The constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1884-1885, September 15, 1885, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTHE CONSTITUTION. VOL. XVIII. ATLANTA. GA.. TUESDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER 15 1885. PRICE FIVE CENTS. THE CRACKER BOY’S LOVE. BY M. M. FOLSOM. Tho dividing Use between the fertile rirer lends ted the pine bsrrena wu not en imagi nary line. The narroir belt of rich hammock lands along the river was settled up by the big slave owners, whose broad acres were devoted to cotton raising; and .the sole aim of their livis sfcmcd to be; ''liaise more cotton to buy more xrgrots, to raise more cotton to buy more negroes," right on to the end ol the chapter. Beyond the small creek,to the eastward, lay tho long slopes and low ridges where the great yellow pines and the everlasting billowy tan gle ol wiregrsss stretched away on every Band. Ecaltered about among these datk woods wete the homes ol [ that hardy race of settlers who are known as the "Crackers." Tho big planters were not numerically at roc g enough to build up and sustain a school, and, as there were quite a number of those cmsll farmers who lived just across the creek, who—well, you know the homely adage, "A fool for luck, and a poor man for children”— and to the river folks agreed to locate the echcolhouse Just east of the creek. Several terms had been taught there, and eome ol us had got along as far as "Biker," and could read along In those funny llltlo reading books where the momentous question Is propounded, "Why does tho old man lead tho deg aa he goes down the lane?" I think it was in 'CO that I took up my hooks, one fine spring morning, and started to school. The first violets are always the sweetest, and I could no more keep from stopping to pluck them'than I could keep from slipping off the log at the creek - and be spattering my new indigo-dyed trousers. As I walked along I remember I was gaily sing ing .a homely play song that I had heard Hamilton Lackland singing. It run: "As I walked along one mom in May, Gatherins flowers bright and gsy— Gathering flowers reoand blue— Little thought I wbat love could do." That old drab colored log school house I How often have my thoughts dwelt on the happy days spent in around that old build- ^ffhea I neared the house I saw that the door was open, and tho yellow Ecnllgbt was streaming and stirring up the nicies and dust. As I entered tho door I dis covered that a new scholar had come in, and to nr.y Intense astonishment, the new scholar woe Hamilton Lackland. Hamp, as wo all . celled him, was a genuine specimen of the cracker genus. I had often teen him astride or Loth, to keep the pony in the midi As for Ilamp, he was shout station as guides, or oraces, in the middle track, en years of age, a gawky, tow-headed, long-legged, long- neckcd hoy with a longing oxpreaalon about Bis dull gray cyca. Tnis morning hit hair was combed back in a startling manner, and hi9 faca scrubbed until each Irccklo shone like l.«.trn cr-M. "Hcl: ■, ifr.mp," said I, ‘*arc you going to school this year?" "Yes." said he; "mammy laid she rockin I ncught go the iuat.qua’t * never had no cddicatlon.” bock, cloth, ward., ‘•Hiv I? Wa-tl, I cyant rickoliict how to hold it." "Do you know your litters?" "Wist letters?" ‘•Why, yourabe’s?” "Haw, I bain’t larnt ’em ylt, but 1 ’spec' to ^Yeliouid'bavo laugbtd outright at this bad I not heard a brisk etep outside, and then the trecher, Ur. Wise, entered the door. He wis a tall man with gray beard, a tuit ol gray whiakars, gray eyea, and dreeaad in a suit of gray Jeans. Oh. howhauaedto wakausup, and yet wa all loved him dearly. Othere came trooping in, and Mr. Wist was just beginning to try to classify us, whan Col onel Divers' portly form entered the door, and cloia behind cams the fklraat vision of maiden loveliness that tvtr blessed thasa eyes of mins. Nellie Divers wu just thirteen, the innocent wonder of the child, the sweet, dresmy curioeity ol the girl, with glimpses and glimmerings of the woman, wsra all united in tha liquid deptha ot those blue eyu "Whose luster mocks the light Ol starry southern ikies." How often have I tried to examine bar fea tures in detail, catching a profile view, 1 would gaze on tha shining brown tressee that curved in sweet, girlish fuhlon around her little pink ear, and then at tha wondroui come- and-go color of her downy cheek. The little, highbred note—but having a remarkably well developed noee myself, which Is always a nuisance when It comet In contact with the name future of the oppoelte aex, I am conse quently not good at describing noses—the ripe, red lipe, end the little dimple of aehln—but at tbit point she generally turned ber gas# upon