The Atlanta constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, December 24, 1894, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextW§ry fl jfßjii.-, xiw § rlwwffiww? !”»«.' I u r i^l! hr® wi< twwwiio ti I irWriro e 'wt ■ F - I ■ s' -?i" B I*lf Cl ol Bai M,o€ / ■ w I- .10M VOL. XXVII.—No. 321 WILL INTEREST YOU. UTATFMryriOTTIIE MURTGAGmIX DEIITLDXEXXOt' THE V. 8. HEAVIEST BURDENS IN EASTERN STAT ES, Wkn* the Wr«l and hotilli Ow« Com par ■ tively Util**—Rut l*ru»p«>rity ami Debt Hand in llaa'.l. Tho stupendous investigation of the cen tra office into individual indebtedness has hi ought to light strange and fascinating facts :n relation to debts, and its attendant burden of Interest. This inquiry was con ducted in two ways, and as a result we have practically two separate reports, each revealing facts of vital importance to the prosperity of the nation and of great value to e.vnomic d tissiun. In the first place all existing mortgages were transcril«ed for a period of ten years, thus showing the real estate mortgage movement in th ■ va rious states and territories. From this and other obtainable data the average life of mortgages on acres and mortgages on lots was se*. tired and the actual mortgage in debtedness was ascertained. It is believed l*y the most a>-<*nmplished statisticians that the percentage of error in this work is less ( than 5 js-r cent. The completed tabulations I Ott,; ■ ’-o ii /«> / \ j ‘ / ■ 'LL""Kr- ■ ■ ■■ ; ■- ’/ /• "’ • '■ W z' • •••«<• 1 IT **o /v <* 2 ■ / r *•-. L. 1 ~ 1 ! k "7 /5 i \ ; N— . Z--7 X -'x * -ck yu..^; . A— -j ■: xX\ • v e- 7 V/'T"" “T* * ’ M \ : -AL—f I'Rill’Eßl V AN.’ .*L '' ,1 <l. hted* of the United States, while the The black spots on this map si owev *- r P .-r -nt - * " ' _ . _ _ -*• t.*l .•* vt* »* • ••nt «4i c:.* till-, i-i. sha-it-d states represent no less tnan «i.. • i « announce the following startling results: Mortgage indebtedness of ‘ e Unite*! Stales in Numb, r of mortgages repre sente-l * -J • Annual interest rharcc -•- , Think what these totals really mean, a ; debt more* than eitht times tl.'* a.-:r*'?a ” of the national debt, sml three tin’ - *•• • large as all the public *i«*bt put to_* th< r. . j - makes a gran 1 total « f ov< r *”■’ * * j \ debt, which considered v itseit i-in*. t itearly »*.’■**• annually from t..* p._ d ’ - . tive forces of the country to me.-t the in- , t.-re*st account. Truly this view of the sub ject seem< at first sight appe- an* in a measure justlfi< the cry which came from ,A, ~,„r n state* thai farm most- I some of the western s-raii. in •* ; gages were becoming a greater I* « the people couhl bear, that the mt. r. -t was sapping up th" nrolits oi • that the principal could n. ‘.r ~ l•> • - f .»rther study, however, of th! P- • with all th’’ a * h» n '’* n,ay ’ Ms * X a m* r.. eh.- rO.I v **v. *.f the situation. An %nl*»ni«blw«£ bnct. In the first place we d.-.-over this . nor- t.a.d D n**; all farm imb-i.te.lt.* Indeed, mortgages “•» a* res ?'*•■ mtof« rm a smaller share •« ’his e *..mv and. a t*rs». uprar* ntly ovetwh* l *d« C aggregate m debt.dn.-. The dv.Uers ia e.ir cß’.s a.. . t.vi- >’- ni hav • I- »« bit n bv tl i . .... erase or •p; *emi*’ to an inortg-ig* >r. - ■ the ••l-Hl’lg farm *:’ :•!■••• * Xltin" I!’’ sympathy of 1«»‘ K S . . >■ t».- facts must !«• pi«— s! statistician. " ... ...... L-nted ev-n if !r d-ing -• the |-puhst . u*.- • r.- sxu ir ■••••itiirv art* i»hts- lie l hat tn.* f ... b.. t-red all over with m ;t*.._* . m H I* Ik.-l U"*k at these tw.. pictures. aches. •» t«,| KMnbcr <»f . . ;:i Amount.. -•- •• . ' jt£! •2i‘* !*II Annual Interest • y«in»>"< r ‘t mortgag | j .XnK'Hlli *• r;|l Annual st c arg . ■• ■ - - • ; I of the .-mount of n. -rt *’ 1 * • . n real .state •» ’“** ’ n “’ l b .1? ' Wt-r .-nt « . a r..s amd -!.M P- r , „. nn lots of the amount tn I ..._ p : I was plac’d on a-ies and W. - * I" r«• •»•« , on lot*". Fhowiiitf tt • •’"* ‘‘ * t awful cc.e-lil on of the At •• re an a r. " * - .. .. i-wi «' vf.»ni of protc’- turist under it- v •. ■’ •-•’ ’ ' lion. Inst. : I it disced th lot or c ity oleos th. >.»’