Newspaper Page Text
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JOHN B. SEALS, - Editor and Proprietor.
U. B. SEALS, - Proprietor and Cor. Editor.
MRS. MARY K. BRYAN (•) Associate Editor.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, MARCH 16, 1878.
Bubton Bros., of Opelika,'Ala., are Agents for
The Sunny South.
Geo. W. Nobman Esq. is our general traveling
Agent in Kentucky and the North Western
States.
The Sunny South is always discontin
ued at the expiration of the time paid for.
The Bottom Stone.
When we look at some stately edifice, our at
tention is drawn chiefly to its upper portions.
We admire the lofty towers, the graceful pil
lows, the lightly springing arches, or the sub
lime magnificence of the rotunda. Seeing that
all is beautiful above, we fail to notice if there
be equal strength beneath. The solid founda
tions upon which the superstructure must rely
for safety are hidden in the earth, or rendered
unsightly by drenching rains. There they per
form their office unadmired and unnoticed even,
while the sky is fair and breezes, mellow with
balmy dews, are sweeping in through the open
j casements. But when the dark thunder storms
| *rise and rude blasts are making turrets topple
at their touch, we feel anxious to know that all
below is firm and secure.
j Thus are we in regard to the several ranks of
E society. We estimate most highly the refinement,
' w jf a B d eloquence which make men ornaments,
and look upon them as constituting the glory of
a nation. We listen with enthused rapture to
the tongue of Tully, linger spell-bound over the
page where genius has left its enchantment, and
[ thrill with emotions of pleasure as we gaze upon
the canvass upon whieh the artist has thrown
the splendors of sun-set days or delireated the
beauties of the human face. But, however
j much of glory these may lend to a nation, they
[ jtre not its real strength. They are but the locks
i of Samson, giving assurance of a healthy flow
of the blood, and vigorous action of the muscles.
The real sinews of national power, lie far below
not in the poets, painters and orators, nor
[ even in the statesman, but in the yeomanry—
f not in the men who handle the pen, the brush
E or chisel, but in those who wield the axe or hold
* the plow. These constitute the bottom stone
i upon which the edifice of state must rest.
In judging then of the well-being of a com-
m unity, we must form our estimate by the con
dition of the lower classes, rather than of the
j higher. We must not infer that the whole body
is in a healthy condition, because the eyes
< sparkle and the cheeks wear a roseate tinge.
5 Sometimes these things too surely proclaim that
disease is consuming the vitals. So is it with a
J state. We must not augur well because a few
i are surrounded by the splendors of wealth. We
should inquire into the condition of the masses.
If they are sunk norance and oppressed by
poverty, the community cannot long continue
to flourish. All wealth and prosperity is but
the resultant of labor, and if labor be so oppress
ed as to grow discouraged, it cannot long con
tinue to impart vitality to a nation. The truth
of this is attested by the history of more than
one country. The reign of the fourteenth Louis
of France, was illustrious for the skill of his
military chieftains, the wit of his poets, the elo
quence of his divines, and the refinement of
the brilliant oircle that formed his court. But
during all this time, the laboring classes were
crushed beneath the most cruel exactions, and
suffered for the barest necessities of life. It
could not last The Bott-tm Stone gave way and
that splendid fabric erumbled, and a oentury of
f agony followed.
A well-fed, well-clothed, well-housed, and,
as a consequence, a cheerful and contented
peasantry, furnishes the best assuranoe of na
tional prosperity. When we can everywhere
hear the merry whistle of the plowman, as he
drives his team a field, and catch the glad notes
of the milkmaid as she relieves the overcharged
udders of well-fed kine, we have more hopes of
the land than if its armies achieved a Plevna
everymonth.or its ministers approved themselves
j masters of Statecraft. If the pursuits which
produce wealth are faithfully and skillfully fol
lowed, we need not fear but that there will soon
arise those whose mission it is to adorn society.
Why then, it is asked, if the Bottom Stone be
the more important, do we bestow so much the
more honor on the capitol ? Well, we estimate
things not by their usefulness alone,but by their
rarity, also. The granite upon which the foun
dations of a palace may rest, is found in abund
ance almost everywhere. The finely grained
woods that may suit to adorn the lady’s bou
doir, are very rare. Iron, without which no
mechanical art can be pursued, abounds every
where. The brilliant crystal, for which Princes
pay vast sums, is rarely found. Just so is it,
♦Eat the men and women, fitted by talents to
occupy the highest positions, are not numerous.
