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SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1390.
THE SUNNY SOUTH.
11
With Lee In Virginia,
A Story of the American Gvil War.
By G. A. HENTY,
Author of “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” "In Freedom’s Cause,” “In the
Reign of Terror,” Etc.
Chapter VI.—The Merrimac and the
Monitor.
It was some weeks before Vincent was
a ole to walk unaided. His convalescence
was somewhat slow, for the shock to the
system had been a severe one. Ttie long
railway journey had been injurious to
him, for the bandage had become some
what loose and the broken pieces of bone
had grated upon each other, and were
much longer in knitting together than
they would have been had he been treat
ed on the spot.
As soon as he could walk he began to be
anxious to rejoin his troop, but the doc
tor said that many weeks must elapse be
fore he would be ready to undergo the
hardships of campaign.
Owing to the north having the com
mand of the sea, and shutting up all the
principal ports, they had to rely upon
themselves for everything, while the
north could draw arms and ammunition
and all the requisites of war from the
markets of Europe. Foundries were ac
cordingly established for the manufacture
of artillery, and factories for muskets,
ammunition and percussion caps. The
south had, in fact, to manufacture every
thing down to the cloth for her soldiers’
uniforms and the leather for their shoes;
and, as in the past she had relied wholly
upon the north for such goods, it was for
a time impossible to supply the troops
with the most necessary articles.
The women throughout the states were
set to work, spinning and weaving rough
cloth, and making uniforms from it.
Leather, however, cannot he produced all
at once, and indeed with all their efforts
the Confederate authorities were never
throughout the war able to provide a suf
ficient supply of boots for the troops,
and many a battle was won by soldiers
who fought almost barefooted and who
reshod themselves for the most part by
stripping the boots from their dead foes.
Many other articles could not be pro
duced in the southern states, and the Con
federates suffered much from the want of
proper medicines and surgical appliances.
For these tiny many other necessaries
they hail to depend solely upon the ships
which succeeded in making their way
through the enemy’s cruisers and running
the blockade of the ports. Wine, tea. cof
fee and other imported articles soon be
came luxuries beyond the means of all,
even the very wealthy. All sorts of sub
stitutes were used; grain roasted and
ground being chiefly used as a substi
tute for coffee. Hitherto the south had
be. n principally occupied in raising cotton
and tobacco, depending chiefly upon the
north for food; and it was necessary now
to abandon the cultivation of products (or
which they had no sale, and to devote the
land to the growth of maize and other
crops for food.
fly the time that the long period of in
action came to a close, Vincent had com
pletely recovered his strength, and was
ready to rejein the ranks as soon as the
order came from Colonel Stuart, who had
promised to send tor him directly there
was: a prospect of active service.
One of Vincent’s first questions as soon
as he t. came con ah *ent was whi tin 1 - a.
letter had been received trom Tony. It
had come, he was told, among the last
batch of letters that crossed the frontier
before the outbreak of hostilities, and
M's. Wingfield had, as he had requested,
i pined it. As nail been arranged, it had
merely contained Tony’s address at a vil
lage near Montreal; for Vincent had
warned him to say nothing in the letter,
for there was no saying in the troubled
times which were approaching when Tony
left, into whose hands it might fall.
Dinah still remained at the Orangery.
She was well and happy, for her life there
was a delightful one indeed after her toil
and hardship at the Jackson's; and al
though she was anxious to join her hus
band, the knowledge that he was well and
safe from all pursuit, and that sooner or
biter she would join him with her child,
v. as sufficient to make her perfectly con-
ten led.
When Vincent was well enough to lie
about again his sisters were surprised at
the change that had taken place in hint
since he had started a few months before
for the war. It wasnotso much that he had
grown though he had done so consult ra-
bly. but that he was much older in man
ner and appearance. He had been doing
man's work—work requiring vigilance, ac
tivity and courage and they coulu no
longer treat him as a boy. As lie be
came stronger he took to riding about the
plantation; but not upon Wildfire, for his j
horse was still with the troop, Colonel
Stuart having promised to see that the
animal was well cared for, and that no
one should ride upon it but himself.