me, and so eager was I to drink In tho light ot thou lovely ayes that 1 could donoth- ing but sit and stare at her in tha most stupid manner. • ••••••• On# morning I cam# dosre tha badge by tha creek, aad plucked a aprey of scentedblossoms ftom tbs old crab apple tree. When I arrived at tha ichoolbourt Hemp was there, aa usual, busy studying bis lesson. In a few moments Nellie arrived, aad teeing the blossom, she cried: "Ob, Jack; wbat pretty blossoms I” "Would you like them?" laid I. "Obi thank you, Jack; they are so aweet,” and the sensitive curve or iboes sweet lips wreathed themselves Into a smile that was worth more than forty acres oftbefeireet blossoms that ever bloomed. I chanced to glance at Hamp. Those eyes of hit wets lighted with a strange firs that wu a revelation to me, school boy that I wu. Ha caught my lock, aad dropped hia eyu on the page before bin and began conning the lcsMnbefore him. But he had learned n hurt lesson that was wonderfully different bom the heart luson ol our parlance. Daya, weeks, months rotted by. Juat u long as a Irub bloom remained on tha old tree, Nellie iouad ore on ber desk every morning. She thought I placed tham there, and 1 very wickedly en joyed the thought that aha believed thus, but it wu an undeserved honor. Hemp would work hud every moralng until school time and then eeme out of his way to gat a bunch of the dairy blossoms, and eon- coil them In her duk bafora anybody alia arrived. Tha cracker boy made such rapid strides that he and Nellie were rivals tor the bud of tha elate, but ba would miss, a word on purpose ra her than dis place her. see would aesiat him at tint, but alter aba learned who brought tbs apple blossoms she grew more shy, and ba more referred. Thus we moved on through the budding epring, the fruitful summer, and tbs deer, Creamy dajs of sweet September caught us UPlVirfts Did Nellie with a drink of water from tha old apring that bubbled up under a groan, mossy bank, Hamilton, u shaalwaya eattea bitn/wu ready to fetch ft. When the wild grapes grew highest, he would climb where u be told ebout how gaily the company marched on the dev they felt for Virginia. He rattled away In the high key which had be come babitual with him, and wu tailing me bow “tbe dinged ole 'getor bad cotch tha last one of dsddy’a,olered sow’s ahoata." Glancing up the road I uw tha familiar pony and cut that did service for old Mn. Lackland, but there wu anothar rider parched on tha iff bit boy is that?” I asked the oilier. "Ob, that'! ole Mia’ Lachlan's neffy." Then I caught the sound of tha shrill voice of theboyainglDf: "Mie , An’ wL c-.-i, Ben’ lor XcGlasban's sit An* then you'll |lt It done. rarar 1 ' I’m boon' to man my eweethaart. An' 'war to Vlnlnny go.” "When’s Hamp?” I uked tha boy, M he draw np at tbs door. "Ob, he’s done gone to tha aarvica," answered tbe Ifd. "Gone to the war!” I exclaimed. "Yea, ha’s bin gone three days." o o • • • Tbe nut conscript act would have included me, but the demon of wu wu (tutted with the blood ot the hraveet boys of Dixie, end the war came to a clou. Appomattox was fol lowed by a whirlwind or gnat areata that came trooping on tho heels of each other. Old Mrs. Lechiandelckaned aad died, white Hamp wu eating his hurt out withta tba Downing walla ot Fort Delaware. none of us dertd to venture, and in his aim- pla, unobtrusive manner place them in the bound of his hearts' Idol. Once I allowed my envious feelings to over come me, and tauntsd him with his preference for Nellie, while ehe wu present. An tngry flush mounted to his brow, and I uw the instinctive doubling of hie fists,but he itemed to take asccond thought, and walked away. "Jack,” said Kittle, "that was a mean speech ol youn,” and tbon aba scorned to re collect tho cause of the trouble, and tbe wum bleed mantled her cbeeki, and a bright teu glistened on the silken luhes of either eye. Some of the (matter boys reported to Mr. Wise that Hamp and I bad quarreled. Mr. Wiso drew us up u soon as we came in. "Hemilton, I am told that you and Jack quarreled today. Wbat is tho trouble?" I wu deeply mortified, and without waiting lor Hamp I blurted out, ' It’s not his leult, air; I began teasing him about liking Kellie, ana—" I could go no further, ea I hid my lace. I would have given worlds could I have recalled tbe whole matter. “Have you any delonae?" said the teacher, turning to Hamp. “None, sir,” replied tha boy. Tho teacher’s brow clouded. Ha did not like (be idea of Hamp praterring Nettie’s society. So ho sentenced Hemp to "stay in" at play time (or a whole weak. I wu told, with threats of a worse fate, that I should be degraded from my place la the cltu and made to stand la a corner all tha afternoon. Hamp wu a changed boy from that