Once in an age only may we expect a great poet,
orator or painter. There are thousands who are
capable of effloient labor in the field, to every
one who can produce any work of art It is
meet, then, that these latter, when found, should
be honored and paid. But let us not, in our
admiring appreciation of the few who adorn,
forget the many who support Let us not,
while gazing at the sky-piercing spire, or the
richly frescoed arches, be unmindful of the
Bottom Stone.
A GRAND SUCCESS.
Colonel Robert Bonner has just returned to
the city from a most successful tour through
Alabama and lower Georgia, where he has scat
tered his oelebrated Holman Pads by the whole
sale We have seen his lists of purchasers, and
k. find on them scores upon scores of the best men
Kffland women of the country.
Justice to True'Heroism.
It should always be a matter of pride to every
patriotic Georgian—and that pride should be
made manifest in a substantial manner—that
this State gave to the country one of the bravest
and most chivalrous soldiers that ever drew a
sword on any battle-field or poured out his
blood freely in defense of his flag:
That officer was the lamented Major General
William Henry Talbot Walker, who fell in the
bloody “Battle of Atlanta,” July 22d, 18G4, as
he was gallantly leading his Confederate troops
against the enemy’s forces. From the time he
graduated at the West Point Military Academy
(1837) his life was freely offered in the service
of his country. He graduated in July, and in
December of the same year was terribly wound
ed in the fierce battle with the Seminole Indians
at Okeechobee, Florida. Again, in the Mexican
war, he foaght with unsurpassed daring, and
was at one time left for dead on the battle-field.
But, finally, through his immense will-power,
he recovered to such an extent as to be able to
re-enter (in feeble health) the service, which he
left December 20, 1860, (as Major of the 10th
Infantry) to join his fortunes with those of his
native State, by whom he had been presented
with a “sword of honor” for his “gallantry in
Florida and Mexico.”
General Walker was “every inch a soldier,”
and to the science and art of war his entire life
was devoted and all his best energies conse
crated. One of his children, Cadet Freeman
V. Walker, of the Virginia Military Institute,
Lexington, Va., is a candidate for one of the
vacancies at the West Point Military Academy,
and we are glad to learn that the worthy young
gentleman is being endorsed for that appoint
ment by Senator Gordon and Hon. Alexander
H. Stephens, Georgia could not better honor
her dead hero than thus to perpetuate his noble
name and untarnished fame in that institution
and in that army to which his sublime daring
and faithful services added a brighter glow of
heroic brilliancy.
We copy from the Tribune the above tribute
to a most gallant falleH hero for two purposes.
First, to add our endorsement to its claim for
an appointment at West Point for Cadet Walker;
and, secondly, to state that number seven of
our sketches of “Battles Around Atlanta,”
which is now in preparation, will embrace a
full and deeply interesting narrative of the life
of Gen. Walker. It will read more like a story
of fairy-land, than like solid history, as this
battle-scarred heso was twice “shot to pieces”
on the battle-field, and yet finally fell pierced
by a single bullet. The Bk9tch has been de
layed by the severe illness of Major Sidney
Herbert, but he is now so far recovered as to be
able to resume his literary work. Gen. Walker,
Gen. Smith, Gen. Johnston, Gen. Chilton, and
other distinguished officers have furnished re
liable material for this thrilling narrative, in
which our readers will be deeply interested.
The “Doppel-ganger.”
There are some curious instances on record
of the appearance of the doppel-ganger—or the
spectral ‘double’ of a living person, the person
himself being at a distance. Shelly is said to
have been seen some days before his tragic
death, by Lord Byron and others, walking in
a wood, they knowing at the time that he was
miles awnv lord Byrun himself was seen by
several persons in London, when lying ill of a
lever at Patras, in Greece. Dante once beheld
a man who announced himself as Dominus Tuns,
holding in his arms the Lady Beatrice Porti-
nari. He had in his hand a burning substance
and compelled her to eat it; the two then de
parted into the sky, and shortly after Beatrice
died. After Dante’s own death the thirteen last
cantos of the Divine Comedy were missing, and
his sous were importuned to supply the defi
ciency by their own pens, but about eight
months after that event, Jacopo, the elder, saw
his father in a dream, clothed in shining gar
ments, who assured him that he was now living
the real life. The young man inquired whether
the poem had been finished. The spirit con
ducted him to the chamber where Dante used
to sleep, and touching a partition said: ‘ What
you have sought for is here.’ The place was
examined and the missing manuscript found.