“1 hope you like Jonas Pearson better
than you usid to do, Vincent,” Mrs. Wing
field said a day or two before he started
to rejoin his troop.
”1 can't say 1 do, mother,” he replied
shortly. “The man is very civil to me
now—too civil, in fact; but 1 don't like
him. and I don't believe he is honest. I
don't mean that he would dual you.
though he may do so for anything I
know; but he pretends to be a violent se
cessionist, which as he comes from Ver
mont, is not natural, and I imagine he
would sing a different tune if the blue
coats ever get to Richmond. Still I have
nothing particular to say against him.
except that I don't like him and 1 don't
trust him. So long as everything goes on
well for Ihe Confederacy I don’t suppose
it matters, but if we should ever get the
worst of it you will see that fellow will be
mischievous.
"However, I hear that he has obeyed
your orders, and that there has been no
flogging on the estate since 1 went away,
in fact, as far as I can see, he does not
keep anything like a sharp hand over the
slaves as he used to do; and in some of
the fields the work seems to be done in a
very slovenly way. What his game is I
don't know; but 1 have no doubt whatever
that he has some game in his mind.”
"You are a most prejudiced boy,” Mrs.
Wingfield said, laughing. "First of all tiie
man is too strict, and you were furious
about it; now you think he's too lenient,
and you at once suspect he has what you
cali a game of some sort or other on. You
are hard to please indeed.”
Vincent smiled. "Well, as I told you
once before, we shall see. I hope 1 am
wrong and that Pearson is all that you
believe him to be. However, whatever
the man is at heart, he can, as far as I
see do you no injury as long as things
go ’on as they are. and 1 sincertly trust
he will never have an opportunity of do-
"During the winter Vincent had made the
acquaintance of many of the southern
readers. The town was the center of the
movement, the heart of the confederacy.
R was against it. as the capital of he
southern states, that the efforts of the
northerners were principally directed, and
to it flocked the leading men from all
narts of the country. Although every Vir-
family had some of its members
at the Honl and a feeling of anxiety
reigned everywhere, a semblance of gaye-
ty was kept up. The theater was opened,
and parties and balls given, in order to
keep up the spirits of the piople by the
example of those of higher rank.
These halls differed widely in appear
ance from those of IS months before. The
gentlemen were almost all in uniform,
and already calicoes and other cheap fab
rics were worn by many of the ladies, as
foreign dress materials could no longer he
purchased. Mrs. Wingfield made a point
of always attending with her daughters
at these entertainments, which to the
young people afforded a cheerful break in
tiie dullness and monotony of their usual
life: for. owing to the absence of almost
all the young men with the army, there
had been a long cessation of the pleasant
interchange of visits, impromptu parties,
and social gatherings that had formed a
feature in the life in Virginia.
The balls would have been but dull af
fairs had only the residents of Richmond
been present: but leave was granted as
much as possible to officers stationed with
regiments within a railway run of the
town, anil as these eagerly availed them
selves of the change from the monotony
of camp life, the girls had no reason to
complain of want, of partners. Here and
at the receptions given by President Da
vis. Vincent met all the leaders of the
Confederacy, civil and military. Many of
them hail been personal friends of the
Wingfields before the secession movement
began, and among them was General Ma-
gruder, who commanded the troops round
Richmond.
Early in the winter the general had
called at the Orangery. "We are going
to make a call upon the patriotism of the
planters of this neighborhood, Mrs. Wing
field." he said during lunch time. “You
see, our armies are facing those of the
Federals opposite Washington, and can
offer a firm front to any foe marching
down from tiie north: but, unfortunately
they have the command of the sea. and
there is nothing to prevent their embark
ing an army on board ship and landing it
in either the James or the York rivers,
and in that case they might make a rush
upon Richmond before there would be
time to bring down troops to our aid. I
am therefore proposing to erect a chain of
works between the two rivers, so as to be
able to keep even a large army at bay
until reinforcements arrive; but to do this
a large number of hands will be required,
and we are going to ask the proprietors of
plantations to place as many negroes as
they can spare at our disposal.”