• - w gh.-i «!.wn while th. a. n- or farm -■ • -h» «*»♦• -* ,r IM.ellrr. I. < HL- «*•. it.-nl 1 rowers. mm «on: n.w v ; the map wni-h it... •• • ••••• tl-ls article -hows teat there are tw. ntj nine diiti- s contain.-nr »l.c great <’iti -s of the 1’ rMeh hts an . ting mortgage debt . f - • •• ••> »*• The mortK ige debt ... th twenty-nine cottn tiee is 43-31 l-’ r c ni of the tn >rtg:ig •' bt o r the United States. The m r capita ni >rt nKe debt of the twnitj-nine counties It of the Unt’cd Stat < oti’s'de of thes counties. »«: of the Inited States. «*. The MTcentag ' ’•• ■ of all taxed :eal estate repn -nt. I by th- mortgage debt in fo'ce in the United States. p-r cent, the Unitel StaP -• outside of the twenty nine ccia.ties. 13.70. Id New York city and the In counties neighboring rtota Nw 1 rit .:N- " Jersey the mortgage debt is t h: . . • per •- nt of the m- rtgage <1 bt of th.- United States. It is times the mortgage debt c-f the en tire F o,nh. and it is estimated is 1-• times the entire real estate, chattel crop mortgage debt of the southern states I’ !»• I times the mortgage d-bi ot the south and that part of the United States that i'ts west of lhe kota«, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas, comprising the Rocky mountain and Pa cific coast regions. It is 61.59 per cent of the mortgage debt of v.hat is commonly known as the west, extending from Ohio westward to Kansas and northwestward to the Dakotas, with its populous cities o! Chicago, second only to New Y"wk. of * 'in elnr.ati. Cleveland Detroit. Indianapolis, Kansas city. Milwaukee, Minneapolis, • ■maha, Kt. Ixitlis and St. Paul. The mort- I gage debt cf New York city alone is | ti'l.i/t. This is 13.95 per cent of the nicrt ; gage debt of the United States; it is equal [ to the mortgage debt of the south and 155.44 per cent move; it is nearly twice the mortgage debt of the Rocky mountain and Pacific coast regions; it is M’,.62 per cent of ’ the mortgage debt of these regions and tin* I south combined, and it is 40.42 |>er cent of • the mortgage debt of the west above de j scribed. The llnnt. Vol the West. Although so much has been said almut Ithe mortgage debt west of the Mississippi river, vet. as a. matter of fact, the princi > pal port >o,i of the mortgage debt <*f th*» j United States is in the six states of Massa , chtisetts, New York. New Jersey, P« iinsyl ! vania, Ohio and Illinois. In the states i repr> -ented in our map we have marly j two-thirds of th** mortgage debt. These i states owe .'•7 | r cent, or nearly three i fifths of the mortgage «i- bl of the country. I These are the great industrial states. In 1 short the figure .-hows that r ; ght along th*j I lines of greatest prosperity and prog. ! re-ss, whether it be agricultural, mining. ! • •••’IH 411 V..» • •• ri innafeturins or cortmcrcial. there you ’ find the largest amount of <1 bt. I’ is foun *. that mortga®es are r* »p ii'iv* to high . ..1 , . -tate vatu* s, to buslnes;- activity, a-d t*« ! the growth of towns mid .-.it * s. Il‘ a map . of tn - United States were to be shnd -d >n : a<*.'or*!.mce with th** amount of •* ort/a*;- ' debt the darker port Tons would be found in such vreat industrial states as I’e-.r.syl- . vania. MaasachuseUs and New York, in i the east; the new mining and mr.n --1 ufacturing regions of Alabama and I Tenn.*- *-■• would be th- dark spots ■ . Illinois and Ohio x oulil be darker than Indiana in the old I uest. and Chicago would be black indeed. The r.-ason for this is that mortgages en . aide r.'.en who can make partial payments ' f* r real estate purchases to bran-h out , (to un •• .a ikincs •hi I - •>’ ■ " ’■' 1 • 1 • b. y.m.l their reach. It i lik. ly to I- a «ommunity where the inhabi* ta its wait to save their a! M il **ut of th.-ir «,wn . arnirgs; •*> t ?