The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, January 25, 1894, Image 4
?or .family Story.
An Episode of the War.
BY MATT CR1M.
lA>viisiuuu did not Buffer seriously
from invasions ot the enemy during
the war; hut not one of the Southern
States suffered more, perhaps, in the
loss of men. They went awuy in coinpauios,
they eamo i?ack in two's and
throe's to toll of fierce battles beyond
the Mississippi, and to bring last messages
from falleu comrades.
Widows, many of them youug and
fair, were left desolate. Some of them
married again very quickly, Hit
others refused to be comforted. The
widow of Jeff Airlie proved more constant
than some of her friends. She
lived near the village of Marion, in
Union Parish, with an old aunt of her
husbund. The Atrlies were Georgians,
but Dorkls belonged to the soil,
descending from an old French Creole
family.
Jeff* fell In battle a year and a half
before the surrender?a friend saw
him go down?and Dorkls retired from
the world, refusltig to be comforted.
She had lored her husband passionately,
and gave herself up to her grief
with all the abandon of the Southern
temperament.
The markets were all closed; but
she managed to buy enough black
gowns, by paying a fabulous price for
them, to keep herself in mourning
until after the surrender when cloth
became moro plentiful than money.
She had been something of a coquette
before her marriage ; but her husband's
death seemed to put an end to
her interest in all men. But in the
winter before the surronder, Justin
Dellaney came up from New Orleans.
He had been one of her lovers, but
also Jeff's most devoted friend in those
careless, untroubled days of her young
girlhood. It had been a fair race for
nor favor between them, and when
Jeff won his friend remained still
loyal to him. True, Justin went away
to the city and would not bo present
ut the \vcilding : but ho sent Dork is a
ruby bracelet, and JofT a letter of congratulation
: and in return, received
the heartiest invitations from them to
nay them a visit when he could. He
had never availed himself of that invitation,
and the silenco of years fgll
between thorn.
Dot'kis was glad with melancholy
gladness to seo his fnco again. She
had forgotten that he over loved her,
and welcomed him as JelT's friend.
But he had not forgotton his love, and
trembed a little when sho appeared
before him in widow's weeds, her eyes
swimming in learn. fSho had never
seemed more tender, more bewitching
to him than at that moment. lie
kissed her hand and stammered such
words of consolation hh occurred to
him. lie hail been deeply and sinoerely
shocked to hear of his friend's death
so it was with no pretense of sympathy
tliat ho listened when she confided
all the harrowing details of her grief
to him.
He pitied her tenderly, most unselfishly.
She was not tho sort of a
woman to bear her trials heroically
and alone ; she needed some one
stronger than herself to lean on. In
her joyous girlhood tho weaknesses of
hor nature had not shown forth us the/
did when put to the test by the loss of
her beloved ; but they seemed adorable
weaknesses to Justin. lie fell more
and more keeply in love with her. but
for a long time he would not acknowledge
oven to himself that her freedom
gave him any hope. Loyalty to his
friend hold all such thoughts in subjection
while he listened patiently to
her extolling of JetT's virtues. Every
day she hud something new to tell him
of her hero's perfections, and what a
loss the army had sufTered in his
death ; in fact, tin; whole Confodeiaey
must have felt it. lie sometimes
,.o?.wU...wi : r 1
ovwi qu) nuuuui i;u it r>uu i uau^y in*iivvuu
all that alio said--if love ho blinded
her ; and felt sharp pangs of envy?yen.
envy of one who bad fought and died
bravely on the battlefield, if ho was not
the great hero thin one woman asserted
he was.
At such times lie felt bitter self-eontempt,
and longed to go away from
her: but love robbed him of the will to
do so. Once he did hint that he
thought it would be best for him to return
to New Orleans; but she impulsively
said :
"Oh, I am sorry. Don't go just
yet."
His heart beat high, his face flushed.
" Do you wish mo to stay, Dorkis?"
"Yes, I do; but don't let my selfish
wishes interfere with your plans."
" i have no fixed plans; but if I
had '?
" You were Jeff's best friend. To
talk with you about him seems to
bring me closer to him."
He bit his lip and stared silently at
the ground. Why could she not see her
cruelty, ho wondered bitterly. It. was
just like a woman to be so absorbed in
her own feelings that she could not
comprehend others might he suffering
too.
The idea that ho still loved her certainly
did not enter Dorkis Airlio's
head at thut time. She went on
torturing him with her confidences
and her plaints, and he continued to
sympathize and to fight with himself.
It was Miss Samantha Airlic, Jeff's
aunt, who penetrated his secret. She
was an old maid with the hard features
and the shrewdness of her Scotch
ancestors; but a warm, kind heart
beat in her withered breast, and she
pitied Dollauey. She thought on the
situation a good deul over her knitting,
and one day Hhe took hor crutch
? for uge and rheumatism had made
her a cripple?and walked down to the
gate to tnoet Dellaney, when he rode
out from the village.
"Is Dorkis at home, Miss Sainantha
V" he inquired, as a small black
grooru led his horse away.
" Yes, she is at home : hut 1 want to
say a few words to you, Justin, before
you see her."
"Certainlyand thon his dark,
thin face flushed, und ho raised his hat,
smiling and bowing to Dorkis, who
leaned from an upper window of the
house, her hair falling in loose curls
about her face, the winter sunshine
lighting it to a mass of burnished
gold. A white merino sacquo had replaced
the sombre gown she always
wore, and it gave the delicacy of her
beauty a certain childlike freshness
enchanting to the eyes of her lover.
Miss Samaotba followed ids kindling,
eager gaze, autl hor own eyes lighted
with a kindly glow.
"bhe looks Happier to-day than she
has for nearly two years. You are |
still iu love with Dorkis? '
" Yes, I am," he said, with a sigh.
