The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-01-28
THE SERENADE.
y TALE OF REV G T..
by FREDERICK ". SAUNDERS.

windows Of Squire Thompson's magnificent
country house, sweet strains of music filled
the calm night air with melody, and light
yand joyous laughter echoed through the
Ppcn windows of the ample parlors With
p, iocund mirlh and glad eyed happiness
Ned the hour. That evening the Squirc's
only daughter, the prcttlest girl in the vii
Gage, had been welded to the man of her
aicart, Ned Rivers the llandsomcst man, best
catch i'll the country, aud it was to celebrate
this happy event that all this delightful
ru,np"s was going on-that lovely ladies
and gallant gentlemen gallopcl round the
room to the scrapings of iildles aud the
brayings Of clarincts, that young men and
maidens, old men and matrons crowded
round the interesting couple, shaking hands,
grinning and congratula,iug in such sort
that it really seemed rs though all the world
united i'll calling down blessings and hap.
piness upon the heads Of the newly mar
ricd pair.
| say such seemed to be the case. But
alas and O dear SUI even the garden of
Eden, that tiptor and fertile piece Of land
that number one and extremely valuable
quarter section was infested with n real
hateful breed Of snakes! In view of this
dcplorabc fact, why should we expect the
little town Of pokunk TO Le free from
treaclcry, deceit and crime. In the en-
brasure OF one OF the windows, and par
italy hidden by the volumino,s damask
aud lace drapcry curtains, stood two young
lnen of promising and even noble bearing.
who were conversiny III low and earnest
tones:
tell you it shall he DONE" said the
eldest Of the two, in an accent Of unwaver-
ing determination, while at the same time
.: cast Il glance Of peculiar meaning to-
ward the unsuspccling bride and bridegroom
who were standing ut the opposite side Of
the room.
"PcrEaps, even now, it were better to
give up the project" hall pleaded his COM
panion.
"Givc it up" echoed the first speaker,
with glance Of contempt. "May Satan
catch me if I'll give it up. Why, you
clrckcn-lcartcd nobody, hasn't Mary Thom-
son Tilted both OF us, aud hasn't that out
rageonsly irresistible rivers crossed our
path more than once? Talk Of giving it
up, indeed! If your conscience troubles
YOU so much, perhaps you had better give
it up. | can get some one else TO assist
ine, or, if need he, do the deed alone, but
at all risks it shall be done, and this very
night, too"
"Fery well, then; if you are determined,
o be It, | will ntcrpose no further ohicc-
ions, but will stand by you to the cnd.'
Good" responded his companion, "lct
60 out into the room; We may attract
'"tIon standing SO long apart"
two young men joined the throng
ere congratulating the happy pair,
ito demonstration the saying, that
map may, "smlle and smile and be q
william"
1t may be that the lovely bride would
Re smiled less swectly, and that the cal.
hEdegroom would have shaken hands
artily with them could they have
er thoughts; but a smiling face oft
IA frowning heart, and in their hap.
hey expected nought of evil.
~ hours have elapsed the mansion
1900, d brilliantly illuminated is now dark
and silent; not step is heard upon the
floors, not solitary light gIimmers from
. the windows. Tie night without is dark
also, thin and vapory scud floating slowly
westward from the ocean obscures the stars.
save here and there patch about as biz as
grocery store, and all nature seems :inr,s ina i
profound snooze. The clock in the church
tower has just chi,ned the solom and
easily counted hour Of one. and almost
upon the stroke two figures emerge from,
the thlcket by tue roadside, and enter into
a whispered but animated argument. They
IRE tbeyoung men we have noticed at the
Reddig party. Their conference ended, one
Asf them conccals himself behind low.
stone wall, while the other advances with
stealthy tread and reconnoitefs the house,
particularly the west wing, in which slbeeyss beeys
have ascertained the young couple alone
lodge. Having completed his survey, lie
returns to his scomrade. behind Tie, wall. 81
sEis,a|l right, Bob; there's not arnouse
afoot in tlIeseutirs institution, lie ssys;inSa
stage whisper. sAgs. !.
"Wel', then we may as well 90 toswQrk
at once, DIck," responded his companioSss