• t n.’ACsn- '.orrow from neighbor, an I the south and vv -st l»*rrow from th.* east, an I fi t yoiin*.. r.u n who are i'"* Impatient and enterjirl ing ’•> i i>. 1.,* o| iwrtnnit ■ Ili n t° r . .pita! than th* | hav.* r ;.v< 1 it.<*r<*:ise lb ir * n amifa* tin* s. . xtvii.l t!. dr trade. • iy I taims ;* I*l h im* l**r ’!■-■ lv* s. a:r' <l* a-.i ! a t !<*:■ lib*r v.h 1 ti i< the b«*st that i the v*.«:id has ever seen. |<»w the tl«ni*i :i* !> pended. t i.i,' *•; th- mo t iiu;>*ir.ai*t *<**■• .< ~ns ' that tliis inv.-stigation has I'Staldhhed is ti:.- voluntary *■!,:*.:•*• t i of n- "!:g..;;e in- I .' bt In*lt i"*'s.:> .1 represent a loss <*i I - . I.l*l. *. W. ilth by d. '»l .. .. which th-y an- replae- i - t.v Ihii rov. inu. Ihoni three-fuurihs to K .'i-ti attis oft!. i ’ has U-n incurre i in the put. ir.se ~i i. al estate and Io pay ■ for improvements, and 'f »•» tli.se are ade l bl.; ifi’-ss ptirpo.■••s and the purchas.- of more enduring kinds ->i pen utal r.,.1 estate mortgage debt of the I nited States is ae-ount.-I for. Tic- lanm-rs im west mortita-ed their farms it’ order i that they iniyht buy i tem. . reet buddings, ani pHH-ure eto k and machines with whkb to pursue their OC. up. I ions. In this wav ih -re has been st.< .igthen. i a do- • mini for farm lands and mortirag-s hav< ’ 1,.. ~ instrumental in ! r. venting the gruwtn : of .real agricultural h.ddiims b\ i.md. >i .. • Under our system of mortgage s«-*ut'i.es ! j f r ..e all. nation no one m- d long be i i.-iile-' who is thrifty and industrious. The .- st: list:-s indieat. that the affairs 1 of th- P. Id. of th.'s 'ountry are tin kr • ..i ) - some nu I an I tr m ndous c’ a.m. I han- show n th ** >n IW' th- mo. tg i„- .iebi .d tm l ait. I St.n-s am >unt.d to u t r I r OKI OUMHIU, •>: to one-lwelltn oi I i 111. Wealth of lhe country. This .!t w:-.s { 1 in t a vents, ahhtutll t«.pulatioii | •'.’ase.l but one-fo«rth. ami wealth one- ( .. b lti been exi en l ■ . . <P"'<o •jo.al for to nil! .... Purchase a'. -••e> .-• •• • ••• \ (( ( fcl money and im-iits pwnbliv-dl • • Farm ma dines, d .inestic 195 0 70 purehns • :..om .. iinpi->'e nients. business ano p r .- mil pro|»i-.y ’• ombin-s. wl’h one anatherl. - • ■ ■ I <* " |‘iir- ttase money, impr ve inents. business and p V h •« j-tn- has- money, improve meet.-, business an.i pcr s i.al pr perty (comoine.l) ) with farm and family ex- ■ iH-nsesl. • • • t ..! J" 7-. ! l-'irm and family expins.s. ~40 1- | Total for purchase tnonoj 1 and improvements (not ATLANTA. GA., MON DAY,DECEMBER 24, 1894. combined with other ob- jects) S 3 13 82 56 Total for purchase mdney, improvements. business and personal property <not combined with other objects) S 3 82 91 37 Prosperity mid Debt March Hand in ll:i nd. To buy land, build homes, erect barns. ; and improve property debt was incurred I voluntarily. It is an evidence of enter ■ prise, of thrift, of faith it the future of ' our country, of all that goes to make good j citizenship. Tile mortgage movem**nt I when studied in all its bearings is an evi dence of the upward movement of the people, of the reaching out for land owner ship. for Utter lioirex. for better sur roundings. In doing this the future may have lieen discounted somewhat. But I what successful business man has not done this? Not only arc these mortgages evi dences of prosperity, but they arc, as a. rule, tin* result of prosperous times. Then* was a considerable increase of debt in 1881, the year that first distin* t ively shows a recovery from the great tinuncial <b-pn*ssio!» of 1873 to 1877. and a ruble increase Is sh*w t for 1882. Tl.e period of tinancial tiepression that then began alm >st entirely arrested t(*e im reuse of mortgage debt for three years. In 18X6, the <1 pression was ending, ♦ mortgage making gained groat impetus, ami the ■ greatest increase for any one year ■of th** «!•••*« *l* was for lxx7. The progressiveness of the movement temporarily spent itself ’ in that year, for in 1888 there was a de -1 ci ’is** of incurred debt. ;iith**ugh it was j an increase over ISBS. The yearly upward t.'