" 1 wish you'd marry her, Justin."
Ho wheeled quickly and stared half
amazed at hor.
"Yes. I moan it," she said in reply
to that look. " You loved bor, I think,
before Jeff ever did."
"I've loved her ail her life," he exc.aimed,
huskily.
"Then do your best now to win her.
She is a delicate creature, body und
*>ul, aoU was never created to topd u
in' i 111??p<?
iolltnry life. She's loving-arid lovnVe.
1 cannot livo niu-.y years longvi .it
:?.u*t it Is uot reasonable to si.ppotc
that I shall outlive hot*, and I won't
liko to think of leaving her alone.
There's another reason, too, why 1
want hor to have protection. This
war wi I soon 1h? over, aiui it is gum
to leave us without anything but on
land ; and one cannot do much with i'
if there are no negroes to work foi
us. True I have invested in a good
deal of cotton, but it may bo a poot
speculation. You don't love Dor kit
for hor money, and you can shio'd liei
from poverty as well as lonoliness."
' Miss Samantha, you are an angel,1
cried Dellaney, and seized und kissei
her withered liuud. She smiled.
" I can trust hor with you. Justin :
und 'I'll do all i4 uu to help on your
suit. 1 loved .Jed as I would Have
loved a son ; but I cannot be selfish
enough to wuut Dorkis to remain u
widow for hissuku. Sue may not love
you as she loved him, but she'll always
bo tender and sweet and faithful. Sue
has grown morbid in her grief, und we
must try to draw her more into the
world."
Dellaney was intoxicated with the
sudden hope inspired within him. To
have Miss Summithu s sanction meant
everything. If she did not deem it
disloyal to Jen s memory xor nun 10
murry Dorkis, why should ho uny
longer hesitate V
Unconscious of the plans for her,
Dorkis came down to greet Dellaney,
innocently pleased to see nliu. She
hud donned the plain blaek gown
again : but her lover held that charming
window picture in his memory.
He was careful not to throw olT the
guise of friendship too quickly ; but as
often as he could he led her thoughts
and conversation away from Jeff. Ho
had never been a fluent talker: but he
found so many subjects to discourse on
that he puzzled and amazed Dorkis.
| Sometimes after one of his calls she
realized that Jell's name had not been
mentioned between them, and reproached
herself for it. But that was
only the beginning of still greater
changes. Before she knew it she was
irawn buck somewhat into the sociai
life of Marion.
Too earners were broken down.
She could no longer seclude herself
iike a nun, nor refuse to see that
beauty and joy were still in the world,
t hough she had been so long a stranger
to them. She rebelled against the
possibility < f being consoled, and invited
every sad and morbid thought
that she could to bear her company :
but they refused to come as readily as
they oneo hiul, put to flight by tlio ,
quickening of healthier claims within
her. She felt that Miss Sarnantha
ami Dellanoy were leagued against
her in eonunon purpose to make her J
forget .Jell', and grew secretly resentful.
Hut she could not cast olT the influence
drawn closer and closer around
her. Miss Sarnantha talked a great
deal about Dellanoy ami his noble
qualities. He was tender ami fait ilia!,
too faithful for his own good : for
if lie loved a woman he would remain
true to her through time and change
and separation, whether she returned
his love or not. Dork is felt her face
grow hot with color.
"lias lie made you the confidant of
his love atTuir, Aunt Samantha ?"
" 1 have known his heart for years,"
said Miss Sumantha, with asigli.
" You cannot mean"?
" Yes, Dorkis, he loves you."
"Then 1 ? ho has acted like a coward
to pretend to be such a good friend to
me, to?to .leir. Does he think that I
could bo faithless enough to oh,
Aunt Samantha, why don't you send
liini away V It is wicked. I am Jell's
wife !" she cried, bursting into tears of
grief and anger.
"Jell- has gone wlioro there is neither
marriage nor giving in marriage,
my poor Dorkis," said Miss Sainuntiia,
wiping her own eyes. " You are too
young to go mourning all the days of
your life, and too gentle and delicate
to be loft alone."
Dorkis sat rigidly upright, staring at
lie-1".
" Do you wuiit mo to marry again?"'
she demanded, in a low tone.
" Yos ; I do."
" Then yon are a wicked old woman,
und 1 despise you."
The result of this conversation was
that for a week Dorkis remained in her
room, and refused to see her aunt or
Doilaney, though her heart relented,
und her tender conscience snmto her
for her waywardness. From behind
the jealousies of her window she would
wutch her lover ride dejectedly away,
and sometimes the sense of her power
flattered her, and sometimes sympathy
for him moved her to tears.
The week of self-imposed isolation
wearied her so of her own thoughts
that she made pcaee with MissSamantim.
and ri>(<i<ivml DuIImn?u i?t,,
favor. She had lost instead of gained
by it, and to herself acknowledged a
si'iiso of defeat. If she had not sought
t ie reconciliation?but tho very justness
of that act seemed to weaken her.
She had grown really to depend a good
deal on Dellaney's companionship, and
found herself reluctant to give it up.
He did not pros* his suit with rashness,
but with the patient stcudiness of a man
determined to win. Neither her
caprices nor her lits of coiduess could
drive him away.
Winter advanced into spring, and
spring into early summer. The war
was over, and people were trying to
take up their former occupations: but
it would be a long time before the
troubled currents of life would settle
into pence again. One of Dorkis' ;
friends, a young widow, married, and
Dellaney sought to advance his own
| cause by it. Dorkis listened to his
arguments until thov ended in a
declaration of his love for her, then she |
refused to listen any longer.
" Hut you will not send me a way entirely,"
ho pleaded. " Think how
long, now faithfully I have loved you,
what it is to me to see you to often.
Dorkis, Dorkis, bo not so cruel to mo."