“There can he no doubt as to the re
sponse your eiuestion will meet with, gen
eral. At present we have scarce enough
work for our slaves to do. I intend to
grow no tobacco next year, for it will
only rot in the- warehouse, and a compar
atively small number of hands are requir
ed to raise corn crops, i have about 170
working hands on the Orangery, and shall
he happy to place 100 at your disposal for
as long a time as you may require them.
Everything else must at present give way
to tin good of the cause.”
"I thank you much. Mrs. Wingfield for
your offers, and wiil put your name down
the first on the '1st o f emit-ihniors '
"You seem quire to have recovered
now,” he said to Vincent a few minutes
afterward.
"Yes, 1 am quite ashamed of staying
here so long, general. But I feel some pain
at times, and as there is nothing doing
at the front, and my doctor says that it
is of importance I should have rest as
long as possible, I have stayed on. Ma
jor Ashley has promised to recall me as
soon as there is a prospect of active
work.”
"I think it is quite likely that there will
be active work here as soon as anywhere
else,” the general said. "We know pretty
well what is doing at Washington, and
though nothing has been decided upon,
there is a party in favor of a landing in
foiee here, and if so, we shall have hot
work. What do you say? If you like 1
* will yet gou a commission and appoint
you one ot my aids-de-camp. Your
knowledge of the country will make you
useful, and as Ashley has specially men
tioned your name in one of his dispatch
es. you can have your commission by ask
ing for it.
"If there is to be fighting round here, it
will be of more interest to you defending
your own home than in taking part in
general engagements for the safety of the
state, it will, too, enable you to be a
good deal at home; and although so far
the slaves have behaved extremely well,
there is no saying exactly what may hap-
pi n if the northerners come among us.
You can rejoin your own corps afterward,
you know, if nothing comes of this.”
Vincent first thought to decline the offer,
but his mother and sisters were so pleaded
at having him near them that he finally
accepted with thanks, being principally
influenced by the general's last argument,
that possibly there might be trouble with
the slaves in the event of a landing in the
James Peninsula by the northerners. A
few days later there came an official inti
mation that he had received a commission
in the cavalry, and had at General Ma-
gruder’s request been appointed to his
staff, and he at once entered upon his
new duties.
The fortress of Monroe, at the entrance
of Hampton Roads, was still in the hands
of the Federals, and a large Federal fleet
was assembled here, and was only pre
vented from sailing up the James river by
the Merrimac, a steamer which the Con
federates had plated with railway iron.
They had also constructed batteries upon
some high bluffs on each side of the river.
In a short time 5,000 negroes were set to
work erecting batteries upon the York
river at Yorktown and Gloucester Point,
and upon a line of works extending from
Warwick upon the James river to Ship I
Point, on the York, through a line of
wooded and swampy country intersected
by streams emptying themselves into one
or other of the rivers.
This line was some 30 miles in length,
and would require 25,000 men to guarel it;
but Magruder hoped that there would be
sufficient warning of an attack to enable
reinforcements to arrive in time to raise
his own command of about 10.000 men to
tiiat strength. The negroes worked cheer
fully. for they received a certain amount
of pay from the state: but the work was
heavy and difficult, and different alto
gether to that which they were accustom
ed to perform. The batteries by the sides
of the rivers made fair progress, but the
advance of the long line of works across
the peninsula was but slow. Vincent had.
upon receiving his appointment,written at
once to Major Ashley, snding his letter
by Dan; who was ordered to bring back
Wildfire. Vincent stated that had he
consulted his personal feeling lie should
have preferred remaining in the ranks of
his old corps; but that as the fighting
might be close at home, and there was no
saving what might he the behavior of
the slave population in the event of a
northern invasion, he had, for the sake of
his mother and sisters, accepted the ap
pointment, but as soon as the danger was
over he hoped to rejoin the corps and
serve under his former commander.