hour, no came nomoro near Nettie, and it wu sometime belore ha would asioclate with me. About the end of the trsek there fell a heavy rain oaa night, and next morning the littlo ereek wae a rush ing torrent. I started at my usual time to school. As I neared tha creek, I uw Nellie itap Into -Ihe read from a bypath a considerable distance ahead of me. I halloaed u usual, but ehe wu determined to beat me to the house,ao ehe quickened her pace, u ehe turned uide to reeeh tbe big log which answered for a foot bridge. Tbe next instant I wu frightened almost to death as I heard a scream and the plsih of a body letting in the water. I never ran so feat in my life, and jut u I reached tbe creek Hamp Lackland plungedj in from tho oppoelte bank, and after much trouble euc- crcccd in bringing Nellie to tbo bank. Tenderly be lilted her and laid her on a green bank by tbe roadside. A little etream of blood flowed from her fair temple wbieb had struck a piece of drlltwood. I started for help, and met Colonel Direre In hie curlege coming toward the scene. He had intended to overtake Nettie, and carry her lately across the creek: but by taking tbe bypath she bad reached the creek bi* ’ bad travelled half Ibe distance. Ieho him, and ha quickened the speed ol his horees, and we both reached the green bank at once. "Oh, my darling,” Hamp wae saying, "you ire gone, and I shall never see you any more I” and bo Imprinted a kiss on the fair brow. "Holdup, tbara, youngster I” cried Colonel Divere, “le that the way you are taught boo? You’re a pretty looking fellow to he ilajing liew**wkn • naW'uliBil -'a Mr unprotected condition." He forgot, or was not aware tbat Damp was her rescuer. A glance at the dripping garments of the Doy raured the angry flush to pale on hia chsok, but ba was too proud to acknowledge hia wrong, and Nellie wu soon whirling away to ward her home, and I turned to Hamp. He had disappeared. • ■ * • * * • When Nettie wu able to return to school (he autumn nine were over, and tha lut days of the fairest October that aver lingered on ctfth were thoiOe "Jtck," aald she, one day, "Will you do me a favor?” "Ol couree, Nettle,” I replied. “Well, here ie a little note, and a book, that I wish you to take to Hamilton Lackland, Father bee teen it, and I’ll show It to Mr. Wise at recess." That evening I eat ont toward.old Mre.Lsck- land’t hnmbla home on the mission ot my lady lore. Along tha narrow path I loitered, gaslig on tba great gum trees with their foli age aflame, and the tall cyprtie trees rising gaunt and grim, with their glorious arowu ol 8 olden leaves brought into bold relief against ba btckground of green pine boughs. Suddenly I wu etartled by a shot not far dlstut, and looking In that direction I die- covered Hamp with a fine gray equirtal la his band. 1 called to him, and wu toon at hia side, stroking tha warm fur of the pretty little animal. "Hemp," uld I, "Nellie told ms to bring you thus.” He thought I wu teulng, and looked at ms fiercely, bat u his eye esught tbs address, he snatched tha little note from my band and sat doses on a log to read it. Hav ing read It be raised it toward hie lips u If to kiss It,and than remembered tbat I wu present and biding it to ms he said, "Read It, Juk.” I read tbalittle, simple thing. Sba had be gun It "Dear Hamilton,” but Mr. Wise had crossed out tba word "dear” ae improper. “I tbuk you very much for saving me when I fell is the water. I send you thie little book uakeepuka. Sun Bivisi" That was all, but Hamp gazed on it u if his two eyes would have burned holes In tho paper. Reverently he placed them In hie boaom, and thanking me heartily ha turned away ud was soon lost in the deep woods, and I heard crick et his rifla no more that day. Tba school cloud ud I saw no more of Nellie, except an occasional muting, until spring coma again. But tha dark wu clouds that had hovered along our horison burst on ua that apring, and onr school wu of short duration. I was at tba mill ont day, listening to tha miller’s bey Nettie had watched by her bedside until aba called out for the lut time, "Oh I I want to see my poor little boy once more!” and kindly hande closed the poor widow's eyu. Colonel Rivera came horns from the dupe rate battlea uound Atluta with only one short stump of right lag. His property wu all gone, and he a soured and diuppolntad man. ' Oh! the heartacblngs, tha heart breaking of that time. Tho war dogs had been wel. trained for their bloody work. Thoy now pounced upon the emaciated and bluding form ol proud Dixie, and futened their faage In ber wounded body. • » e « e Nellie bad secured a small school at the old bouse, and wu working away with never a sign ol regret for the put which had coat bar so mueb. Sbo had been