It had been almost ruined by mildew, but for
tunately the letters were not obliterated. Pro
fessor De Wette, the celebrated theological wri
ter at Halle, once beheld his own simulacrum
through a window sitting in his apartment.
Goethe also met himself riding on horseback,
dressed in an embroidered gray suit; and eight
years afterward found himself at the same place
in proper person, thus actually attired.
A PRIVATE LETTER.
Our Sunny South—Hon. A. H. Stephen*’ Opin
ion of It—The Rossini Association—The
Choral Union and Singers of
Columbus, Etc.
Pine Gbovk, Ga., March 5, 1878.
Editor Sunny South :
Being a warm admirer of your handsome and
valuable Southern journal, “The Sunny South,”
permit us to express our sincere and heartfelt
thanks for the rich literary treat furnished the
readers of our beautiful, our fair sunny land.
Its reception is much enjoyed each week, and
its columns are read and re-read by hundreds. The
reading matter is choice and elegant, its thoughts
chaste and pure, and the charming articles, from
the pen of the noble and brilliant Mrs. Bryan, are
as gladly received as the bright sunshine. May
complete success crown the efforts of the “ Sunn
South,” is the wish of its numerous readers and
subscribers.
It affords pleasure to state that during a win
ter’s tour throughout Georgia, we were pleased to
hear the “Sunny South” greatly extolled by com
petent judges and critics. Among them was Hon,
A. H. Stephens, who pronounced it the finest lit
erary journal in the United States.
Well may Atlanta boast of her accomplished edi
tors and the “Sunny South.”
While in your city several weeks since, we glad
ly accepted an invitation to attend one of the
Rossini s musical entertainments, and must admit,
nolens nolens, that Atlanta for fine singing and act
ing cannot be surpassed. She has reason to re
joice in the Rossini Association'.
We have also attended the Choral Union enter
tainments of our sister city Columbus; and now,
before dosing, allow us to speak of this delightful
musical organisation, the pride of the “ Lowell of
the South.” Among the most accomplished vocal
ists in this society, we find Mrs. L. Spencer, Miss
Mollie Cook, Mrs. Daniel, and Miss Howard.
Miss Cook has a superb voice, very flexible, high
ly cultivated, and she is justly considered the
prima donna of Columbus.
, This eity also boasts of a delightftil social club,
dtae of the chief attractions in society the Rose-
mont Social Club, whioh is very enjoyable, and is
quite largely attended. Its next meeting, so the
Columbus papers announce, will be held at the
residence of Mr. James C. Cook, about the middle
of the month. Ttmpus fugit.
Again wishing the “ Sunny Sooth ” much suc
cess, we remain, Yours truly,
Amicus.
Editorial Correspondence.
Winchester, Tenn.—Mary Sharp Col
lege—David Crockett-Fayette
ville, Etc., Etc.
Winchester is reached by a branch railroad
running from Dechard to Fayetteville, thirty-
eight miles, and is three miles from the former
place. Ibis the county town of Lincoln connty,
noted all over the land for its whiskies. As a
place of business, it has no importance what
ever. Along the line of both railroads, compe
ting points have sprung up, diverting a large
portion of its best trade. Besides, an unfortu
nate venture in a steam tannery sunk about one
hundred thousand dollars, which badly crippled
some of its best citizens. The Court House is
good. In fact, Tennessee is noted for its fine
Court Houses, the one in Shelbyville costing
one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. Many
of the private residences are neat and comfor
table, though unpretentious. The society is
splendid—none better, perhaps, in the South.
But the pride and glory pf the town is its schools.