Dan. on his return with Wildfire,
brought a letter from the major saying
that although he should have been glad
to have had him with him. he quite agreed
with the decision at which he had, under
the circumstances, arrived. Vincent now
took up his quarters at the camp formed
a short distance from the city, and much
of his time was spent in riding to and
from the peninsula, seeing that the works
were being carried out according to the
plan of the general and reporting upon
the manner in which the contractors for
the supply of food to the negroes at work
there performed their duties. Sometimes
he was away for two or three days upon
this work, hut he gradually managed once
or twice a week to get home for a few
hours.
The inhabitants of Richmond and its
neighborhood were naturally greatly in
terested in the progress of the works for
their defense, and parties were often or
ganized to ride or drive to Yorktown. or
to the batteries on the James river, to
watch the progress made. Upon one occa
sion Vincent accompanied his mother and
sisters, and a party of ladies and gentle
men from th» neighboring plantations, to
Drury’s Bluff, where an entrenched posi
tion named Fort Darling had been erect
ed. and preparations made to sink ves
sels across the river, and close it against
the advance of the enemy's fleet should
any misfortune happen to the Merrimac.
Several other parties had been made up.
and each brought provisions with them.
General Magruder and some of his offi
cers received them upon their arrival, and
conducted them over the works. After
this the whole party sat down to a picnic
meal on the ground, and no stranger
could have guessed that the merry party
formed part of a population threatened
with invasion by n powerful foe. There
were speeches and toasts, all of a patriot
ic character, and General Magruder raised
the enthusiasm to the highest point by in
forming them that in a few days—the ex
act day was a secret, hut it would ve
very shortly—the Merrimac, or. as she
had been re-christened, the Virginia,
would put from Norfolk harbor and see
what she could do to clear Hamilton
Roads of the fleet that now threatened
them. As they were riding back to Rich
mond the general said to Vincent:
"i will tell you a little more than I told
the others. Wingfield. I believe the M> rri-
mac wiil go out the day after tomorrow. I
wish 1 could get away myself to see the
affair; but, unfortunately, 1 cannot do so.
However, if you like to be present. 1 will
give you three days' leave, as you have
been working very hard lately. You can
start early tomorrow, and can get down
by train to Norfolk in the evening. I
should advise you to take your horse with
you. and then you can ride in the morning
to some spot from which you will get a
fair view of the Roads, and be able to see
what is going on.”
"Thank you very much, sir,” Vincent
said. “I should like it immensely.”
T'ne next day Vincent went down to
Norfolk. Arriving there, he found that al
though there was a general expectation
that the Merrimac would shortly go out
to try her strength with the enemy, noth
ing was known of tiie fact that the next
morning had been fixed for the encounter,
the secret being kept to the last lest some
spy or adherent of the north might take
the news to the fleet. After putting up bis
horse Vincent went down to the navy
yard, off which the Merrimac was lying.
This ship had-been sunk by the Fedeals
when at. the commencement of hostilities
ie\ had -Vacua : oil -\of: :K. Having lieefi
raised by the Confederates, the ship wa
cut down, and a sort of roof covered with
iron was built over it, so that the vessel
presented the appearance of a huge sunk
en house. A ram was fixed to the bow and
she was aimed with ton guns. Her steam
power was .very, insufficient for tier size,
and -he could only move through the
water at the fate of five knots an hour.
"She is an ugly-looking thing.” a man
observed to Vincent as he gazed at the
ship.
"Frightfully ugly." Vincent agreed.
"She may he a formidable machine in the
way of lighting, but one can scarcely call
her a ship.”
"She is a floating battery, and if they
tried their best to turn out the ugliest
tiling that ever floated they could not
have have succeeded better. She is just
like Noah's ark sunk down to the eaves
of her roof.”
' Yes. she 1s a good deal like that,” Vin
cent ageed. “The very look of her ought
to be enough to frighten the Federals,
even if she did nothing else.”
"I expect it will not be long before she
gives them a taste of her quality." the
man said. “She has got her coal and am
munition on board, and there's nothing
to prevent her going out this evening if
she wants to.”
“It will be worth Seeing when she does
go out to light the northerners,” Vincent
said. “It will be a new experiment in
warfare, and, if she turns out a success,
1 suppose all the navies in the world will
he taking to cover themselves up with
iron.”