' Hut I cannot love you, Justin.
Would it not bo wiser to leave mo V" I
" No, no, let me try to make you love j
mo?just let ino try ; if 1 fail, the blame i
bo all on rnv own head."
" You will think hardly of mo."
" No, I swear I will not."
His wooing moved lier to pity, hut
not to love. Still .she folt herself borne
onwurd hy it. and by Miss Suiminthu's
approval to the verge of promising to
marry him. When alio reached that
point, ho felt certain that ho had won
nor. When aho urged him to go away
for a week, while she jonaidorod the
matter, ho readily consented.
" When you return, 1 shall bo ready
to say yos or no," she taid, trombliug,
growing white and red by turns.
" It will, it must lx> yes," ho cried.
She turned silently away.
It was the morning of tho seventh
day. Dollaney had spent tho week dowu
on tho Ouacmitu river pretending to
hunt uud tish, but, in reality, giving
himself up to a thousand delightful
dreams 1 Ho planned a doren ways of
spending tho fioneymooo whon he and
Dorkis wore married.. They would
travel a year ; they would go to some
quiet resort, or they would spend tho
time in New Orleans there were so
many ways In which thoy could dispt>?o
of tbl? time aud be happy. Then 1
' t~~
hoy would settle down nnd lot the
y. or* ifllde unnoted over thorn, lleguio <
:?nov full reiu, for the cortaiuty of
v\ .. i. i.v nor never left liilii. late had
lenied Int.: n long timo only to l.old
this brimming < ij to his thirsting lips '
at hist.
The days seemed long, and yet they i
passed swiftly, and the last morning
found him on the Ouachita steamer,
travelling up to Albemarle Landing,
where lie would take the mail coach
for Marion. lie would r? noli tut
village by noon, and then ho would ride
out to see Dork is. Hi walked the 1
deck, humming old love songs, or hung
over the railing, gazing dreamily at
the high banks where long gray moss
swayed from every tree and shrub,
looking in the distance like a line-spun
veil spreud over the gay green foliage.
But lie was not conscious of looking at
the scenery. His thoughts were painting
far different pictures on his mind
from those actually before his eyes.
At the Landing, he hurried from
the steumcr over to the mail coach ;
hot the driver secuied in uo haste to be
off.
" What are you waiting for ?" Dell
. . I . ' (?.. 4l At..
uiiry u?* ma imk-u , mi jjui lutJtijf.
"To see if there is anyboly on the
ferryb ?ut who wants to go up into the
country. 1 a way wait until the last
minute I have to spare," said the man,
and he spat leisurely out into the dusty
road.
Dellancy looked down the long, sloping
hillside to the ferry. Tno great
Hut barge was slowly crossing the river,
loaded with white-covered immigrant
wagons, with a group of men, women
and children huddled together in the
prow.
" Pshaw ! those people have their
own conveyances," he said.
" Arc you in a hurry, sir V"
" 1 am."
"Then I'll advise you to walk on,
and I'll overtake you," said the driver,
coolly.
Dellancy Hashed a haughty glance at
him; but he merely drew his whip
across his boot leg and turned to speak
to the restive horses. Angry impatience
hud seized Dellancy. lie walked
restlessly up and down the street, and
finally entered the postofllco to get a
newspaper. As he came out, the j
immigrant wagons were coining slow- (
ly up the hill. A solitary foot passe 11
ger walked ahead of them, a tall, '
rather thin, haggard-looking man, in a
faded gray uniform and with a Moot
walking stick to holpulong his halting
steps. Some poor soldier making his
way home, or e I ho seeking a now one.
thought Dollaney. and feltashaiued that
ho had grudged the few minutes of
waiting. Hut as the man eamo nearer, ,
his face changed, grew rigid and
ghastly pale.
' What's this ! Airlio, you alive V'
he cried, and reeled foward, clutching
the soldier by the arm. as though to
make sure of his material substance. 1
The stranger's thin face lighted up
wonderfully.
" Why. Justin, dear old fellow, what !
good luck to meet you here."'
The immigrants stared curiously at
them as they passed by, and the couch
driver whistled softly while lie waited.
The bread, dusty street seemed to rise '
and fall before Dollaney's di/.zy eyes;
be shuddered in the bet sunshine.
' You don't take me for a ghost, do
yuu . acini 4\il III:, IIUl^ l i I IIJ4 . UUll HUllll^
11is friend's strange manner.
"It is a shock to meet you this way
after?mourning- you as cicad for two
years,*' said Dellaney, huskily.
" I was desperately wounded.*'
" Where have you been all this
time ?" and he could not make his voice
other than harsh and t remulous.
" 1 was picked up and sent olT with
others to a Northern prison." Airlie replied,
attributing his friend's strange
coldness to the surprise of meeting
him. " After the surrender I started
South again, fell sick, and nearly gave
up in despair; but I knew one dear
heurt was grieving for me; and as
soon as 1 could travel I set out again,
working and tramping my way. Tnank
heaven, I'm nearly home at last!"
Dellaney smiled in a faint, ghostly
; way.
" You have shown pluck ; you?you
deserve?all that awaits you. Come,
we must take the coach. The man is
beckoning to us."
"Are you going up in it too?" exclaimed
Airlie, in pleased surprise ;
" that is better than I expected. Tell
me. have you seen Dorkis lately ?"
in a low tone, full >of eagerness and
suspense.
" Yes. a week ago I saw her; she .
looks well, and "?
" My poor girl, my dear girl !" muttered
the soldier.