Here is the Mary Sharp female College,so widely
known lor its extended curriculum, and the
thoroughness with which it is imparted to the
pupils attending it. The building is very large,
built of brick three stories high in the center,
with wings two stories high, and a modest bel
fry on top. In company with a friend, Col. Du-
field, President of the Trustees, I went through
all its departments. Was introduced to its gen
ial and accomplished President, Dr. Graves, and
hiB corps of able and faithful Professors. Visi
tors seemed entirely agreeable, and we were in
vited to seats, that we might see for ourselves
the mode of teaching. It was astonishing, yet
highly gratifying to hear Juniors read Homer,
and give evidence of a thorough acquaintance
with the Greek language, a thing almost wholly
neglected in our female schools. Prof. Barrett
also exhibited several charts containing calcula
tions for eclipses, past and future, and which he
assured us were made by the pupils themselves,
he not so much as making a mark or offering a
suggestion. He informed us further, that each
member of his advanced classes in mathematics
could readily make for herself a table of loga- j
rithrns, which many prqfessors themselves can- j
not do. We mention these things as remarkable
for girls, and really regard Prof. Barrett a re
markable instructor in his department.
The school takes its name from Mrs. Mary
Sharp, a widow lady of great wealth, who was
the largest contributor in getting it np. She
was a strong advocate of emancipation, and sent
abont eighty of her slaves before the war to Li
beria, paying all their expenses. Some tew of
them have managed to get back, and the others
are constantly writing for means to help them
back. At present there are about one hundred
and thirty young ladies in the school, repre
senting nearly every Southern State. Unlike
most schools, it has no boarding department,
the pupils boarding in private families near the
college. It is under the immediate supervision
of the Baptists, and is an honor to that denom
ination. The Garrick Academy for boys is loca
ted here also. It is under the supervision of
Professors Clark and Bledsoe, two young gen
tlemen of fine education and energy. Under
their guidance, it is destined to take a front
rank among the male schools of the State.
To-day I visited the birth-place of Davy
Crocket in the southeast corner of the county.
Tha spot wUere^^a®Apse stood is in a field, and
is marked by a^ito&p of an apple tree whioh
stood near the house, and from which doubtless,
he used to gather fruit. Just under the hill is
one of the largest springs I have ever seen,
known as the ‘ Big Spring. ’ The stream from it
would turn a mill, and the water is fine. From
this spring old Davy got his supply of water.
We heard many anecdotes of him, new to us,
but all going to show that he was a man of good
heart and generous impulses; not the ruffian
generally supposed, but a man of striking pecu
liarities. We learn that the only correct like
ness of him in existence, belongs to Gov. Por
ter, of this State.
FAYETTEVILLE
in point of business is just the counterpart of
Winchester. All is life and activity here, and
the trade is immense. Wheat, corn, oats and
bacon are shipped from here in large qnantities,
much of it going to Atlanta. It is the neatest,
cleanest town I have yet visited. The public
square is macadamized and never gets muddy,
and the solid blocks of splendid stores would do
oredit to any oity. There is much wealth here,
some of its citizens being worth over a million.
It has a good town hall, a good brass band, etc.
The society is first class. The Sunny South has
many warm friends and patrons through this
section. W. B. S.
Sunny Tokens.
The soft, hazy days that herald the Spring
are with us; crows fly across the newly-plowed
fields cawing with delighted anticipation of fu
ture pillage; apple buds are bursting; baby-
carriages, with their rosy freight, are out upon
the sidewalk; maidens wear knots of sweet vio
lets at their white throats, and chubby children
carry boquets of bright daffodills as they trudge
to school. Florida letters come with honey
suckles and orange blossoms pressed in their
pages, and a little box from sea-side Brunswick
fills our Banctum with familiar fragrance, for in
side lies a wreath of that glory of oar Southern
woods—the gay and graceful yellcw jessamine.
The magnolia and the yellow jessamine are the
Southron’s representative flower. Superb is
the snowy grandi-Jlpra, but dearer the bells of
gold, with their hearts of haunting fragrance.
A little poem accompanying the jessamine
wreath from Brunswick, prettily tells the origin
of the jessamine—the ‘only flower,’ so Mrs.
Warfield says, • that falls,to the earth nnwither-
ed, like genius slain in its prime.’ *
The familiar face of a former favorite citizen
of Atlanta, now a resident of the Lone Star State
appeared this week on our streets, wreathed in
mysterious smiles. It was a little puzzling this
sudden advent in onr midst, and absence from
his home in the far West of this gallant gentle
man, but next morning, the following announce
ment explained the mystery,
‘Married, on the 6th instant, Alston Law, for
merly of Atlanta, now of Sherman, Texas, to
Miss Minnie Monday, of Atlanta.’ A most un-
/atc-ful proceeding, Mr. Law, to come all this
way to rob Atlanta of one of its lovliest jewels,
for Miss Minnie is a pearl beyond price; and in
losing her, our oity loses one of its fairest orna
ments, and her home its sunniest charm. Our
heartiest good wishes go with the newly-wedded
pair. May their path be one of flowers, and the
star of their joy 1 that now shines with such
promise, fade not till it melts in the brightness
of Heaven.