. i.y cf lhe mortgage m .wmont was r.'sunie.l In 1889 with much vigor, anil the ' ' r.*.:*’. rs of th s journal all know what a good year for business that wa c . This inti mate re lationship between morty *g* and I b;isit*'*ss activit.’’, confidence an*! expansion, j I i-’ unquestionably established by the cctl i sus figures. How the Debt t an Be Void. In this article we hav ' gauged the mort- ■ ; gage debt, learned something of its dis tribution, di: cover* d that ni**ro money Is ; ow'ng on the 1,161,138 mortgage’, lots ot j citi'S than on the 271.352.109 mortgaged acrer. in th ■ country, ascertained the pur- i p.,s«- for which a debt of this vast magni- ; tilde was incurred, formed an idea of its annual burelcn upon productive industry, | anl brought t*> light some facts as to the j • relation of this d* bt to th * true value of ; ' all tax**l r al < state. Having discern, d briefly th.se point* , ami before taking up th*' .-till mor*, interesting question of nv rt- { gages on *”ii' homes, it might !•*• well to examine f*>r a mom tit the chances of pav ing Oil 'h.* ex ling mortgage debt, it is g.n*rally i-omedel that all taxed real . *;,t** I'.’in be in* iiniber.-d for iwo-th:rds , * ps ; u - value. During such periods es depression ai the present, when real estate ' lias decrease! iti value, tin* burden of some of th* s - debts must ii. l*'.*d !>“ rela tively gr* aler than in times of prosperity. ilelit nml Tiisubte ' .ilu*'s. The subioin* I laid-' show*- th** |>*i'*'iilt- ave of existing debt t.l th- true taxable value of th- real . state. It brings to light two imp rt-int facts, mini ly, that the l .: a- t I ereei-.tage of debt to valuation is 1.0? coniim-d to the agricultural states, an 1 ilia' no s’ate has as y< l reached what maj t.-rm d the danger line: States and !• rritories. Percentage lhe United States 25.b1) Alabama -3.1a Ari:;-ma ArkansasV!'** Colinecticut 2-!.'>7 lu-laware. 22.5 S IMstriet of I'alumbia 33.0-1 Floridal2.7l GeorgiaW- <2 Id i ho « « Illinois»•■>•> Indianal3.77 lowa Kansas »"-2l l<e:i> ii-ky 10. >1 1...U- Maim2o.92 M -•!•.. d ”145 M • -a hu.- its tS.ItS | M-.m-sota 31.0! I Mls-hsij d 11-Jjl I 23.12 I Montana Nebraska •• . .30.til N -vada « ?•! N< iv HampshinelS.lS Nev. Jersey 39.27 N.w K-99 New York ..4-1.93 North Carolina ’12.3S North Dakota3o.ol (U’.io 16.41 < I'.-nnsy Ivanin “2‘i- Ithod ■■ Island .. Souiti Carolina 1"'?-! Smith Dakotall.2.! Texas 12. It! Utah ' 9-J2 Virgina 9- , < Washington* ‘ West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming, U,.on the assumption that all taxed rea estate < ;tn be in -umber. 1 for two-thir ii of os true value without increasing th rate of interest to cover additional tisk« it fellows that 25 per cent of the r< a estate mortgage debt limit has beet r aehed in the United States. New lOi k Kuo .s Distiict of Columbia. Massachu M»‘tts. Minnesota. Nebraska. New Jersey North Dakota. South Dakota. Vermont [Continued Fifth Column Third 1 age.J CLARENCE. BY BRET HARTE. Author of “The Luck of flooring Camp,’’ “Two Men of Sandy Bar.’’ PART II.—CHAPTER TH. f ailed to a general council of officers at divisional headquarters the next day, : Erant had little time for further specula- ( lion regarding his strange guest. But a > remark front the division commander that I i lie preferred to commit the general plan of I ; a > iov< inent then under discussion to the j memories rather than to written orders in i t!.-- ordinary routine, seemed to show that his chi- I still suspected the existence of a spy. He, therefore, told‘him of his late interview with Miss Faulkner, and her probable withdrawal in favor of a mulatto neighbor. The division commander re ceived the information with indifference. "They're much 100 clever to employ’ a hussy like that, who shows her hand at every turn—either as a spy or a messenger of spies an<l th>- mulattoes are too stupid, to say nothing of their probable fidelity to u.’