Oh, that ride ! Carrying one man
nearer and nearer his happiness, and
the other further and further away
from his. Tney sat side by sido, they
talked. Airlie with the volubility of
one long shut otT from friendly companionship;
Dellaney in monosyllables,
lie sank into strange reveries, while
his friend leaned from the coach with
exclamations of boyish pleasure at
every familiar landmark. He was too
absorbed, too delighted, to fully realize
that Dellaney had not met him
with the gladness of a friend, to notice
tho drawn look of his face, the wild,
hard stare of his eyes. He guvo an ue,
count of his prison life, of his homesickness.
of his desperate attempts to
got buck, running on in a constant
stream of excited, joyous stories ; for
even t be sad one seemed to catch tho
light and life of present feelings.
Dellaney listened with eyes east
down, gnawing the tips of his finger
nails, or clenching his hands. Airlie
tortured him with question about old
friends, above all, about Dorkis and
M iss Summit ha.
" Jove ! what a surprise it will be to
them ; but 1 hope 1 shall not scare
them as I did vnn. niv <lnnt* "
_ j "V ? ,,w" ?
laughing, and slapping his friend on
the knee.
Dollaney shuddered, and drew him*
self further away into the corner.
" Perhaps they will bo hotter pro*
pared to hoc you," he Htiid.
"I know they will be ready to welcome
me," said Airlio, with muddening
confidence.
Ho did not purpose to go to the '
village, but to leave the coach and take
a short cut through a plantation road
a mile from Marion, lie had travora- |
ed it often in the old days before the
war and its cruel privations and experiences
hnd aged him beyond, far
Deyond his years. Hut the lire and the
strength of his youth seemed to thrill
hlin again, kindling his eyes, flushing
his face until its haggard lines were I
all smoothed out under the mugicul influence.
Ho leaped from the eoacli when it
was drawn up at the place he designated
to the driver, and turned to wave
his friend a tinal good-bye; but LMlanev
followed him.
" 1 will see you across tho tields," ho
said, briefly. In tho gurish light of 1
tho moon lie looked so shrunken and
old that even Airlio noticed hie cluing- <
od appearance. 1
" You have been through hard ex- i
poriencos, too," ho said in a svinpa, i
thi tie, afTectionuto tone. " VV'o ve i
none of us escaped tho strife." *
Doilanoy wot his his dry lips with J
the t.p of his tongue. i
? f?
" I huvo had every hope iu life crush?d
out." }
" Is that so 1 nui awfully sorry."
"It is of no consequence now."
I bavo boon so absorbed in mysol t
Ibut I huvo not had a thought for any
thing' oIho this morning," said Airlil
apologetically.
" \mi perfectly ^xeusablo, considci
ing lli" cireu.usPincos."
After that tlioy walked on in i! no i
through tin* bolt of woods and aero.-,
the sedge-grown Holds. Airlio tool |
the lead, his steps unconsciously quick
rning as ho noared home. Uollaney
followed him. stumbling like a mat,
grop ing in darkness. Several timet
his glance meusured the tull ligur?
ahead of him, and his baud sought hi:
pocket; but it dn noed uervelos? 1\
down again. They nad one marsh t
cross, a place where tweet gum am
Cottonwood trees grew thickly togethei
and rank grasses mingled with tub
weeds. A low bridge* spanned tie
marsh and on either side of it were
stagnant pools of water covered witi
green slime. It was dark and rathci
cool under tlie trees, hut a foul smci
rose from vegetation rotting in tin
water. Tiie two friends were midwuy
the bridge, when Ddlaney abruptly
said :
" Stop liore, Airlie."
It was more a command than a request.
ami the soldier wheeled impatiently
to llnd himself covered witn i
pistol. For u moment ho f tared in
amazement. nati ins friend gone mad
' What does this mean, Justin ?" in
asked, calmly.
" That I intend to kill you, Jell
Airlie?kill you."
" Why ? ' said Airlie, still composed
and fearless.
' Because you've no right to come
between mo und happiness any longer."
the other'man burst out. The question
liad loosened his tongue. Rapidly,
passionately, he poured out the story
of his second wooing, lie spared no
detail of it from the time he had first
met Dork is in her widow's garb up t?
that morning when, exultant and
certain of success, he had stepped from
the steamer to be met by Airlie.
"fan y< u wonder that 1 long to take
your life,'" ho cried, punting, torn by a
tempest of rage and hate. " The first
time you came between us. won her
from me, 1 freely forgave you for it: I
loved you as well as the woman, and
gave her up without a bitter thought
against you : but now, now to have the
cup dashed from my very lips by your
hand"?He paused, the blood rushed
violently to his face, his eyes seemed
to swim in a fiery glow.
i'uuh kiiu iovo you r sum Airno, in
n low tone, gripping' the railing of the
hridgo.
' Lovo mo? No," lie cried. " Did 1
not have lo listen to the story of her
grief, for you, day after day, week
after week ? She seemed to forgot
that 1 hud ever loved her, that 1 might
still have a heart. Love me! She
would never have loved mo as she loves
you ! but I could have won her confidence,
her utTcotion, could have made
her happy in time "
" And for t he sake of winning that
poor shadow of love you intend to take i
my life," said Airlie. quietly. " Well,
the advantages are all on your side. 1
am unarmed and so enfeebled in body
that I cannot oiler any resistance.
You are tuo only acquaintance 1 have
so far inet. You can kill me, then
lling my body over this railing into
one of these pools of water, and your
secret will be as safe as though I luid
really frlien on the battlefield. Is that
your plan ?"
' Yes," said Dellaney. i% When we
lirst met this morning. I was stunned :
I knew not what to do, then this
thought came to mo. 1 could have
taken your life easily as we crossed the
I'i.O.I "
"Thin Is dcoidelv the host place for
murder, Justin."
"Why do you tako it so coolly?
Why don't you bo# for mercy, or show
some fear v Man, do you realize your
position ?*'
"Could 1 fall to, when I see my heist
friend ready to shoot mo down ? Why
do you hesitate ?"