wooed by many, but treated tbem all so kindly that they look her refusal as an act of kinonesi. Spring, sum mer, autumn and winter came and: went again. Stitt no tiding! of Hamp Lackland, except that ha had risen to tho rank of lieutenant when he was captured. Tfmia were becom ing more quiet, and men were beginning to prosper in buelneu. New impulses, new Ideas and a great many other new thinga. The cracker element had peued away, the small farmers returned from the war with a fund of knowledge and experience that stood them In good steed now. * • • • • I wu sitting on the broed piazza in front ot my mother'* home, the only home I had ever known. It wu juet the beginning ol autumn, and tha breeze came crisp and cool from the swamp-lands to tha westward. I had sot seen Nellie for a month, and wu lust making up my miud lor tha hundredth tlms to pay her^ a visit, and learn my fate. I knew ehe had not forgotten her erniker lover, but I fondly hoped tbat some time I might occupy the vacant place in hor heart, A buggy stopped at the big gate, and I beaten- td down the broad landed walk to ace who it was. It wu Nellie Divers, looking just u sho used to look in the days that wsra put. Tho same come and go color flitted about hor chceka, and the same old light wu In her eyes. I could have fallen down and worship ped her, bnt tba presence of a tall, brown bearded, stranger forbade any such ldoltrous proceeding. “Good evening," uld I. "Howdy, Juk, do you remem ’’ but I flushed ill over me In an instant. Hamp had come heme at last. I grasped hie outstretched hand and Kellie flew past ut Into the bouse to toll mother. And sitting there in the gloaming he told me hie story. Behind that Idol ol tbe eoutb, Stonewall Jackson, be bad marched up and down tho rugged slopes of the moun tsine of Virginia. Barefooted ba had left bit bloody footprint! ou the frozen soil of the Shenandoah valley, and was at length captured and carried to Fort Delaware. He learned Dorn a follow prisoner, as old neigh- Lor, tbat hie mother wu dud. no oontrivad to escape from prison, rejoined tho army, wu recaptured and sent to Camp Chau, Illnols. At the does of the wu ha had wandered out wist, and bad made enough money W start on. so ba come back to tha old home, vleltod the old schcol house, where he found Nellie. Just then she came out with my mother, and the balanco ol the lover's tale remained untold. Ah, me I When they drove away that oven Ing, list and gued out on tha star gommod sky and thought, and thought, I could but contrast the llL favored cracker, with the bandBomc^httsMgcnt man who had grae^gd “dm? “it wee better that he, who had won her lovo by tho aitnple devotion of hia heart, when he wu poor and unknown, than I, who had savtr done anything to mailt evan her iriendahip, but I know then that I could never lovo anything u wall u I loved Nellie Divers. llLXCHEIt ON TEMPERANCE. Moral Means the Only Onu Effective to Supplant Appetites, From the Christian Union. Ton Mother: Yon have asked tho Christian Union not to publish your letter; yet, It mlaht have come from any other mother, It is tba echo ol mjstid mothers' hearts. On almost every street corner, in every vlllete street, the net Is let for the unwary. What mother can be aura that her nee flint will never be caught In HI How many boys have looked out ol laughing eyes into loving eyes olfivc, and ont ol ayes rod with dtlnk Into eyes red with weeping at twenty-fire? Wbat mother can bo enro ol ber own boy? No wonder herasalnusril! ^mumohlbltifljl useful tutl: both mzyneipyou ■ - - 'y, but ne lion and tbe pledge may be meaua Doth T ill to that uflOTMHpi which ii the only and final remedy, that remedy. Prohibition elms to tatlon to C'.C»C|^B — to that PH neither 1« remove tempe MpVProhibition [omthe tempted, to shut up the grog shop, tbo club, to banish wine horn the table ■■MWl u from the. counter; even to exclude It from the Lord’s table u well u from the counter. There shall bano more temptations, then there will be no more sin. Now, to exclude temptation irom a weak nature while thenatura Is growing stronger la olten an excellent thing to do. You may keep your boy In a cold water home, you may kesp him In an Ins- trials ssylumyou msysenu him on a six mouths its vo) ago, you may migrate with Mm to Malno gHrojdtutoui tlona, and no monastery cell was everao bnut ae to keep temp’atloa permanently out. Tbs pledge, on ths other hind, fs tho promise ol tba ttmotod cot to yield to temptation. To etcun from fallen men a promise ol reform Is the drat step to- wud reform, bnt this Is all; It Is not reform. To secure Irom a yet unlallen man a promise tost ho will not fall, Is a first step toward security, but It li only s Drat step; It Is not security. You