The next morning, which was the Sth of
March—a date forever memorable in na
val annals—smoke was seen pouring out
from the funnels of the Merrimac, and
there were signs of activity on board the
Patrick Henry, of six guns, and the
Jamestown, Raleigh, Beaufort, and Tea-
zer, little craft carrying one gun each,
and at 11 o'clock they all moved down the
inlet on which Norfolk is situated. The
news that the Merrimac wjts going out to
attack the enemy had now spread, and
tlu- whole population of Norfolk turned
out and hastened down toward tiie mouth
of the inlet on horseback, in vehicles, or
on foot, while Vincent rode to the batter
ies on Sewell's Point, nearly facing Fort
Monroe.
He left his horse at a farmhouse a quar
ter of a mile from the battery: for Wild
fire was always restless uijder fire, and it
was probable that the batteries would
take a share in the affair. At 1 o'clock
some of the small Federal lookout launch
es were seen to be at work signaling, a
bustle could be observed prevailing among
the large ships over by the fortress, and it
was evident that the Merrimas was visible
to them as she came down the inlet. The
Cumberland and Congress men-of-war
nnvcfl out in that direction, and the Min
nesota and the St. Lawrence, which were
at anchor, got under weigh, assisted by
steam tugs.
The Merrimac and the fleet of little gun
boats were now visible from the battery,
advancing against the Cumberland and
Congress. The former opened fire upon
her at a distance of a mile with her heavy
pivot guns, but the Merrimac, without re
plying. continued her slow and steady
course toward them. She first approached
the Congress, and as she did so a puff
of smoke hurst from the forward end of
the pent-house, and the water round the
Congress was churned up by a hail of
grapeshot. As they passed each other
both vessels fired a broadside. The offi
cers in the fort, provided with glasses,
could see the effect of the Merrimac’s fire
in the light patches that showed on the
side of the Congress, but the Merrimac
appeared entirely uninjured. She now ap
proached the Cumberland, which poured
several broadsides into her, but altogether
without effect. The Merrimac, without re
plying, steamed straight on and struck
the Cumberland with great force, knock
ing a large hole in her side, near the wa
ter line. Then backing off she opene’d fire
upon her.
kor half an hour the crew of the Cum
berland fought with great bravery. The
< ships lav about 300 yards apart, and every
shot from the Merrimac told on the wood
en vessel. The water was pouring in
tb-nugh the breach. The shells of the
Merrimac crushed through her side, and
at one time set her on tire; but the crew
worked their guns until the vessel sank
beneath their feet. Some ipen succeed
ed in swimming to land, which was not
far distant, others were saved by small
boats from the shore, hut nearly half the
crew of 400 men were either killed in ac
tion or drowned.
The Merrimac now turned her attention
to the Congress, which was left to fight
the battle alone, as the Minnesota had got
aground, and the Roanoke and St. Law
rence could not approach near enough to
render them assistance from their draught
of water. The Merrimac poured broadside
after broadside into her, until the officer
in command and many of the crew were
killed. The lieutenant who succeeded to
the command, seeing there was no pros
pect of help, and that resistance was
hopeless hauled down 1 lie flag. A gunboat
was sent alongside, with orders that the
crew should leave the Congress and come
on board, as the ship was to be burned.
But the troops and artillery lining the
shore now opened fire on the little gun
boat. which consequently hauled to. The
Merrimac, after firing several more shells
Into the Congress, moved away to attack
the Minnesota, and the survivors of the
200 men who composed the crew of tiie
Congress were conveyed to shore in small
boats. The vessel was set on fire either
by her own crew or the shells of the Mer
rimac. and by midnight blew up.
Owing to the shallowness of the water
the Merrimac could not get near enough
to tiie Minnesota to use her own small
guns to advantage, and the gunboat was
driven off by the heavy ten-inch gun of
thp Federal frigate, and therefore at 7
o'clock the Merrimac and her consorts
returned to Norfolk. The greatest de
light was felt on shore at the success of
the engagement, and on riding back to
Nrofolk Vincent learned that the ram
would go out again next morning to en
gage tiie rest of the Federal fleet.