DoMancy threw up his hand, and
Airlio instinctively, braced himself to
meet the shot; but it did not come.
The pistol circled through the air,
struck sharply against a tree, startling
a Hock of black vultures with the
harmless shot it seat into their midst,
then sank with adiisaing sound through
the green ooze of the marsh. Airlie
closed his eyes for an instant, the sense
of relief making him dizzy. He had
faced death too often to cower before
it now, but to have it come when so
near home, so near Dorkis. it required
something more than mere courage to
meet it with composure.
/\ strange sound smoto the silence.
Uo looked up. Dollancy stood with
his faeo hidden in his hands weeping
like a woman, and yet un'ike ono in
that it was a thousand times more terrible.
What emotion moved him so
deeply, his friend did not know : but
it was a sight to stir all that was generous
in Airlies. generous nature, J lo
went nearer; but when ho laid his
hand on Dellaney's shoulder it was
shaken oil".
" Go !" ho cried. "why do you stay to
witness my shame, my humiliation V
The madness?it was madness?is over.
1 have had murder in my thoughts ; but
i will not have it on my hands.1'
"Let moat least say t hat I pardon
you, .Justin."
Dolluney raised his face, marred by
the conflict of his feelings almost beyond
recognition.
" You and I part hero, Airlle, never
to meet again either as friends or foes ;
but I want to tell you that it was not
alone lack of nerve prevented you from
receiving that shot, but at the last
moment I realized that friendshin wn?
still stronger than love. Now loavo me,
'tis nil I usU."
Ali'lio walk0(1 slowly across tho
bridge and up through tno Hold on tho
other side, his head bent down, tho ;
spring ami eagerness gono from his ,
stop. Once he paused and looked back.
Deflunoy stood on tho bridge whore ho ,
had left him, motionless, solitary, the
purple shadows of the marsh thicket
broadening over him. ,
Dorkis walked in the shado of the
grape arbor. Above hor head hung ,
clusters of pale groen grapes, and her
white muslin gown put on for tho ;
lirst time since her widowhood trailed
over grass and straggling weedy (lowers.
Miss S.imantha had porsuudod
her to put on the whito gown.
"Justin will be back to-day, and you !
ought to do it for his sake."
" I wish that I had said two weeks, '
or two months," cried Dorkis. "Aunt
Sunmntha. I cannot forget JelT."
' 1. don t want you to forget him, '
child," said tho old lady, pityingly, '
tenderly. " Don't marry Justin unless f
you think you could bo contented with J
him." 1
"I will go out in the gurclou uud
think it all over again."
But tho more sho thought, tho more c
Jistastoful gro\v tho idea of a second I
marriage. She had spont that week s
In looking over her husband's thin;;:-, ti
oading bis letters and laying them ti
iside ready to burn. How ourofully t
die had treasured every line written a
>y him, from the first note, scrawled n
u a schoolboy hand, down to the lust t
otter penned by the light of a camp 1
Ire. The growth of his love could be
dearly truced from the passionate !
;ne\ of a youth, to the (loop, abiding
litli of ihc mnu. Could she destroy
.hose tender words, written by one who
vouid never more walk the earth V
\nd yet six* must do it if a now love :
vus accepted. The pust must all Ik?
nit hchiinl her, its joy. its sorrow and \
egret. Terror seized iter.
" f 1 I at; thcr uiuu take his
place In mv heart, put all the visible '
,okcn? of iiis life from me V Can I let 1
iim become only a memory, fading out 1
year by year, until, when old age '
mines, our love will seem only adroutn
an episode of u day y When others 1
apeak of him L must oesilent, not even
is friend or acquaintance dure I claim 1
iim. Oh, I cannot do it -I cannot:
i am his wife, hi- love and he Is mine."
Slio leaned against the trellis and
-tobbed aloud, tears raining down her
hecks and into the diaphanous foldsof
her gown.
" Beloved, I will be true?true,
bhiough separation, through death.
Nothing shall part us in spirit, if there
ho any power in love."
Her woeping penetrated the sweet
silence of the old garden with strange*
y mournful sound. The doves, nesting
n a cornei of the summer house, tluttored
uneasily ; and Miss Samuntha,
.vulking down by the privet hedge,
paused to listen with an uneasy sense
>f remorse. Perhaps she had been
unwise, after all. in urging on this
Marriage. She stole back to t he house
and sat down in the parlor, to id I v wait
to sco what the day would bring forth ;
and presently Durkis walked into the
room, her step firm, her head, habitually
drooping, hold erect.
' I have decided, Aunt Sumaiitha,"
she said, in a low tone.
"Yes?" and the old lady hold her
knitting with trembling lingers. '* You
have decided not to marry Justin."
" I have. 1 may be a weak, dependent
creature, but I would rather enter
a convent to-morrow never to see
aught of the world again than to bo
false to JetT. Rotter a thousand times
the llugellulions and penances of a
nun's I i fc t ban this mockery of a second
marriage."
Tncy ueard a stej) in the hall. Miss
Summit ha rose hastily to withdraw.
" It is Justin, deal Kindly with him,
Rorkis."
' 1 shall tell him the truth," said
1) trkis, firmly. She walked toward
the door expecting to meet Rollancy ;
hut it swung gently open and before
her glad, amazed eyes appeared her
husband. The battlefield had given
ui> its dead.
- ? UXOITKMMXT
l\ ITALY.
Anarchists Ti'ti'oi i'/.iiiK lli(> Towns I
ami il?e Peasantry-? llailroads j
( uurdcd.
