White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-06-24

e."O", vi Dut sllSntly concealed from
view by undersleeyes, of a most delicate
texture, were full and most temptinoly
rounded, and her small hand, on the in
gers of which glittered a single ring.
bearing gem of the first water. was Of
aristocratic loneliness.
Dora had not fingered long over the
tri6e on which she was sewing, when she
cast it aside with a sigh, bSSw out her
lamp, glided across the 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, with her cheek
upon her palm, she looked abroad upon
the dim landscape which spread ont be-
fore her.
All was now peaceful and serene. The
bowling storm, which had lowered above
but few hours before with wings of ap-
palling blackness, had passed away with
all his host Of sulphurous clouds, and the
bright stars were shining calmly in the
sky, while the bright moon, rapidly as
cendIngth eastern horizon, poured down
a mellow food of light upon forest and
field, making the rain drops upon each
blade and leaf to glisten like FURNISHED
silver.
The prospect before the maiden was
beautiful indeed. The house, which was
situated upon gently sloping hill, COM
manded a fine view of the surrounding
country, and on every side but one, lay
extended fields, with nothing to impede
the view. To the left of the avenue,
which led off directly from the noble
mansion, was an uncultivated forest,
which extended to the east and the north
as far as the eye could reach, where the
pine and the oak mingled their foliage
together, and where many gentle stream
purled on over snowy sands under the
impenetrable shade. The landscape that
spread out before the maiden was quiet
and lovely. A flood of yellow light rested
upon the broad scene, and was reflected
back from field and forest in soft lights
and shadows.
1t was one of those calm and glorious
nights of oriental brightness, when every
sound is still, and every voice hushed to
repose-when the beauty of Eden seems
to revisit the earth, and Danish for sea-
son its corroding cares and consuming
sorrows.
Dora had heart to feel all the beauty
Of the hour. The poetry of love was
with her, and her thoughts were away
with the young soldier of his country,
who had been content to turn away even
from her, and undergo the tolls and pri-
vations of the camp for the noble cause
of independence. She loved him with
that generous and uncalculating devotion,
that in one of her temperament and blood
amounted almost to idolatry. Though
meeting but rarely, and latterly only by
stealth, yet his image was continually
present to her mind.
OF late there had been many causes at
work to diminish the peace and happiness
of the maiden. The country was overrun
by prowling bands Of tories, and nowhere
throughout the whole State was there a
band of patriots sufficiently formidable
to stand against the invader, or to appear
openly in arms. The body under Marion,
which still refused to disband, could
scarcely be called an exception to this
rule for pent up in the Businesses of the
swamp, it lay hidden from the enemy,
while its locality was a mystery even to
the most undoubted patriots of his own
party.
As the maiden leaned over the balus
trade, the full light of the moon shining
down softly upon her beautiful figure,
that seemed still more voluptuous as she
stood exposed to the influence of that
bewitching light that softens even the
downy cheek of beauty, and gives per-
lection to its loneliness, one might almost
observe the tear drops flashing across her
bright eyes, while she unused alone on her
young hopes, the fruition of (which seemed
vet SO distant. Around her, throughout
the whole land, the foot Of the invader
trod triumphantly upon the soil, and even
the most hopeful of patriots began to
tremble at the prospect of subjugation.-
Well did she know the fate that awaited
her lover should the invader finally tri-
umph over a PROSTATE country. Her
hopes would then be but delusive dream,
and her heart, widowed in its affection,
break with its burden, or beat on through
sad existence, maddened by its bereave-
ment.
Besides these anticipations Of evils, as
vet distant and only conjectural, there
were more immediate causes of anxiety
and annoyance which harassed her peace,
and were fruitful of much uneasiness and
distress, from which she determined to
free herself, even though it should be
necessary to resort to the most energetic
measures. Her home had of late been
frequently visited by the leaders of the
royalists-mostly, if not altogether, men
of abandoned characters and absolute
habits-who could now with IMMUNITY
venture abroad, and boldly, too, in
country where there was no longer power
to keep them in wholesome awe; and
more than one of these military free
hooters had cast glances of admiration
and covetous expectations upon the rich
heiress of Sumpter.
Foremost among these, and especially
detested by Dora, was the tory leader,
Harrison, who regarded her as prize
well won by his inscriptions devotion
to the cause of the mother country. Pa
tiently had he borne her indignant con-