She herself had suffered somewhat in
the tight. Her loss in men was only two
killed and eight wounded; hut two of her
guns had the muzzles shot off, the armor
was damaged in some places, and most
srious of all she had hadly twisted her
ram in running into the Cumberland. Still
it appeared that she was more than a
match for tiie rest of the Federal fleet,
and that these must either fly or be de
stroyed.
As the general had given him three
days' leave, Vincent was able to stay to
see the close of the affair, and early next
morning again rode down to Sewall’s
point, as the Merrimac was to start tit
daybreak. At six o’clock the ironclad
came out from the river and made for the
Minnesota, which was still aground. The
latter was seen to run up a signal, and
the spectators saw an objeet which they
had not before perceived coming out as
if to meet the ram. The glasses were di
rected toward it. and a general exclama
tion of surprise was heard.
“What is the thing ? It looks like a
raft witli two round turrets upon it, and
a funnel ” A moment's consideration and
the truth burst upon them, it was the
ship they had heard of as building at New
York, and which had been launched six
weeks before. It was indeed the Monitor,
which had arrived during the night, just
in time to save the rest of the Federal
fleet. Blie was the first regular ironclad
j ever built. She was a turret ship, carry
ing two very heavy guns, and showing
only between tuo and , three feet above
the water.
The excitement upon botli shores as
these adversaries approached each other
was intense. They moved slowly, and not
o ' they were within a hundred yards
rtmai replying at once. The are .or a
lime Was heavy and rapid, the distance
between the combatants varying from 50
to 200 yaids. The Monitor had by far the
greatest speed, and was much more eas
ily turned than the Confederate ram, and
her guns wire very much heavier, and
the Merrimac, while still keeping up the-
fight, made toward the mouth of the
river.
Suddenly she turned and steamed direct
ly at the Monitor, and before the latter
could get out of her way struck tier on
the side: but the ram was bent and her
weak engines were insufficient to propel
her with the necessary force, fc’onse-
qtier.tly she inflicted no damage on the
Monitor, and the action continued, the
turret-ship directing her fire at the iron
roof of the ram, while the latter pointed
her guns especially at the turret and pi
lot-house of the Monitor. At length, after
a battle which had lasted six hours, the
Monitor withdrew, one of the plates of
her pilot-house being seriously damaged
and her commander injured in tiie eyes.
When her foe drew off the Merrimac
steamed back to Norfolk. There were no
men killed in either baule, and each side
claimed a victory; the Federals upon the
ground that they had driven off the Merri
mac. the Confederates because the Moni
tor had retreated from the fight. Each
vessel, however, held the strength of the
other in respect, the Monitor remaining
as sentinel over tiie ships and transports
at Fortress Monroe, while the Merrimac
at Norfolk continued to guard the en
trance into the James river.
As soon as the light was over, Vincent
"Wingfield, greatly pleased that lie had
witnessed so strange and interesting a
combat, rode back to Norfolk, and the
same evening reached Richmond, where
his description of tiie fight was received
with the greatest interest and excitement.
(To Be Continued.)
AFRICAN GIN TRADE.
Staff Is Sold to Natives Tiiat Is Poi
sonous and Sailors Are Made
Mad By It.
Our Rotterdam correspondent gives a
terrible account of the corruption of
Western Africa by gin. He has hitherto -
dealt chiefly with the shameful traffic of
the Royal Niger company, which, by the
charter granted in 1SS6, has in its power
nearly the whole of the lower Niger basin
and an outlet on the coast.
Within its territory dwells a black pop
ulation estimated at 30.000.000, and they
are the consumers or “market," which
the company, with a considerate out
pouring of pious hopes and philanthropic
intentions, undertakes to supply.
The supply which specially interests us
comes almost mainly through Rotterdam
and Hamburg, though much of it we be
lieve still passes throngh England on its
way anil is transhipped at such ports as
Bristol. It is sent in cases, red and
green, the red being rather the larger,
but the “quality” the same. The green
cases sell in Europe at three shillings
each. In the Niger territories they sell
at six and sixpence, the sixpence being
added for cost freightage, so as to se
cure the comforting profit of cent per
cent.