. No, general, if we are watched it is by an eagle and not by a mocking bird. Miss Faulkner has nothing worse about her tiiau her tongue, and there isn't the nigger blood in the wliole south that wotild lisS a noose for h<*r, or for any of their mas ters or mistresses.” It was,/ th* rofore, parhaps. with some mitigation of his usual critical severity that he saw her walking 1* fore him alone in the lune as he rode home to quarters. She was apparently lost tn a half-impatient, half-moody reverie. which even the trot ting hoofls-ats of his own and his orderly's horse hud not distorts 1. From time to time she struck the myrtle hedge beside hei with the head of a large (lower which hung by its stalk from hi i listless hands, or held it to her face as if to inhale its perfume. Dismissing his orderly by a side path. he rode gently forward, but to his . surprise, without turning or seeming to be j aware of his presence, she quicken«*d her pie*-, ami even appeared to look from side to side for some avenue of escape, if only to end matt rs, he was obliged to rate quickly forward to her side, where he threw himself from Ids horse, flung the • reins on his arm and began to walk beside i her. She at first turned a slightly flushed I ill' -k away from him, and then looked up j with a purely simulated start of surprise. I I am afraid,” he said gently, "that I ■ am th<- first to break my own orders in 1 ■ r< g’ird to any ’intrusion on your privacy, 1 • but I wanted to ask you if J could give you ..» uid wh.iUviT thv you think j ■' tkirig’.” Il<- av.'im Minferi*, lut’l by Hvr UiUHileHt liiMturl •/ lie tin ' ■ intuition ot feminine "Meaning that '»u are in a hurry to get rid of me," she said curtly, without rais ing hrr eyer. “Meaning that I only wi«Tt to expe*lite a busintss ' think is unpleasant to y OU but I'la ' **.,;>. t:.-xyou have under taken th %A ->h devotion.” The’* 11 lß ’ . “A ,’ion of a reserved na ture is*' L 2 /A' i. »e attractive to i.omen | than tl rf y„ i/f 4. .ent vivacity. Possibly , there was ' . ■’?. melancholy grace in his sardonic soldier's manner that affected her, for She looked up and sa!<t impulsively: "You think so?” But h»* mot her eager eyes with some sur prise. “1 certain: do.” oo replied more coldiy. "1 can imagine your feelings on finding your uncle's home in the possession of your enemies, and your presence under the family roof only a sufferance. I can hardly believe it a pleasure t., you or a task you would have accepted for yourself alone.” “But.” she said, turning from him wick edly. "what if 1 di<l it ■ nly to excite my revenge; what if I knew it would give me I courage to inelt** my pr-:ple to eariy the j Wi'.r into your own homes, to nuke you of ' the north feel as 1 f> 1, ami tast • our bit- "1 could easily understand that, to .' he j t- pliei] with listless col-in ss, “although I - don't admii that tevenge is an unmixed pl< m ure wen t i i wo'.ia i .” "A woman," she rep-;:ted ntiignantly. "T'o re i< no x it’ a war I‘Ke th s." ; "> ou are spoilii:;: y >ur flower,’ he said quietly. "It is V'-ry pietty and a native * on*, too—hi invativr- u *r »**»u trans planted. May I l"’-k at it ! She In-iiat* .', half - eoili .g for an in* tant j ami h r hand tn mblol. Then smbh t ly ami i abrimtiy sho said with >t hysteric little I laugh: "Tak - it tben," and almost thrust it in liis nund. j It certainly was a pretty tlowe**. not unlik ; a lily in appearance, with a bell-lik** cup | ami long anthers > overed with a tine jsdleit lik ■ red dust. As in lift'd it to Ins face to j inhale its perfume she utter* >: a slight cry | rnd snat* lied it from his hand. "There!” she sail with the same nervous i laugh. "1 knew vou warn!*! I ought to have ' warned you. The poll**n comes off so easily, i ami leaves a stain. And y. u've got sum • I on .’our cin ek. Look!” she continued, taking ■ i> r handkerchief from her pocket ami wip ! ing his cbe*‘k, "see there! rhe delicate ; cambric showed :*. blood red streak. I "It grows in a swamp.” she continued in I the .