do wall ■o| train jour boy not to me alcoholic liquors In snyshspe. They are generally needless and al ways dangerous to the young. Dirt that training SgmMmsafeguard. Thousands upon thoumnds ol Sight 01 (fema ha lane la not a rah guard. Thousands upon thousands young men nave been trained at homo never touch or testa or sea wine, who havo gone out to fall vlctlma to debauchery the first year of their hoDtlCM life. What is lntcmperarce? It Is the triumph of the animal over tbe Intellectual and moral; tho appetite la mister, tha ooul Is enslaved. Too drunkard Is in tha condition of franco during tha Rrlgn of Terror. The mob has tbo maatery ol the city. Tbe man la forced bottom aide up; the bot* tom la at tho ton, and the top fa as lbs bottom. IThc only remedy la to turn him right lido up stain; to give Intelligence and virtue the control of tba dty; to mako the spirit muter and itbe animal tha elavo; to dethrone ap petite; to enthrone conscience and l.taion again. A pledge may hilp yon to do that, •o may prohibition; but ad that pudge nor’pro- iblbltlon can take the place ot tbat moral resolu tion, and neither of them ctnaeeompUiA II Any Imsn who Is Uablt to bo swspt away by Us strength ot his own boutlal passions needs u bo born sgsln; ud no mu la safe before. Some mn ol weak appetites are never In danger; but (or tho imsn whole In danger then to no aalcguard, ex cept In a now power that makes Mm master over Mn ult. ■Every man of viforous animal trunliu cantos forms ths u*er and subdues It and brings It un der Its msitrr*a control. This me Christ’s remedy for Intemperance; to wss Paul's; It la tbo Bible's. No other affords a lahiuaid; all others an merely trlbatory totbl. Intemperance totals: from It mu can only bo tedesmedoaUeysre from uy other sin, neither I y legislation on Ue on* band nor by good reso lutions on tho other, hot by Uo rrgcnonuoc power of God's spirit working on tee as. Tbto to Ue only safeguard, moth ere lor your toys. Train them to hailt, not only of temperance, botol total abstinence; bnt do not Imagine Ibey are “salt” except as by ti ssnst ti Um flesh; job cannot fears a aalefuard me fiaitg except m by Cod’* grace tie Lain re of tbe tree to changed. The life of God in the tout *• thM «-• *—*— ——‘ frolt* of «ii •afttnaidn Two Lovers Elope and What Comes of It. A Honeymoon Obscured by Blood. A Terrible Fight Over a Pretty Bride. Romance of Real Love that Surpasses Fiction/ hllea Ida Maxwell, a pretty brunette of six teen summon, sloped with John Shalton, a E oinl-r, Wednesday afternoon, and soon after ie couple reached tha (room’s homo the father and brother of tho bride catted and engaged In a difficulty with the S room which will result in tha eath ol the brother ud the probable Impris onment of the father. The bride ie the daughter of Jarvis H. Max well, who lives at No. 1 Elliott street. For some tlma put she and Shelton hero been uoaosn to aa araaaigD, but tbe lather wu violently opposed to tho union, and weeks ago Armed bis daughter that the could nover ^Bv Ehdton as long u he could prevent it.■■even forbade her seeing him again or holding uother conver sation with him, but ths daughter, unmindful of ber father’s orders, continued to ohariih the highest feelings of love for Ehelton, and made it convenient to ■eo him, both away from homo, and at home when her father wu abaont at bis daily work. Tbe young lady's brother, Madison D. Max- watt, knew that his lather objected to Sholton •taion-ln-law, end with equal warmth ha wu oppoied to him for a brother-in law. On last Sunday Sholton called to ' JXB TUI VOUlfO LADY, and wto m(t at tho front door by young Maxwell who ordered him to leave the place and nover return again. Shelton, of course, loft, Lut when ths roung lady, who wu ex- ^ 1^10, beard of what had transpired at r she became very Indignant and quar relled considerably with hor brother. During ibe - quarrel abe Informed him that aha loved Shelton bettor thu sho loved hor ontirs family, and tbat ehe intended to marry him ii •bodied for It. Somo Urns Monday*,. man- eked to eommunicete with Shelton, and it is , tbouebi that they then cams to an under- Handing aq to an elopement. On Tuesday the brother ucertalned tbat hia siller was .seri ously POXIIDXatNO Ag gLOPIUIXT with Shelton. Ue approachod ber during ’ho doy and questioned her, but tho young »ily declined to givo him any satisfaction, drift irritated young Maxwell considerably, in in hit anger ho told hisslatortbat bo would .kill ber and Shelton both if noccssury, to pro- Vent (Leir marriage. Tho young lady, It ap- ’ new her brother bettor than any oue (boat. She trembled like a loaf in a strong breeze, and clung closely to tho young man. Tha young lady bora up remarkably well