“I never knowed what that ‘C. !£.’ in the hyme
books meant, till tether day a Georgy chap tale me
it stood for ‘Credit Morobilieua.’ Well, live an’
lam; regain a little infirmashum ev’ry day. That’s
my mottle.” And Mr. Allnms wiped hie specta
cles, gave oat the words, “ How tqjous and taste
less hours,” and oomplaoently sang the ‘hyme’
clear through by himself.
The Newspaper Jokist—Ghastly Hnmer.
Our newspaper wits are pretty good at getting
off funny things, bat sometimes they run out
of fresh subjects, as Elia tells us they did in
his penny-a-liuing days, and resort to ringing
ingenious variations on some old strain, till
they have tortured it into absurdity, or they
ransack the world of life and literature for new
themes to show up in a comic aspect. Yery in
congruous and ghastly ones they hit upon some
times. The recent wrangle of the theologians
over the subject of future punishment was a
God-send to the newspaper jokist, and para
graphs and headlines blazed luridly with the
large-capitalized ‘ letters four* that spell his
Satanic Majesty’s place of residence.
Then the topic of cremation began to be re
agitated, and this cheerful theme was found to
be susceptible of playing ‘Nimble Jack,’and
turning whimsical somersaults in the hands of
the fun-producers. As this was growing monot-
onons, fortunately the Wells expose culminated
in a convict’s cell, and our lively jokists dropped
their hot subjects of hell and cremation and turn
ed their talents to getting off verses after the
style of Mr. Child's infant obituary poems, upon
Maddy in the penitentiary.
The bnmp of veneration having been omitted
from the cranial-development of the American
journalist, the themes of religion and death do
not in the least repel him when he undertakes
the funny business. He shakes the cap-and-
bells in the face of the most solemn reality. As
an instance, taken at random, here are two of
Don Piatt’s pleasant get-offs :
‘ The reason the Pope didn’t die sooner was
because he didn’t see the block-chop wood-cats
in the country press; and the reason he didn’t
live longer was because he was not aware of the
poetry that wonld be written in his memory.’
1 Victor Emanuel, learning that Gen. Grant
had left Vesuvius to call on him, did the only
thing he coaid do to escape the pain of the visit
—died, and went to Vesuvius himself, or a place
of similar concentrated power for heat.’ *
A Texas Laboring Man on the Money Ques
tion.
We give below the following private letter from
a laboring man in Texas to show how inten
sely the laboring people feel on the vexed ques
tion.
Clebubnk Texas, Feb., 24, 1876.
John H. Seals, Editor Sunny South, Atlanta Ga :
Deab Sib :—The Sunny South, as a literary
paper is certainly ably conducted and my family
is pleased with it. But times are hard and mon
ey scarce, and it seems likely that oongress
will afford little if any relief beyond the pass
age of the silver Bill. If our interest bearing
bonded debts (the interest upon which is eating
out the substance of the people) cannot be sub
stituted with a wholesome curenoy, and the
interest stopped, it behooves men like me, (who
make their living by the “sweat of the face” to
curtail unnecessary expenses. Henee I cannot
renew.
By the way, your state (if Mr # Hill represents
its views) appears to be in full sympathy with
that exceptionally favored olass who “toil not nor
spin.”
I am willing to appropriate every cent I can
earn over neccessary family expenses, in trying
to eliminate from onr Republican system that
hideous monarchical Vampire the interest bear-
iny national debt system.
Hereafter, until this thing is accomplished,
I shall subscribe only to those patriotic publi
cations who will aid in this work.
Yours Truly,
B. J. Chambers.
AMUSEMENTS.
Our Rossini Association have taken in hand
another excellent Opera with a view to bringing
it out soon.
Our Beethovens are preparing a number of
beautiful attractions, which will soon be pre
sented.
We failed to hear the excellent music, which
we learn was recently given at our Catholic
church.
A correspondent in this issue speaks very
highly of the “Choral Union," and leading sing
ers of Colambns, Ga.