-.anm cM'.t.*'l Strain, “we call it dragon's i te-th like the kind tha! was sown in the ’ st- ry. you know. W. children us d to tind it i.r.d th ‘ii paint our faces ami litis with it. \\e called it our rouge. I was almost tempt ed Io try it again when I found it just now. It to>k in* ba* k. so to the old times.’ Fot! *w ng her othl manner rather than her v ,rd-. as she turned her face toward him ' sudd illy. I’rtiiit was inclined to think that . *.’-,,* had tr**d it already, so scarlet was her cheek. Be.’, it pre-ently p-tded again under i his cold scrutiny. ' i *’Yoii must miss the old times,” In* said, 1 calmly. "1 nrn tifraiii you f und very little of then’ h it, except in these flowers." i i "At *1 hardly there.” sh * said bitterly, i “Your tro ps had found away through the I I marsh ami had trampled down the bushes.” > j Brant's brow clouded, lb* rem**mbered I ' that the brook which had run r <1 during 1 ■ the fight had lost itself in this marsh. It ' .lid not in* reuse his liking for this beauti ‘ Hl, but blindly vicious animal at bis si.ie, * anil even his m nnentary pity for her was : ! fa. liny fast. She was incorrigible. They 1 | uaii.id <>n for a few m m. i.is in silence. ' "You sai*i. ' she began at last in a gentler ' ! and even h stating voice, “that your wife - i was a southern woman.” ; -I believe I did." he said coldly, as he <* r ,.gretted it. ~ , _ 7 "And of course you taught Iter your g* s- I p .j the gospel according to St. Lincoln. <>. 1 i know.” she went ott hurriedly as if e.m- ‘ seious of his irritation and seeking to allay e it "She was a woman and loved you, ami i thought with your thoughts and saw only r. with your eyes. Yes-that's the way v ith us -I suppose we all do it," she added bit ’• 1 -She had her own opinions.” said Brant '• briet’.v as lie recovered himself. " Neverth less, his manner so dectdcdlj closed all further discussion that there was nothing left for the young girl but silence. But it. was hr ken by her in few moments in her old contemptuous voice and manner. "Fray don’t trouble yourself to aceompa- I ny me any further. General Brant. I'n- < 1 -ss. of course, you tire afraid 1 may come | across some of y nr—your soldiers. 1 prom- i is*' y 'll I won't eat them.” “1 am afraid you must suffer my com pany a little longer. Miss Faulkner, on ac- 1 count of those .am*- soldier.:." returned Brant, gravely. "You may not know that “-A /i ■ j . V.-'A Y - /' 1 I '.iWJa -<<”-S j "TAKE IT THEN.” I this road, in which I find you, takes you 1 through a cord >n of pickets. If you were ; alotu* you would lx* slopped, question*"!, * ami. failing to give the password, you would ■ bo detained, sent wu.n kwoix I MH lo* 'i'i.i *l. **>«.iir'*lic*l." I • y o „ W.,.11.1 .*.*. *m» e“3 “•"1f.'.J.',." . . i g'.v" w.'y i’o o’* ugru pador. "You said just now that there should be no sex in a war lik** this.” returned Brant, carelessly, but without abating his scrutin- j izing gaze. "Then it is war," sh * said quickly, w.th I n white, signiticant face. His look of scrutiny turned to one of | puzzle*! v.ond**r. But at the same mo- | ment there v.as the flasa of a bayonet in | the hedge, a voice cade*! "halt,” and a i soldier stepped into the road. General Brant advanced, met the salute of the picket with a few formal words, and then turn <1 toward his fair comptmion, as . another soldier and a sergeant joined the ; group. ! "Miss Faulkner is new to the camp, took the wrong turning, and was unwittingly | leaving the lines when i join’d her." Ho fixed his eyes intently on her now colorless , face, but she did not return his look. “You ■ will show her the shorte.