during tho ceremonies, and aniwerod tho ques tions propounded by ths minister in a CLiaa, distinct ago iuoibli voice. But tbe inetant Dr. Norcrou pronounced them man and wife oho gave way, and throwing bar arms about a lsdy’a no:k, who was pres- ent, cried copiously. A large number of ladles called and tho bride and groom bbld qnn an igroauan aioarrioN. Congratulations poured In upon them and their first hour of married Ills wae moat hap- ry. But it wao cut ahort by tho horrlblo tragedy tbit enoued. Boon after tho young lady loft homo, hor brother, Mott Maxwell, ucertalned that she was away. Instantly ha surmised that aha bad gono to marry Sholton. This arourod tho brother’s anger to Its highest pitch, and he started out to find his sister. Ho drove about the city for tome tlms without ascertaining anything. Ha tbon wont to Shelton’s homo and knocked, hire. Kennon, who wu present, aniwerod tho summons. "Is Mr. Shelton In?” uked Maxwoil. "No, air,” answered tho lady. “When will ha bo back?" "I don’t know, oir?” "Did he appear excited when be lsltt” uked Maxwell, determined to ucertam all be could. "I don’t know. Why?” was tha lady’e InquIs'tlTS reply. "Did bo drew up before ho wont nwny?” THE FATliei AND BOX TOOETHSX. Alter leaving Mrs. Shelton’s homo Maxwell went to bis plus on rotors street. Ho found bio father there and related to him what bed occurred. Tho Isthor and eon started out to. find ths young lady, and finally ucertalned that oho bad marrfed Sholton. This wu near fi o’clock and tha two men started at once for Shelton's home. When they reached ths yard thoy opened the gats and walked up to the verandah. .Aa thoy otqp. _ somethin^' <Sf tho kind and quickly stopped Into the hallway, closely fol lowed by his bride. At they stepped Into tho ball Maxwell ud hie eon entered tbs front door and before any one preunt could realist wbat bad ooeurred, Sholton and old man Maxwell wars engaged In t terriblo fight. Ths bride tried In ruin betwoen hor'buiband and her father but wu thrown headlong across tha hallkray by tha rotting, surging fighters. The difficulty created a stampsdo among the ladle* present, and screaming loudly THEY BUSKED OCT OF TUB KOCBB. Ths son took his stand In tho dootway and watched his father and his sister’* husband fight until, still fighting thoy entered tha £ trier. Tbe screaming of tha ladies wu card come distance and In an inored- ably short spaco of lime a crowd ol men, women and children began congregating about the gate Some one started In, but in an Instant young Max- wi 11 faced tbo crowd and drawing two pistols, yelled. • «v "Blend back, -Ybie Is our fight and I'll kill tbe man who approaches.” Tho tight of tho two pistols in tho buds of a mad, determtnod men-caused tho crowd to obey. Tho brldo, seeing tlio crowd outside, pcarr. knew her brother better than any oue auc ’ “.ffffWn~n^*nd than l’csturiiay afternoon about two o’clock, Mljxwcll left bis placo of businoss on f’otors street ard went to his homo, anil Logan talk ing to Lis sister about Sholton. Ho again told her that ho would kill Sholton In order 10 prevent tho wodding. In the meantime, however, Maxwell ucertalned that his eistcr bid ascum uia rtaroL. He demanded it, laying that he would go cut and kill Shelton on sight, but tha young lady declined to surrender tbo pistol. "If you don'tglvoit to mo, Ida,” uid Max- well, losing bit temper, "I’ll cut your throat." 1 Soma one who wu present Induced tba young lady to glv* ber brother tba pistol. Ua then threatened lo LOOXXtatfFIXA toou tr toprevent her from Informing Shot- ton that he intended to kill him, but tha young lady escaped from tbs bouse and started out to find Shelton. Her Marsh wu sot a fruition one, and when aha told Shelton all tbat bad transpired, thoy agreed to marry atones. Shelton, however, want to a ator* 11 ret, and approaching tbe proprietor, uld: "Hava you any guni?" "Wbatkind?" ukod tbe storekeeper. "Pocketguns. Amen hu threatened to kill mo and I want to be heeled when tha Urn* comes." Tbe marebant paid but liitla attention to tha latter portion ol Bbalton’a remark, and laid sevaral pistols before him. Shelton examined tha ptotoia and (electing one paid three dollar* and fifty cents for It. Tba pistol wu an old, rusty, worthiest weapon, and after Shelton had pur- chased It tbo merchant dropped a tablupoon- ful of machine oil into It, oo that ths hammer would work and tha chambers revolve. Tbs S iifol icemed to nit Shelton's fancy, and ropplng It INTO III KIF FOCIXT HB WALKBD OCT. Soon altar, Shelton and Mlu Maxwell catted upon Ordinary Calhoun and uked for a marriage license. The frail, email girlish looking laoy, aroused Judge Oalhoun’a suspi cions, and be questioned them olouly. Thoy both admitted