Brignoli’s last programme in this city was
made up from the finest selections of the best
composers of the world, and snch a combina
tion of voices will rarely if ever again visit At
lanta. Strange that such an entertainment can
not have an audience. These distinguished ar
tists will not visit us again, and noneean blame
them.
A Vulgar Fraud—Sothern and his Americas
Cousins.
We speak the honest sentiments of every cul
tivated person who attended Sothern’s per
formance in the Opera Honse in this city on
Saturday night last, when we pronounce the
whole thing a disgusting fraud. No one ever
came to this city with a greater flourish of airs,
and so extravagant were the heralding notices
of the press, that we all really anticipated some
thing extraordinary; and such an audience we
have never seen in DeGive’s Opera House.
Everybody, too, went with a broad grin on
the face, for it was to be awful fanny, and to fail
to laugh would be horrid. The result was a big
laugh at everything that was said, and no matter
who said it Bat not one who was in the au
dience could now mention a single thing that
was really funny, witty or laughable. From
Sothern’s first appearance to the end of the silly
play, he dealt in the broadest and ooarsest pro
fanity and vulgarity. To raise a big langh, he
vould lug a broad oath or an “ass” into every
sentence or two, or nBe other language for too
indecent to be repeated. The whole play, which
has the silliest and simplest of plots, is k>w-
flung and really disgusting throughout. And
jo crown the vnlgar farce, one of the company
presents himself before the cartain in his night
gown, in answer to the applause whioh follows
a concluding scene.
Now, we write in no unfriendly spirit, bat
purely and simply in the language of criticism,
and we do it to ask this question: How in the
name of all that is good, dignified and worthy
can such a plav and snch an actor gain suoh a
reputation and drqwsnch crowds?
What is the secret? We do not believe there
was a cultivated person present on Saturday
night who will not agree with ns in onr striet-
ntes, and we furthermore believe that not one
ont of fifty would go the seoond time to see and
hear Sothern in this oharaeter.
Cannot the press be more just and discrim
inating, and stop puffing and blowing traveling
humbugs, whioh rob the people of their money?
THE
OLD TABBY HOUSE.
BY GARNETT McIVOR
CHAPTER XI.
Notwithstanding Major Barton entered into
the spirit of the hilarious company in which he
found himself in the smugglers’cave, he was too
honest a man to feel perfectly at ease. He knew
that the men around him were outlaws of some
kind, and he coaid not throw off the sense of
dread and apprehension which a man of honor
experiences when he becomes, however inno
cently, a party to conduct which is at war with
the laws of society. He did his best to be com
fortable, and to appear so, but a much more ob
tuse reader of human nature than Captain Gas
ton was, could have detected his state of mind.
When the band had drained their cups for the
twentieth time, and had become thoroughly
prepared for a night's sleep, Captain Gaston im
proved the opportunity to discover his visitor’s
motive for visiting the Island-
‘ Let us talk in onr native language, Major,’
said Gaston, ‘ for these brave fellows do not un
derstand a word of English, and as this happens
to be ‘ off night’ with us, we shall not have muoh
custom-house business to interrupt us. You see
we do a little unlicensed business in defiance of
Queen Isabella and the Captain-General—only a
little ‘free trade’ in wines, fancy goods and por
table wares, which we import without the for
mality of taxes. This place of ours is not a very
luxurious place, to be sure, but then we live
well, have our share of the good things of life,
and enjoy perfect freedom. Whenever we have
a mind to see a little of city life, we take a torn
about Havana, and Matanzas, where we have
plenty of good friends who are members of onr
Marine Republic. I should like to know what
brought you here, and what you propose to do —
that is, if we should be so generous as to dis
pense with your society hereafter. ’
‘With ail my heart, Captain,’ said the Major,
‘I am willing to make a clean breast to you, and,
to begin, I most say that I came to Cuba to find
you.’
•Indeed,’ replied Gaston,’ ‘and what may be
the nature of your business with me ?’
‘Nothing personal to myself,’ replied Major
Barton, who noticed a dark and sinister expres
sion in the countenance of his companion. ‘ It
is only a matter that concerns others for whom
yon, at least, ought to entertain some kindly feel
ings.’
‘And who, upon God’s earth,’ exolaimed Gas
ton, ‘has ever deserved a kind feeling from me?'
‘ My Captain, I, for one. Do you not remem
ber the service I rendered you once, some three
years ago, when I secured your release from a
Spanish prison—is not that a service to be re
membered ?'
