The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-01
D0R0qHEA INGRAM.
A Story of Early Colo
NAL Days.
BY CHARLES G. HAHN.
CHAPTER IIl.fCont3nued.)

CHAPTER In.-fContnued)
From this day on the minister had no
doubt Of Hillary's league with the evil
one, and, Just as he meant to be, for he
wss Q man Of honest conviction, or preju-
dice, he would have had his enemy
brought up for trial, had not his value in
she settlement been SO great that bis
neighbors counseled patience. But the
silent influence Of the minister had its
eject and after short sojourn In the
village, Hillary, as We have seen. had
built cabin in the woods and removed
there with his daughter.
On the very day of the trial, the minis
Ter had another manifestation OF the
strange power which was being exercised
over his daughter, then about ten years
old During the day the air had become
sultry, surely portending thunder storm
The leaves upon the fruit trees scarcely
seemed to move. Towards noon DARK
cloud had drifted over them from the
south, but it passed away and was seen
to break up in TIE north; tbs asyaHes
guard Of the storm, however, Tss followed
In loss than half an hour by sn army Of
smaller clouds; which came slowly up
wards, and at length after much blowing
eUus III w .uppet e., sossS NseutI1
A deep rumbling was heard among them,
and then, as il the thunder had broken
the water barriers, c few largo drops OF
rain fell psttering upon the forest leaves
and on the cabin roofs. a gust OF wind
followed, partially relieving the pioneers
Of the sultriness and then the refreshing
water began to fall in steady shower.
Flashes Of light appeared in the sky and
the crash and boom Of the disturbed ele-
ments were heard. That sharp rafting,
40 terrible because of tho indefniteness
of the lightning's course, followed rap
idly, and to an imaginative mind it
seemed as though heaven bad opened up
for a magnificent battle with the tall
giants of the forest. A dash here, a
streak of light, o crash, dull rumble
above, and the tall oak which had held
its head aloft for half century was rent
in twain, mover in it's pride to look down
upon its smaller brothers again. The
wind forces. too, were reused, and rushed
through the forest, tearing away great
limbs, scattering the colored autumn
leaves and bowing great trees before them.
After half an hour the force OF the
storm was broken, the sharp crash OF the
thunderbolt was heard no more, the wind
went down and 70 fell copiously in a
steady vet gentle slower, which lasted
until nearly evening. But after that the
sky for an hour or more was lighted now
and then with those zigzag streaks of
lightning which frequently follow o
storm.
A thunder storm is always grand
sight, but to the simple Puritaps it meant
much more than it does to their descend
'ap.s now. To their simple minds the
fury Of the clements was display OF the
power of God, and they listened rever-
emily to His voice as if they were indeed
at the foot of second Sinai.
But in the case of the Rev. Henry
Granville the storm brought him out in
the weakest part of his character. There
was something SO terribly positive in the
descent of thunderbolt that he covered
and cringed before it. The roar of the
wind through the forest seemed 30 re-
pardless Of his weakness, that he trem-
bled vet more when he heard it; and the
lightning flash and the falling rain we're
sc far beyond his powerto stay them, that,
humbled and weak, his only recourse
was to gather his family about him-and
pray. =,
An our after the trial he was seated
In his chair OF home, his thin lips moving
in prayer, his eyes turned fearfully, yet
with fascination Of fear that he could
not resist, toward the window, and his
form cringing and shrinking back at
svery crash.
Achsah was the only one who was not
terrified at the storm. She had refused
to 60 to her father, and had lain down
upon rude couch where sho could wat ch
the play of tho lightning. When hel
fathor tried to sink deeper into his arm
chair at some vivid fash Of light, she
laughed and clapped her hands.
WAS not that good stroke?" she
would say to the minister. NSomo tail
tree in the forest was shattered thon,
doubt not" And hor father imagined
that hor smile had an mir of fendisf
gayety.
As the storm increased, she became
syen more COY, and tho poor father saw
unmistakable signs that the gayety wal
the effect of some nervous or montal OK
oitement which bc could noitler compre
bend nor allay. But suddenly he heard {
cry of pain, and, turning to his child, sav
her ly ing back upon the couch, with pol
face In which fea, and bodily sunorinl
were both plainly marked.
What Is it, Achssh2' the ministe
asked.
Some ono is sticking me with thorns.
The child was hastily Lndressed: an'
upon her body wore found sovoral place
where the blood was starting tn, ough IN
=, skin. Nausea followed. and then the eir
S.ll back upon her pillow, exhausted.
.Oh, I sec him, papa, I see him, ST.
said, after tiIao.
See who, Acheah?'
The girl did not answer, but soon erie
out again:
He has hurt my arm"
The now thoroughly frightened ma
uncovered hor arms, and, sure enough
upon one of them were to be dlscclLc
the marks left by the grip OF o stron
hand.
"Papa, I thought you said he was SAT
IN jail2"
80 he is, my child"
Then how could he hurt me so7'
CHAPTER ~.
ON TO THE FREE SEA.