tbat they were running away, but tho young lady avtrad moat positively that tbo wu tlghtcan year* ol age. Baring secured tbe lieenss, Shel ton and tba young lady entered ■ buggy and drove to Bor. Dr. Norerou' resi dence, ot West End. They stopped ths buggy before tho yard gate and, iprlnglng out, ran into tba bout. Aa they pissed through tha yud they cast furtive olances nr Tun loan, over which they had driven ao awilUy, u though they were dreading punuit. Dr. Noreross taw the couple as thoy came bur- ricdly up the walk and met tham at tba frost door. Shaltou lost no tlma In tatting tba minister that b* wanted to get married. "JfARKY US, Q’JtCK! QUICK!” "Aad w* are in a hurry, doctor. If you IctM,” laid Shelton, hi* vole* trembling and is frame ahirerinr. "Don’t leu any Umt. Hurry, pleats. Do it quick. Do it quick.’’ genusmen well presented bis two guns and told thorn to signs of life and In a abort time wu np. Us had beon badly battered. His faca wu terribly disfigured and bis hetd cut in three or four places, hut no strious dantigs wss dons him. AND MAXWELL FELL WITHOUT A GROAN! Old men Mtxwell wss conducted to the oity prison and locked up. Hie son, unconscious, wu FLAOen OX A WAOOX and hauled to the prison, whore Drs. Lestor and Van Goidtonovon attondod him. When the blood wu wuliod from his bead, it was found tbat bis skull wu fractured in two plscca, and lour other wounds wore found. Tbe pbyiiclana quickly pronouuced hia condition bopelus. Tba hammer had knocked the skull :n.on top of the head, and bad crushed It in near tho right temple. The pbyiiclana uy tbat death la inevitable within, the next twenty-four hours. After tbe wounds were dressed Maxwell's wile and •liter came to see him. Late lut night he wae removed to his home to die. Tho young lsdy, whoso marrisgo caused the hu bieck ayes, block heir. She is r quttoamaU and quite! trouble, ,, sok hair. Intelligent. Lut night sho said: '“I am so sorry (this all bsppcnod, bull . lilies all bappem . love John. Ha is good and noble, and papa and brother bad ho right to objoct. Ob, I do hops brother Is not hurt.” Sbo ia devoted to her buaband. "Tbochild is only eixtson,and I hade right to object. Shelton drinks, and I don't want bim for a son-in-law. I did not go there lor a trouble, but to get my daughter and taka her homo. No one regreti this more thou 1. I never want there armed. Kelthef did my •on. My son did not bold tbe crowd at bay while I whipped Shelton. I whipped him with my fist. I novor touched him with any thing cite. Why, when I went into the house Shelton put tu pistol in my fnco and snappod it four or five timci, but it wouldn't go off,'!. MirUiin is jimt twcuty-lw". lio is a lino pointer end able to takecareof a wifa. lie sup- r arts en aged mother end siller. Ilo soya: "I lovo that girl. She loves ino and I was right In marrying her. Tho old man sad his son threatened my life. I am ready to answer any ehergo they can brlog against me. When the old man came in ho had a pistol In "STOP! OB I'll SHOOT!” •top. Again tba crowd fell bsck. Tha bride continued to call loudly for help. She wu standing Inside, shrieking at the fop of ber voice, bnt no one dued enter the gate. Fin ally tba brother turned upon the elator, and placing a pistol clou to hsr face, yelled loud enough for tha crowd lo haari "Stop yonry«ttlBg,or I'll kill yonl” The young lady, however, continued to beg the crowd to come to her husband’* help. Mr. J. D. Dodd and Mr. A. round, followed by several gentlemen, started in but in an In stant MAX WILL COVIltD BACH 0X1 with x pistol and yelled ■ "Stop, or I'll •hoot.” The crowd could plainly haar the racket on tbo Inside ol the houM, but they were powerleu to enter. Some on* eluted for police headquarters for help, but finding a telephone near by calls! an officer In tbat way. Tba bride’s erica again aroused tbe brother and again b« presented the pistol. This frightened ber end she sprang Irom tbe verandah, a distance of five lest, and ran around tha house. About this time old man Maxwell conquered Sholton, end coming cut, followed ble daughter around tbe house. Young Maxwell, seeing hie father leave tha room, thought as had naiiXBD annvox, and u the father disappeared around tbe bones after bis daughter the ion wu heard to “"You have finished him. Now w* will treat her the same way." U# then descended from tha porch. J ut at this moment a man unknown to tho crowd sprang over the fonca and calling to tha crowd to follow, started towuda the house. Maxwell s'ciBg tba man advancing stopped and began le raise a pistol, but bafora he could bring it up tbe man struck him on the hetd with a hammer. Tba lick wu followed In asceesd by eeothcr, and then Maxwell tank to tba ground with a groan. Tha