-t way to quar- , ters," hi continued, to the sergeant, "and i should she at any time again lose her way ■ you will again conduct her home, but with- ; out detaining or reporting her.” He lifted h : s cap, ri mounted his horse, . and role away as the young girl, with a proud indiff rent step, moved down the road | with the sergeant. Ain minted . Ulcer p. -■ > oil him and salute*l—it vvas one of his own * staff. From some strange instinct he knew i that he had witnessed tin* seen *, ami from j some equally strange intuition he was an noyed by it. But ho continued his way, j visiting one or two outposts, and returned ■ by :i long iletour t > his quarters. As it • steppe*! upon tin* vertimit* he -aw Mi-s , Faulkner at the bottom of the garden talk- : ing with some one across the hedge. By 1 ‘ th** aid of his glas- s he could recognize | the shup* ,y ligure of the mulatto woman. ■ Till-: SINGULAR i.O'J KING INDIVIDUAL. which he had <-*• n before. But by its aid he had also discover* d that she was carrying a flower exactly lik? th • on • which Miss Faulkner still held in her hand. Had sh*? been witli Miss Faulkner in th.* l ine ami if so. why had she disapjieared when he cane up? Impelled by something strong er than m. re curiosity. Im walk- i quickly down the garden, but rhe evidently had noticed him. for she as quickly disappeared. Not earing to meet Miss I aulkn r again, he retraced his steps, resolving t nit i« would on th** first opportunity p»*.-on.nl> examine ami Intel rugate this m w For if she were to take Miss I aulk. er s place even in a subordinate c ipaeit;, this precaution was c.early wiihin fits He re-entered his room and seated hims* if at his *lesk b for.* the dispatches, orders and reports awaiting him. He found him- . s. If however working half mei naim -ill,. | ’ ll ’ 11 ... i.i-- •it** inti'i’view with m tmjan-. Iffhe had any | inclination to a* t t i* Communicating , , X h^m^H^^tho^t I h i ih: : d L 'he iUnl to "on the contrary, It seemed to be per- t PRICE FIVE CENTS sonal 11 himself. He recalled the singular significance of her questions. "Then it ia war?” He recalled her strange allusion to his wife!; was it merely the outcome of her own foolish confession on their first inter view, or was it a concealed ironical taunt? Hav.wg satisfied himself that she was not likely to imperil his public duty in any way. he was angry with himself for spec ulating further. But although he still felt toward her the same antagonism she had at first provoked, he was conscious that she was beginning to exercise a strangg fascination on him. Dismissing her at last with an effort, he finished his work ami then rose, and un- I locking a closet took out a small dispatch i box to which he intended to intrust a f* w more important orders ami memoranda. I As lie opened it with a key on his watch chain he was struck with a taint perfume i that . eemed to come from it a perfume that h- remembered. Was it th*- smell of th - flower that Miss Faulkner carried- -or the seent <»f the handkerchief with which she had wiped his cheek—or a mingling of , both! Or v.as he uader some diabolical spell of that wretched girl—and h* i witch like flower? He leaned on the box and sud denly started. Upon the outer covering of a dispatch was a singular blood-red streak? He examined it closely; it was the powdery stain of the lily pollen, exactly as he had s**cn it on her handkerchief. There could be no mistake. ll** passed his finger over the stain—he could still feel th** slippery, impalpable powder of the pollen. It vvas not there when he had closed the box that morning. It was im possible that it should l*e there unless the box had been opened in his absence. He re-examined the contents of the box. Th*? papers were all there. More than that— they were papers of no imp *rtance except to him personally; contained no plans nor key to any military secret. He had been far too wise to intrust any to the accidents of this alien house. Th** prying intruder, whoever if was. had gain.’ 1 nothing! But there was unmistakably the attempt! Amt the existence of a would-1 * purlieus • f the house eq-jaßy clear. He called an offii * r from the