IlOMK, Jan. I<>.?There is considerable
excitement today at Cararra and
vicinity. Tho discovery Saturday !
night of an anarchist plot to i<K)t and
burn tlie City of Cararra led the police (
and military authorities to take ex- (
traordinary precautions to prevent any j
attempt to carry out tho plans of the i
conspirators. Early today a number !
of anarchists from tho adjoining districts,
sought to enter the city, but |
were prevented by tho military. A
number of shots wore exchanged by
the rioters and the troops, but so far
as known, nobody was hurt. Finding
that it was impossible for them to get
into the city, where there is no doubt
they intended to join the anarchists
rt si louts in the city in rioting, tho
mob scattered in dilferent directions.
They are now scouring tho country,
carrying, terror to tho quiet people
living tuore. Tnoy go to every house
and demand of tho occupants to surrender
whati ver tiro arms they may
have.
About live thousand workinginen
have struck in Mussn and Cararra.
Both towns are occupied by troops.
All the shops are closed. The inhabitants
are frightened and many
families are provisioning their houses
as if for u seigo. Band > of rovoltors
parade tho roads, making requisitions
on the people for arms and food. At
0 o'clock this* afternoon, the people of
Massa wore thrown into a state of
consternation by hearing a fusilado in
tiio hills near by. A squadron of
cavalry had encountered a iuob of 6U0
men at the Fassola Uridjje, two kilometres
from Massa. After a stubborn
flyht the mob was dispersed. Many
we re wounded and several were killed.
Troops jjuurd the railway at all
points to prevent the tearing up of
the rails. H >me soldiers are in uotivo
pursuit of bands in the mountains.
The cabinet council has glvon Premier
Crispi a free hand as to the time
when he shall declare the province of
Massa e Carrara in a state of soi^o.
Tun proclamation will probably bo
issued tomorrow unless ine situation
improves in the meantime.
I/JNUON, Jan. 10.?The K mm cor
I' sponile|)t at the u lily Chronicle
a tys : " Iminiates or the i'opo believe
h revolution is i in pen ling in Italy.
Tho Uishops and higher clergy are on
the Aide of law and order. *1 no lower
ranks of tho Sicilian pristohood are
regarded at tho Vatican as being in
sympathy with outrage. Too Vatican
share* the anxiety of the Quirinul.
Tho Times Rome correspondent
says ho lias boon informed on the
highest authority that tho proofs of
concerted revolutionary plans in the
hands of tho government are abundant
and decisive,
A later dispatch from Ko.no says :
Tho c ibinot has discussed tho recent
rioting, it is not known whut decision
was reached, hut it is evident that tho
government is seriously alarmed at
the situation.
?Senator Waltholl, of Mississippi,
whoso present term expires on March
3, 1895 and who was also olocted in
January 1892 for tho term commencing
March 1, 1895, has resigned. Tho '
condition of his health forces the altorna
ivo of protruetcd absence fiom his
post of duty or of resigning his scat, 1
mid lie chooses the latter alternative , 1
for his present term of service. Tho
conditions existing iu March J895,
when I)is now term begins, will decide
his action with reference to that term. 1
I II
? Advices have boon received hero i
from t ho Sierra Mojada mining camps (
dtuatod in t iio Kscalon district, ]
Mexico, of a terrible holocaust. In the ?
lower part of tho town wore a number |
>f huts, located very close together,
rheeo were sot on fire by a band of unknown
incendiaries, and before the occupants
could escape, eleven mep and *
Kveral women and children were J
aimed to death. Ton others were J
niruodso badly that they will die. '
? Lewis Rodwlno, Atlanta's fatuous J
lofuult r, has been taken to the Coinm- ,
us, Oliio, penitentiary, whore he is to
orvo six years for embezzlement. To ?
i reporters Rod\vinto said : " I alone
in; responsible for the defalcation in
h?< Ciaio City Hank. President Mill
nd Cashier MoCandless I. ?? / a) .> ^
ntoly nothing of t.iio shortage until I , i.
old Sir. McCuudless.'' 1
WASHINGTON DOTS AND POINTS.
4ecretnry CarllHlo lias all Needed
Powei?riii' lionds li kely (o be
Portlieoiiiing?<ln Act of Just lee.
Ilio' ImiiK Delayed.
WaSHINOTON. Jtill. 10.?Tin United
States naval force ut Uu> Janeiro has 1
been Increased to live cruisers by the
irrival of the cruiser Now York there '
l?f.t night. The fact that the New
York did not stop ut any port during >.
the last 3,500 uilles of her journey indicates
that the department was
anxious to have her rcuch Itio in the
ijuiekost possible time. The voyage
was a reinarkublv fast <'i?e. On
January 4. the N'ew York left St.
Lueia, where she stopped for coal, and
covered tho distunee at an average
rate of fifteen knots an hour, or 350 ^
knots a day. Tho other United States
vessels ut Rio are tho San Francisco, i
tho Charleston, tho Detroit and :
Newark.
Fifteen separate offers, aggregating
140,000,000, to take bont >, lould
Secretary Carlisle issue them, have
been received at the Treasury Department.
One offer to tako a block of '
$25,000,000 was received from a New
York firm this morning. Another
offer to tuke $175. was received from a
mechanic. No preparations, however. .!
\...: i.. .... m I I
iiru wii ik iuuuu ui iuu irutisuxy
Department for un immediate bond 1 1
issue. Secretary Carlisle will await *
a reasonable tin;e for Congress to act. j :
probably until February 1, before he
proceeds independently of Congress. (
on tiio presumption tiiut no.v that ho
lias officially called the attention of
Congress to the urgent needs of the )
Treasury, it will act promptly. Until
Congress shows that it will not relieve i
the Treasury the Secretary will not i
feel called upon on his own responsibi 1
t.v to issue bonds under the resumption <
act. !