crowd imbed in and succeeded In over >le lima Officers Green, West, Clark and Joynar.wbo were dispatched from poliea headquarters in answer to she telephone call, appeared and took old man Maxwell in charge. The young men WAS LTIXO OX TXX OSOCXD In an iumsibla condition. Dr. Lester wu qnickly called in tad at one* ascertained that young UaxwtU wu In a dying eonditfoa. While part of tha crowd remain ed about the Maxwell*, other* rub- ed into the houe to aieertaln tba damage don*. Bhaitoa wu (bund lying on tha floor (enwlea. Uia clothing wu alraoit torn away. Hi* body wu bathed in blood, and bit srlfo, who bad escaped ber lather, wu ‘ lj leg across bit prostrate body begging bim to speak to ber. At first it wu thought tbat ha bad beta kitted, but in a mlnuta he showed nd feupd three I _ At half-past thrro this mnrniag MaXa was barely alive. Ur.'Howoll and Dr. Loster wire with him. Dr. Ilowell lias discovered rix wounds on Maxwell's brad sml soys osoh wound is accompanied with a fracture of the skull. His death la looked for every m'mile. At 2 o’clock tho father wss taken from prison by an officer and escorted home to ice his son die. Dr. Ilowel! soys Maxwell cannot possi bly live till B o'clock. Ths most careful Investigation by the officers fella to materialize tho nun who itruck Max well. No one appears to know him. On Thursday morning, soon after break fast time Mrs. Bhrll>>n sent a messenger to her father’s home to ascertain tbo condition of her brolber. Tho messenger was mot at the door by Mr. Maxwell, Sr., wbo quickly ascer tained that the messenger wae lent by hi* daughter. Tho old gentleman wu pleased to learn tbat hia dsughtor had not loaOOTTZN HER FATHER and hia home, and told tho messenger lo in form her that her brother was much belter. Too messenger then etarled away, but before ho had gono Isr tho old gentleman called him back and sent a kindly message to his child. This messago was productive of good, for within the hour Shelton and bis bride ap peared at the Maxwell home. They were met on tbe threshold by the old gentleman. For an instant tbo daughter and lather looked at each other, and then as ifiUroctodby tho same power TKI rATiizn oruin lira anus, and the daughter sprang forward. In a sec ond the daughter’s head was buried in her father’s breut and tha father's arms word wound around bis child. Tho tableau was ■ touching on*. Finally tba dsughtor disen gaged herself Irom ber latber'a embrace and stepped beck locked at her husband who, dur ing the tlma, bad remained molionlois. Tba lather and husband appeared to interpret tbe look and at the urns instant both extend ed a right hand and bogsu to advance. Nei- thf r spoke but the grip wu more powerful then words. It showed tbat tha past bad not only been forgiven but forgotten. The father then took SIR DAUGHTER BY OVR BARD and ber buibtnd by tho other and ltd thooi Into tbe room where bit wounded ion Uy. Young Mtxwell wu awako when hie lister entered tbe room. Ho turned bli eyes to- ward tbe door ai they came in, and when ha recognized hia litter a faint unite radiated his nee. Tho enter ran to her brother^ bed- lidaand dropping upon her knoei, grasped oneof hia hand* In here. For a second tho room wu eilentg and then the father apoke, hero la John." The wounded man turned hb ejea toward tho tnan who had won hia lister's heart, and attempted to extend hia band, but the ettort wae too great. Bhelton, however, advanced to tbe bed and inoke and the reconciliation wu made complete. Yeeterdayold man Maxwell ealdthathewu never happier in his life than when hb daugh ter came back to him. He laid: lf The entire affair b to be regretted, but then bow could 1 avoid it. I had no idea that my daughter had married Bholton when I went to hia he me. I only thought that aha bad left my houee and it wai my duty to ttke rge of her. III bad known that abe had married Bhelton, then I ahould not have goua there." Maxwell wu allll alive this morning at tbrea o'clock, but hb condition was extremely critical. Uia death b liable to occur at anv time. Karly Hunday morning be awoke apparently much better than he hu bean at any time since receiving hie injuriea. During the morning hours be continued to improve and convened with hie wife and faU.tr Muite pleasantly. Ab< ut u<x.d. U>w- c\*-r, he began to grow reat’cei, and t% tha bcura went by he continued to grow worse. At 9 o’clock he wu uncon*clou*j and opiates taiif'l to have any cilect upon him. Hia right hand gave bim a great deal of pain during tba day. It appears that Maxwell waa itruck on the hand during the fight. The hand is ter ribly swollen and wu quite painful ywtar* d*y.

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1884-1885, September 15, 1885, Image 1