The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-08-16
THE SHOT HN TIME,
A STORY OF MARION'S MEN.
BY j. w. ERWIN.

CHAPTER III.
ooh that We,
In those blest woods where frs, YOU won nv
soul,
Had passed our gentle days far from toll
And din of war! Such is the wish of love
Of love that with delightful weakness
Knows no bliss and no ambition bu, itrelfr
The evening repast was over, when
Dora Singleton Immediately retired to
her apartment but not to sleep. Her
pathway had ceased to wind among
roses, and care and anxiety were heavy
ut her heart.
The old family mansion, where she
still dwelt with her stcp-f,thcr-a man
OF moody and suIlcn temper, whose
treatment was not always tempered
by that kindness and consideration
which should have been the lot of one
SO tender and young-was one Of those
picturesque buildings of that style SO
pleasing to onr ancestors somo gene
rntions ago, but which have altogether
disappeared in this utilitarian age. 1t
was quiet and digniiicd looking old
mansion, somewhat quaint in its ap.
pearance and style, yet sufficiently ca
pacious to have conveniently sheltered
under its pyramidal roof some two or
three generations of those prolific days.
Antiquaetd cnpboards, with shelves
well hidden by neatly p;inclled doors
That reached even up to the ceiling,
filled up here and there the corner Of
IN apartment, while doors innumerable
opened into mysterious closets on eve.
ry side.
Dora had retired into her bed cham.
per in tho second story of the building
the walls Of which were decorated with
portraits her father and mother, that
seemed to look down fondly upon the
beautiful and untriended orphan. A
small silver lamp Of exquisite work
1nanship shed its clear light over her
beautiful features, pale indeed, yet
wondrously fair, so that she scarcely
seemed o being OF earth. Her glance
had in it that strangely tacinating pow
or that belongs only to beauty Of i rare
and high order of perfection. 1t was
only such as could belong to proud,
and generous, and sensitive nature,
that seemed without an effort to reach
the hearts of oil others, while it be.
traycd not even in moment the Sc
crcts Of its own. All tho magic grace
of nature lived with her and seemed
to dwell in the air she brcathcd.
Her hair, of IL very dark shade, yet
not wholly black, was tastciuIly bound
in the becoming Grccian knot, and
where it was gathered from the neck
it formed lovely contrast with the
dazzling white skin beneath. Her
arms, left bare to the elbow, or but
Slightly concealed from view by
undersleeves Of q most delicate texture
were full and most tcrnptingly round.
cd, and her small hand, on the fingers
OF which glittercd single ring bearing
Il gem OF the first water, was Of aristo.
cratic lovcliness.
Dora had not fingered long oyor the
trlfie on which she was sewing, when
She cast it aside with sigh, blew out
her lamp, glidcd across tho apartment
and throwing open the easement, stood
Upon the balcony on the front of the
mansion. There, leaning upon the
slender railing which encompassed it,
W.T.! hof cheek upon her palm, she
]ooked abroad upon the dim landscape
which spread out before her.
All was now peaceful and serene.
The Rowlng STORM, which had lowered
above but few hours before Will,
wings appalling blackness, had pass.
ca away with his host Of sutphurious
-S clouds, and tie bright stars were
SHINING cahnly Oh the sky, while the
\ hris''t Inopn, rapidly ascending the
sSsttrn horizon, pohrcd down mellow
N'ou of light upon forest and field
s'Ns'S'"S tlio8 faI'i drops ON each blade