The Senate finance committee how- <
over today held two sessions, that of j
the afternoon lusting an hour. At its j
conclusion. Senator Voorhees gave out (
for publication the following statement
:
41 The embarrassed condition of the
Treasury and the necessity for prompt
action for its relief are fully realized. <
There is not the slightest ground,
however, for apprehension that the
public credit will suffer or be endangered
for the reason that ample
authority already exists by law for the
Secretary of the Treasury to strength- .
en the coin reserve to any extent
required and to meet every demand
that can he legitimately made. The
1W.IVAI* itf t I 1 . , SftAAPitllll.l* /nl' til.. IcUlIM / . f
Iionds needs nothing beyond what is '
given bv tbo act of January I lth, 1S7.7.
The only desirable object to bo attained
by now legislation at this time
(>n that subject is to make a shorter
time bond with a lower rate of interest,
and yet the Secretary feels assured
that ho can negotiate bonds issued
under the act of 7H7.">. running only ten
years, on practically a 11 per cent. 1
basis. It seems, therefore, that it will
bo wiser, safer and better for the
linaneial and business Interests of the
country to rely upon an existing law
with which to meet the present emergency,
rather than to encounter tbo
delays and uncertainties always incident
to protracted discussion in the
two houses of Congrats. This view
of the subject is made stronger by the
fact that the condition of the Treasury
admits but little, if any. delay, and ot
no uncertainty at all in the tiual action
to he taken."
Secretary Oroaham Is officially advised
that ih * English government
has declared M mchester. England, a
port of entry, thus enabling pcoplo in
iUI.. t ? 1-1 ! - 44 4 1
(ii is cuuuu'y id ?1111? direct to mut city.
This is n result of the recent opening
of tlio Manchester ship canal.
The IIousc Committee on Pensions
today agreed to repeal that section of
the revised statutes which prohibits
the granting of pensions to any person
on account of disabilities contracted in
wars preceding the civil war, who
sorved in the Confederate Army during
the rebellion. This section was
repealed in part in the case of Mexico!
veterans who served in the Conlodcrato
army, and to whom pensions
<if $8 a month are given without regard
to (Usability. The purpose of the hill
in question is to ropeal the section
without a qualification, so that a soldier
who lost an arm or u leg la the Mexican
or the Indian wars and who sub
sequetitly joined his fortunes with
those of the Confederacy iiiuy bo entitled
to it pension equal in amount to
that which is given to soldiers of tlfo
late war who sulTer from similar dls- j
abilities.
The stated balance In the treasury
stands: Gold, $71, 49(1,1)21 ; currency,
$20,420,320. From this currency j
balance must bo substracted $0,073,8ol
paid on interest.
mm
Tiif, Aht op Conversation.?Another
tiling which has gone out of
fashion is tne art of conversation. It
has of late years been so neglected that
it is the rarest ehanoe to meet witu a
young man who can converse at ail in
the real sense of the word. Among
his own set he can bubble about mutual
aquaintanees, the now singer, the next
race or the hist scandal. But throw
him among strangers and he is silent <
and dull, perhaps making short rc- ,
marks in a jerky and confused manner, '
but certainly betraying no intelligent
interest if a new discovery bo mentioned,
a piece of important political news
tool or some information given about a j
subject of real value. As a eonso- i
quutico, ho is not only bored, but he ! i
shows it, because he iiu* never oulti- i
vated that polite intorcst in his fellow- t
creatures which would enable him to >
respond sympathetically. One of tho \
old French noblesse was lately heard i <
to remark that when he first went into j i
sucic-iy 111m iuuicr uscu 10 impress upon 1 i
his mind that ut u parly he was bound '
to insure its success so far as ho was in- i
dividually concerned. To make him* 1
self agreeable was a duty not to be
nogleutod without a grave breach ]
Of courtesy both to the guests and i
tho friends who invited him. j
In a modern gathering no such anti- (
ijuatod sentiment would Hud a dis- a
oiplo. Young pcoplo, if they do not f
meet somo one to flirt with, will osten- j
tatiously proclaim their boredom, and <.
would stare in astonishment if it were j
suggested that at friend's house it was >i
the duty towards the hostess to pay \
Attention to thoso who found them<c'ves
among strungors. To hint that I
Aid ladies and ugly girls should have a c
little share of consideraion would he to ?
mbject onosolf to tho charge of old- i
fashioned.? Pull Mull Gazette. j
? I ?i r? C
?Tho One Arts building at Jackson V
Park. Chieago, will cither have to be .
omoved or reconstructed entirely be- \]
'ore it can be used as tho Field Colum)ian
Museum. As tho result of an in- I1
ipeetion by the underwriters the insur- v'
ince has* l?een retired, und the nn- ?
louncemeut is made that tho building 11
s not a fit roceptaele for tho valuable a
ixhibits, which will aggregato fully
3,000,000 in value, " P
m ^ ^ w
?Capt. A. G. Uabto k. a prominent
l ison and the foun t< r of tho Miron c
Inmu of iilohinon i Va., died on t;u> aj
litU ult, m tnut o;ty. I i,
180*.
\t the door stands ninety-four.
B'-uriutf trusures in his hand,
I'lii'M' are months mi those nr<* dry?
i 1 ere tho gluss. vn 1 there tho s. nd.
lungs :i vol 1 before his face :
What behind it? smile or tear?
'ut I it* tr< usuies in tho placoThosu
the gifts of all tho year.
show thy faro, O Ninety-four !
Lift tho veil and let us see
\ugurios of i?iy in store.
Forecast of tho woes to be.
1'hc o w cannot change or move :
Fa ec lumauds tiiee what to give;
let * h ?pe tor peace and U vo,
P.at o to work and space to live.
3uard thy gifts. <"). Ninety-four !
Wo will wait then wdr..-t and best,
IV hut is best bo glad to pour ;
Dole with grudging hand tlie rest.
? Walter Bcsunt in London Quoi n.
