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

VI AiuhiPn nOuiu Wing IOLH uci
however reluctantly, a consent to WEI
him. He had become frequent guest a
her fathers house, who courted the suci
ETY. of the bloody and wicked man whom
his more courageous daughter abhorrcd
The gentle Dora was leaning over tn
balustrade, and musing upon the mourn
full circumstances that darkened the sun
shine of her happiness, and bitter wer,
her meditations as she called to mind he
unfriended and desolate situation sine
she stood isolated from the world, ant
with scarcely one friend to whom sh,
could unburden herself with hope O
sympathy. Asshe stood looking out upor
the scene before her, suddenly the neigh
ing Of horse reached her ears from The
road which passed along at right angles
to the avenue about half a mile distant
Again the sharp shrill neigh rose upor
the air like the clear blast Of clarion
and Dora imagined she could almost heal
the tramp of her lovers steed along The
firm and trodden highway. She gazed
intently down the long avenue, taxing
her eye-sight to the utmost to distinguish
the horse or rider through the gloom a:
he passed the point where the avenue
intersected the highway.
1T is the day he should have come, d
murmured the maiden, as with her hand
she shaded her eyes from the strong glare
of the moon, and gazed intently down
the avenue. a moment more, and she
beheld the moonlight glisten upon the
sleek coat of a powerful animal, as he
turned off from the highway, and entered
the avenue leading to the house,
"God be praised, it is indeed he" she
as she recognized the well
known steed of her lover. Michael
and retiring to her chamber, she
re-lighted her lamp, and waved it thrice
joyfully at her window, to tell her lover
that she had watched for and discovered
his coming Then casting herself upon
her knees, and burying her face in her
hands, wept tears Of thankfnlness and joy,
for the safe return Of one who was dearer
to her heart than life itself.
Some ten or fifteen minutes had elapsed,
and this beautiful woman still knelt with
her face buried in her hands when sud-
denly rustling was heard among the
leaves of the oak that grew near her win
dow, to the right of the portico, and a
slight Earring among its boughs, and a
grating against its trunk, such as would
be caused by one climbing it from below.
She rose to her feet, and glance through
tine open window served to reveal to her
the figure Of handsome man, vino had
assembled the tree to the height of her
window, and was now making his way
along bough that projected to within a
few inches of one of the corner pillars Of
the balcony.
In her surprise, her first impulse was
to scream aloud, but the voice of her low
er, whose quick eyes had already discov-
cred her, disarmed her fears for herself,
and she now began to be seriously alarm
ed for the peril in which his seeming
rashness had involved himself.
The limb upon which he was slowly
making his way to the balcony was near
" thirty feet from the gravelly court
beneath, and seemed quite too frsil to
support even the weight of slender
stripping, much less OF one of the robust
frame Of Michael but while she stood
petriied by astonishment and terror,
great was her delight to find her lover
nearing the column, then cast
ing his arm around it, and finally releasing
his hold of the bough, leap lightly to the
and at length stand safe and
secure upon the balcony. With a cry Of
10y she flew through the open door, and
falling into his arms, relieved her over
wrought feelings by food of tears.
al have come" were the first words
Of her lover, as he pressed her to his bo-
som, "but as seldom as we meet, dear
Dora, l find the country so unsafe for
me, that We must meet to part almost in
one breath"
mot so soon, trust, Michael" an
swered Dora hastily; Z" / have so much
to say to you, and am so unhappy here,
that / would follow you to the camp, and
be even your servant there, rather than
we should part again"
Il hope, my dear Dora" answered
as he led her from the balcony
into her chamber " that old Isaac Whar-
ton has not forgotten the kindness due
you%
"Not that, Michael, not that" she
quickly, as she marked the
flush of anger and surprise that flashed
over the earnest features Of her lover,
" but our neighborhood is no longer what
it once vas. Traitors walk openly abroad
now, and even here in this stronghold Of
whiggery as it once was, but five miles
distant from this very spot, the tories are
to have a.grand meeting on the day after
tomorrow"
Hah say you so !" replied Michael
eagerly, while a CLEAN of Joy flashed
from his eyes. Where meet they, and
how heard you news SO important and
welcome as this %
Welcome? indeed, to me it is far
otherwise |" responded the fair woman.
while her cheek grew a shade paler, Il
myself heard their leaders under this very
roof. when they boastingly told of the
they had made for the rem
dasHOus of their ragged followers at the
d 6eld on Tarcote. A grand supper is
to be prepared for their traitorous guests.
New weapons are to be distributed to
their followers wiIh an unsparing hand,
and provisions, cIothing and money be-