The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1855-02-21
on society, and was lost il, the whirl

don society, and was lost i'll the whirl
pool.
"One evening, at a crowded assem-
bly,, | was standing near the window
in recess, talking with lady, whel
felt strange thrill. cannot de
scribe it to you, but its effect was visi
bic to my companion, who instantly
said, You are unwell, Mr.. Stewart
are you not?' Your face became sud
denly flushed, and your hand tremblcc
so rs to shake the curtain"
''It was inexplicable to myself bu
| was startled at the announcement o
Mr.. and Miss Sinclair turned, and
saw she was entering on her brothers
arm, more beautiful than ever. How
| escaped did not know, but did so
"Thricc afterwards was warned o
her presence in this mysterious way
till | believed that there was some link
between us two, of unknown but pow
erful character. | have since learned
to believe the communion Of spirit
with spirit, sometimes without mntcri.
al Intervention.
81 heard Of her frequently now as
engaged to marry q Mr.. Waller; a
man whom | knew well, and was ready
to do honor rs worthy of her love-
When ut length saw, as supposed,
very satisfactory evidence of the truth
OF the rumor left London and met
them no more. The same rumor fol.
lowed me in letters, and yet was
mad enough to dream Of Mary Sin
clair, until months after awoke to
the sense Of what fool | had been.
Convinced Of this, went on board nv
yacht about midsummer, and for four
weeks never sat foot on shore.
One sutry day, when pitch was
frying on the deck, in the hot sun, we
rolled heavily in the Bay Of Biscay,
and passed the afternoon under a
sail on the larboard quarter deck.
Toward evening, | fanced % storm was
brewing, and having made all ready
for it. smoked on the talfrail till mid.
night, aud then turned in. Will YOU
believe me, | felt that strange thrill
through my veins, as | lay in my ham.
mock, and awoke with it, fifteen sec.
onds before the watch OF deck called
suddenly to the man at the wheel,
"'"r' port Jour helm !! snil on
'hc lee bow. Steady sol,
81 was on the deck in an instant, and
saw that u stiff breeze was blowing.
aud small schooner, showing no
lights, had crossed our fore. foot with.
in L PISTOL shot, and was now bearing
up to the northwest. The sky was
cloudy and dark, but the breeze was
very steady, and went below again,
and after cndcavoring vainly to ac
count for the emotion had felt, in
any reasonable way, at length fell
asleep, and the rocking of my vessel,
aS she flew before the wind, CAV. ju It
motion enough to my hammock to llll
me into a sound slumber. But |
dreamed all night OF Mary Sinclair.
| dreamed of her, but it was in un.
pleasant dreams. saw her standing
on the deck OF the "Foam," and rs |
would advance towards her the form
of Waller would interposc. would
fancy, at times, that my arms were
around her, and her form was resting
against my side, and her head Law on
my shoulder; and then by the strange
mutations of dreams, it was not ], but
Waller that was holding her, and !
was chained to post, looking at them:
and she would kiss him and again the
kiss would be burning on my lips.
The morning found me wide awake.
reasoning myself out of my iancies.
BY noon had enough to do. The
ocean was reused. A tempest was
out on the sea, and the Foam" went
before it.
"Night came down gloomily. The
very blackness Of darkness was on the
water as we flew before the terrible
b'ast. was on deck ashed to the
wheel, by which stood with n knife
within reach to cut the lasl,ing, if ne.
cessary. We had but q rag of sail on
her, and yet she moved more like a
bird than boat, from wave to wave.
again and again, blue wave went
over us; but she came up like a du k
and shook off the water and dashed on.
Now she staggered as blow was on
the weather bow, that might have
stavcd q man. Of war, but kept gallant.
ly on; and now she rolled heavily and
slowly. but never abated the swift
flight towards shore. 1t was midnight
when the Wild was highest. The how.
ling of tho cordage was demoniacal.
Now IL scream, now shrek, now n
wall, and now n laugh Of mocking mad.
ness; on on we flew.
looked up, ard turned quite
around the horizon, but could see no
sky, no sea, no cloud all was black
ness. At that moment felt again
that strange thrill, and at the instant
fancied dcnser backness ahead: and
the next with a crash and plunge, the
"F"am" was gone! Down went my
gallant boat, and with her. another
vessel, unseen in the black night
The wheel to which had been lashcd
had broken loose, and gone over with