tongue from his throat thun suffer
it to belle his convictions. 1hus his
honesty has kept him aloof from tic
tories, though rcputcd as such himself.
And he will not cousort with our own
party, lest he may draw the suspicion
Of the royalist party upon himself, and
thus diminish his opportunity of rem
dcring assistance to Marion. The lea.
ding wings Of the district have Il hun.
dred times denounced him to Marion
as one well worthy Of the halter, but
our general has only smiled in the
quiet way peculiar to him, and Oh =
believe me, one Of the nobIcst hearts
that ever beat, one the most stern and
unyicldins in its integrity, tlrobs un-
der the course jerkin of that devoted
patriot. Tell me, Dora, has he too
fallen into the power OF the tory par
~"
No, Michael, nom answered she.
Archy Kerr is SO cordially dctcstcd
by the wings, that he would be the
last man the tories would suspect