‘ Perhaps it is,’ said Gaston, ‘but I would have
done as much for you, or anyone of my country
men in trouble, without regarding my conduct
as particularly heroic or noble !’
‘ I do not say that I deserve your thanks, even,
Captain,' replied the Major, ‘although it was
certainly no pleasant predicament to be in, it
seems to me. You were charged with breaking
into the cigar store, and heavy damages claimed
of you if I remember rightly ?’
' O, the devil take the little tobacco merchant !
I could have bought him off with a dozen bottles
of wine, and the officers with a bunch of cigars.’
* Well well. Captain,’ said Barton, ‘ I do not
make a claim upon your friendship—not at all
—I only desire a little information which it is
■ in your power to give me.’
‘Information! about what ?’ asked Gaston, his
dark sinister expression becoming more and
more evident to the Major, who really felt at a
loss to know how to broach the subject of his mis
sion. After a considerable pause, in which Major
Barton, balancing a wine goblet in bis hand,
seemed to be revolving in his mind the form of
his question.
‘ You have a wife, Captain, and a child—’
i Gaston turned a fierce look upon the Major,
and rose from his chair, as if to give emphasis
to his words.
‘And what is that to yon?'
This question was rather hissed through his
compressed lips, than spoken. The tall form
of the smuggler seemed to tower to the ceiling
of the cave, aB he glowered upon the mild-man
nered gentleman bv his side.
‘Nothing to me, Captain,’ he said calmly,
‘bat pray be cool, and patient I hare do in
terest in this matter, farther than the welfare of
those who certainly, to say the least, have not
injured you.’
‘ May the devil take the whole crew of them f
exclaimed Gaston, as he strode across the room,
and, lighting a cigar, returned and took a seat
in front of the Major. ‘Why should they per
secute me, when I have kept out of their way,
and left them to their aristocracy and their beg
garly money ?'
‘They have no wish to persecute you,' re
plied Barton. ‘They do not desire to interfere
with yon in any way. It is only to solve a
donbt which makes them wretched, that I have
undertaken to ask of you a plain question—one
that cannot hurt you to answer, and I cannot
see how it will benefit you to refuse an answer.’
‘ And what question is that ?’
‘ Whether Ethel is, or is not, your lawful
wife,' said Barton, gazing intently upon the
face of his companion.
‘ By heaven !' exclaimed Gaston, as he laid his
hand npon the belt in which a pistol hang in
full view, 'if it was not because I believe you to
be a harmless old fool, I would blow your brains
out, and tumble yonr carcass into the sea to
feed Marti’s fishes !'
‘No. no, Captain,' replied the Major, with
astonishing coolness of manner, ‘ you could not
do so great a wrong as that—brave men never
attack the defenseless, especially when they
confide in your generosity and courage. I am
unarmed—I am your prisoner, if you like—you
could not play the part of an assassin !’
' Major Barton !’ said Gaston, with a tone in
which anger and contempt seemed stirring for
the mastery, ‘when yon came a prisoner into
this place, I saw that you were my countryman,
and I coaid not believe that yon came into this
neighborhood to betray me. If I had thought
so—yonr life wonld hare paid the penalty be
fore this hour. You are still my prisoner, and
yonr life is in my hands.’
‘I know that perfectly well,’ replied the Ma
jor, ‘but I cannot believe that you would take
my life for no other offenoe than seeking to
know a foot, which it may, even now, be too
late to use for the salvation of a miserable wo
man.' V
her,’ exolaimed Gaston, so fiercely that his voioe
aroused one of the sleeping Spaniards, to whom
the Captain spoke a few words in Spanish, and
he lay down again to sleep.
‘Major Barton,' he continued, ‘that woman
deceived me—she caused me to believe—well,
never mind, it is no business of yours.*
‘I do not ask yonr confidence, said the Ma
jor, ‘and as to my visit here, it is parely a be
nevolent one.’
‘Yes—benevolent,’ replied Gaston, with a
sneer, ‘you benevolent Christians are always
very disinterested, and high minded, and hono
rable, and charitable, and good—no donbt of it’
‘lam sorry that I have angered you, Captain
Gaston, said the Major, in a tone of humility
that was by no means affeoted, for by this time
he began to realize the danger of his own
[Continued on 8th. page.]