The contents of these eases are equally
grateful and comforting. Tiie traders de
scribe them as a strong tonic to preserve
the poor natives against the malaria.
in simpler language, they are gin of the
vilest kind, so vile that the European
price Is three ponce a hottle; so poisonous
that Mr. Bindloss. speaking of th6 com
pany's stores at their main depot of
Akassa. says that no white trader will
touch the stuff, and seamen who buy it
on the sly are carried back to their ships
raving mad. That was the abomination
of which 2.227 tons were imported into the
territories in 1SS7, and 3,207 in 1S9S.
A MISTAKE RIGHTED.
The rattle of cups and saucers and tho
sound of laughter and talk met my ears as
I was ushered into the drawing room of
my cousin, Mrs. Darrell Bruce, one after
noon early in November.
I had not seen her for nearly six years.
Then she was Helena Graves, and now,
after many weary days and nights, after
hunger, heartache and weariness, I had
come back to my native place, to the home
of my fathers.
I wondered dimly if Helena would rec
ognize me. True, she expected me some
day soon, but I have changed, and from
the merry, laughing young fellow I had
gone away I had come back a sober man,
with hair well streaked with gray and
deep lines on my face, caused by hardship
and sorrow.
I need not have worried over such a
trifle, for no sooner had I entered the door,
before even the stately butler •mild an
nounce me, than Helena gave a little cry
of “Bert!” and rushed pellmell into my
arms. 1 had not rcceiveil such a welcome
for a long day, and somehow it brought a
sob into my throat anil a tear to my eye.
It was certainly home at last. Helena
at once brought her husband—whom I re
membered as a boy about my own age,
with whom I used to have pitched battles
occasionally—to me and told him that I
was her own dear cousin, who had return
ed at last like the prodigal son.
Bruce shook my hand heartily and said
that he knew more about me than I prob
ably knew about myself.
"That, is a libel, Bert, isn’t it?” cried
Helena, pouting.
I was on the point of making a laughing
rejoinder when out of the twilight, as it
were, there stole a slender figure in wid
ow’s weeds, and .a sad, sweet voice said:
“Anil do you remember me?”
Did I remember her? Oh, heavens, do I
remember myself, my troubles, my fight
ing with relentless fnte in the hope that
my feeble strength might perhaps prevent
tho turning of the wheels of life? Do I
remember the endless pacing on my floor
night after night or the days spent in seek
ing to forget in pleasure and excitement?
"You arc Mrs. Ludington,” I said, ris
ing.
She held out her hand, and I took it in
mine once more. At tiiat. moment I did
not feel thankful that I had seen her
again, as I had prayed to do so often. I
only felt that fate, indomitable fate, had
once more seized me in its merciless grasp,
and the old memories, which I thought I
had stamped out of my heart, rose as
strong as of yore.
After my cousin had ascertained that I
intended staying with her for a week or
two, or as long as she wanted ine, she
said, which her husband added would be
forever, she flitted away to attend to her
other guests, some of whom were staying
in the house and others who were merely
callers.
Mrs. Ludington leaned back in her chair
and looked at me steadily. Slio wished to
examine me, she said, to sen if I had
grown taller or shorter, stouter or thinner,
uglier or better looking.
“Uglier, I fancy,” I replied with a sigh.
I felt old and tired and gray beside these
society people.
“ Handsome is that handsome does, ” she
said under her breath. Was I mistaken or
was there a catch in her voice as of tears
unshed? She did not look happier or
younger than when I saw her Inst in spite
of it all.
“Then I am frightful indeed,” nnd I
laughed aloufTVc tin* luca/'
“No,” she said in a curiously quiet
tone. “Handsome would be too weak a
word to use in describing you.” (“It
would indeed,” I thought to myself.) “I
should call you a hero, a martyr, a match
maker, and, oh, above all, the destroyer of
your own happiness and mine.”
I looked at her in amazement.