next room "Has any one been here since my ab sence ?” "No. general.” • "Has any one passed through the hall?” He had fuliy anticipate*! >ne answer. the subalt -rn replied: "Only the’ woman servants.” He r. -entered his room. Closing the door, h • again carefully examined tha box. his table, the papers upon it. the chair be fore it. ar.d even the Chiu* se m ittingon the t! >*>r, for any furth* r indication of the pollen. It hardly s-*emed p ssible that any one cout.J have entered the room with the flower .n his or h -r hand without *- *»t --<•»»>*-w Ixetro j H was too lain* r* tn t>« worti «>o «»r in t ti«* A.v:*kt». two owa t’ ...... <11..*, «1 t<» »»»<•■••• to U.K.- I. . ■ r a. I*, ae.-.r r-jotfi arm vants passing. The b< x had been removed and ih-* examination made elsewhere! An idea s ized him. Miss Faulkner was still absept the mulatto had apparently gone home. H** *pm kiy mounted the stair case, but, instead of entering his room, turn*'*! Mi*)'!* nly aside into :he wing which had lieen n . erved. The first door yiMded as he turned the knob gently, am! he enter ed a room which he at once recognize*! as th.-* “young lady's bon eir." But the dusty and draped furniture had been arranged and uncovered, and the apartment had eve ry sign of present use. Yet. although there v.as ’ very evidence of its being used by a person of taste and refinement, he vvas sur prised to sec that the garments hanging.in the open press were such as v re used by negro servants, and that a gaudy handker ; chief, such as housemaids used tor turbans was lying on the pretty silken coverlet. He i did not linger over these details but cast a ' tapid glance round the room. Then hi? eves became fixed on a fanciful writing 1 desk which stood by the window. For in a I handsome vase placed on its level top and drooping on a portfolio below hung a cluster i of the strange flowers Miss Faulkner had I carri' d. PART 11.—Chapter IV. It seemed plain to Brant that the dispatch i box hail be* n convey, 1 here and opened for ‘ security on this desk, and in the hurry of i examining the pap* rs th** flower and been | jostled, am! the fan* a grains of pollen over looked by tin- spy. There were one er two freckles of red on tl.e •• sk, which made tr.is ‘ accidini appear the more probable. But he I was equailj sirt ick bj al ' •■ ! ’ • i stam«*. Tl■■*• dc.-k .-toou iir.n.ediat* ly before 1 the window. As he glanced mechanically from it he was surprise.* to see that it eotn mand-d a.i exti-m iv-- vi w oi t le slope be low tin- i-iaiiit-ni • on which the house stood, even beyond the furthest line of pick-ts. The vase: of dowers—each of which was m arly as large as a magnolia blossom, and striking in color —occupied a central position befcre it..and no doubt could b quite dis tinctly seen from a distance. Os that he would satisfy himself hereafter. But. for the present, he could not resist the strong impr ssion that this fateful and extraordi nary blossom, carried by Miss Faulkner and Jhe mulatto, and s«- trikingly “in ev’der. -e at the window, was, in some way a signal. Obeying an impuls. . which he was conscious had a half siije rstltious foundation, he care fully lifted the vas- from its pasiiion before the'window and p’a-<-d it on a side table, ’iben h, cautic-usiv slipped from the room. But he could not as easily shake off the lapses of western slang. ••Weil. 1 ain’t purteiidin' to any stratute gieal sm irtness, and 1 didn’t gradooate at West Point as on of the Apocryphal en gineers’ I don’t de much talking about qiank’’ movements or •recognizances in force.’ or ‘Ehe'-lon skirmishing.’ but when it comes down to square Injin tight in’ I reckon I kin have my say. There are men who don’t know the ar:oy contractor, added darklv “who mol'be have heard of K< 1 Jim.’ I don’t mention names, gentlemen.

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Atlanta constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, December 24, 1894, Image 1