“Your intentions were good,” she con
tinued, nnd her voice grew •bitter. “I
have no doubt you thought you were doing
me a kind action. Ah, you men, how lit
tle you know, when all is told, of woman
and woman’s nature! When a girl laughs
and talks with a man, you at once jump
at the conclusion that she is in love with
him. It never occurs to you that it is tho
quiet one, the man who thought, he loved
her so much that ho was willing to give
her up to insure her happiness, that she
loved. ’ ’
Her voice rang loud nnd clear through
tho deserted room. My cousin and her
husband had gone to speed the parting
guests, nnd we were alone.
I rose hastily nnd stood in front of her.
She must know nil, but who told her.
Not he, surely, and not I. We were the
only two that knew.
“Madge,” said I in an agitated tone,
unconsciously using tho old name, “what
•do you mean?”
“I am speaking to the man who delib
erately gave up tho girl who loved him
and who thought he loved her to another,
and that a brute, who made her life mis
erable for four years.”
Was this woman, who stood before me
with flashing eyes and trembling lips,
the girl I knew long ago? The girl
with whom I stood on the old wooden
bridge, find told her, as the sun's last
gleams shone on her bronze hair and lit
up her pale face, that I was going away to
war and might never come back again?
Tiie lights grew dimmer and dimmer in
the room, the noise and bustle in tho
streets indistinct, and there in that hour
she told me her story. How she loved me,
anil only me, from the beginning. How
6he had laughed and flirted with Godfrey
Ludington because sho thought I was in
different to her and only married him at
last because I had gone away and he grew
so persistent.
"And then. Bert,” she continued, and
her voice grew sad, “when Godfrey was
dying he confessed all, that he had pleaded
and begged of you to exchange regiments
with him, and after a night of misery, out
of your great love for me, you consented
to do so. Bert, I hated my husband at
that moment, dying though he was. Aft
er he died I wandered the wide world over
in search of peace and found it not. Then
I came home again. I met your cousin,
and she told me that you were alive and
well and were soon to return, and now”—
“And now?” I said softly.
“Yon are safe,” she replied.
"And you?” asked 1, holding her hands
so that she could not hide her face.
"1 am happy in the thought that you
were not eaten by cannibals, married to a
squaw, killed by wild animals or captuicd
by savages.” And she tried to laugh, but
it was a poor attempt.
" But Instead I have come home like a
Christian, to marry the best girl in all the
world ami live and die happy ever after.
Eh, Madge?”—YVaverly Magazine.
Buy Whiskey'
from the Distiller!
Absolute Purity
Full Measure
T| *HAYNER
„ — DISTILLING c °-
£, | STiU.[RS«»oW 0RT ,
~ , OHIO, U.S.A.
Note by a Social Student.
We have known a man and woman to
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For Four
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3 References: Any Bank in Dayton, or
r cry Commercial A&ency.
HAYNER DISTILLING CO.,
1 183-189 West eiSih it., DAYTON, OHIO.
SJ _p. S.—Orders for Ariz., rot.. Cal., Idaho, Mont.,
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THE BEAUREGARD MONUMENT.
The proposition to erect a monument to
General Beauregard in New Orleans is
again being agitated. Some time ago an
effort was made to collect funds for the
purpose, and $4,000 was secured and safely
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to erect a monument worthy of tho sol
dier, and since then nothing has been done
in the matter. An effort will now be
made to secure additional funds. General
Beauregard was a native and for a large
part of his life ti resident of Louisiana.
“It is strange,” says the New Orleans
Times-Democrat, “that Louisiana, which
has erected monuments to Robert L. Lee,
Albert Sidney Johnston and other Confed
erate leaders, should have neglected tho
most distinguished Louisianaian that
served in the Confederate army.”
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A beautifully illustrated book giving detailed
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B. F. 4VYLY, Jr., R. E. LUTZ,
Gen. ra.-s. A Ticket Agent. Traffic Mgr., (
Atlanta, Ga. Montgomery, Ala.
GEORGE G. SMITH. Pres. A Gen. Manager.
Atlanta, Ga.
THE H0T0PP WINE COMPANY,
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.
Growers and Manufacturers of
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A
*2a
4. A