STATE NEWS IN BlUEF.
Interestlog Notes from Various Sum
oes,
? Tho annual meeting of the Farmers'
National Alliance will bo held this
four at Topcka, Kansas, and will
begin its session on tho Gth of February.
Each Stat" is entitled to one
lelegate. The ropresontativo from
south Carolina is J. W. Bowden, the
ditor of tlio Cotton Plant, who was
jleoted at tbe mooting of tho State
Alliance in Walhallu.
Work on the Winthrop Normal
ind State Industrial School at Rook
Hill is progressing rapidly. Tho
f mndution, which is of granite quarried
at ltoeK Hill, is very nearly completed.
Work in soon to bo star tod on tho
dormitory. for which tho Legislature
nt its recent session appropriated $">(),IRH).
Tho building will bo completed
and opened by September or October.
?Tho first movement in tho way of
direct trade with Europe from tho
West tin ough Charleston was mado
last week. A consignment of 2,000
sacks of flour has been booked from tho
Liberty mills, of Nashville^ Tettn.. via
ChurlesU n. Thy steamship llossShirc
is i.ow loading li> re for Liver*
pool. Tt is shipment is thought to bo
the plon< or of a movement which will
lead to tho establishment of direct
trade.
?An eighty horse-power holler used
at the large lumber mil .* of Lukens &
ltoifsnyder, at Sumter, exploded last
week, demolishing every building in
close proximity to it an 1 hurling bricks
and pieces of the bjiler a distance
of four hundred yards. A defoctivo
boiler is supposed to have caused tho
explosion. Three persons were hurt
and only one of them very seriously,
when there was In the mill yard and
in the hoi lit i >i"v ? f.M-.,, ,.f .. i ......
u iwi?,v\'i avuu v \hi\j
hundred men.
?Mr. C. II. Ilesso one of WalhaUa's
oldest German citizens, wn-> burled
last week in the Lutheran emotery
boside his wife, who predeceased him
only 8?ven months They were born
in Germany, came to Charleston soon
after their marriage ami from there to
Walhalla in 1852. They were among
the pioneer settlers of Walhalla. Mr.
llcsoo was a fine mason and did much
in his time for the upbuilding of the
town, lie leaves live children, four of
whom, throe sons and one daughter,
reside in Charleston.
?Governor Tillman left Columbia on
Saturduy on a combined business and
pleasure trip. He w ill lirst go to Virginia
to visit his daughter, who is a
pupil at the Hollins Institnto. He will
then go on to Washington. The object
of his msit to the National Capital
is to push the direct claims of this
State regarding which lie received a
loiter a few days ago from Secretary
of the Treasury Carlisle, and to do
what ho can to hasten legislation
against the receiverships of railroads
under Federal judge s.
?The State Hoard of Health met
last, week at Charleston. Dr. James
Evans, of Florence. lirosidinir. Th?
fallowing officers were elected : Chairman,
(Jr. John R. Rratton, of Yorkvillo;
vioo-ehuirninn. Dr. 'J'. (J. Simons,
Charleston : secretary. Dr. II. H. Frabor.
Charleston. The new law passed
at the last session of the. Legislature
was discussed, ami the municipal authorities
were notified that they must
complete the organization of the local
hoards of health and report to the
State board by July 1st.
ngg ? ? ASCICN
DINCi A\ l> It! iSCKNhl.VG.
An Aeronaut Describes (ho Sciisn?
lion ol tailing iiiiin a llalloon.
Asked to explain as elearly as possible
the feelings peculiar to tho
ascent and descent of a person to and
from the extraordinary altitudes to
which she travels, Mrs. Kotnigsaid :
" Tho sensations arc diamct rieal ly opposite
to tho general idea that prevails
among pooplo who never made such
attempts; instead of feeling yourself
lifted bodily and swiftly up into space,
you have a realistic sons) of staying'
just exactly whore you wero, and of
t he earth falling away and downward
from you. This fording continues just
so long us your balloon continues to
rise : when it comes to a standstill you
realize for the first time that you have
moved upward, and, of course, tho
wondet ful panorama spread out below
you gives instant ndvieoof the immense
[11linines you imvo attained.
"The descent from such n troinonfoils
height by tho parachute is
mother tiling, though it. too, involves
something of ilie sumo sentution reversed.
Vou seem to boo the onrth
ascending to meet you, but your progress
downward is bo gcntio ami so
much more deliberate that you cannot
but know you are going dow^
This fact is forcibly impressed on your
niud when you cut loose from the baloon.
"Tho dcscont then, and until tho
naraehuto tills, is as sheer and sudden
md direct aa any unpremeditated fall
,'ou ever experienced, ranging in
lopth, according to the volume of
vind, from twenty-fivo to one hundred
eet, and this is'tho most unpleasant
>art of my business. The same pre aution
of holding tho breath is us im>erativcly
necessary in this first fall
is it is when you are submerged in the
vater."
In response to a oucstion as to tho
ongoat jump she hud made in her
nrecr ub an aeronaut. Mrs. Uomtff
aid that in ifion o? n..i - *>?
uv naivt'C .i
ust inside tho Golden Gate ui S"uu
iYanoisco, sho mado a nerfcctly suoessful
jump from an altitude determined
by mathematical instruments to
>o just a fraction over two and oneialf
mil es. She alighted in tho bay,
ut being fully protected with a lifo
rvsorvor (whioli she always dona
'hen exhibiting near rivers, lakes or
ther largo Ixxlies of water), sho was
11 right when pickod up by tho boatlen.
who instantly wcut to hor relief.
Mrs. Homlg says: "Tho easiest
lace in whicu to land is a body of
'ator or a plonged field, but of tho
wo 1 prefer tho field."
?-??# > ? ?i
- Mrs. Lucipda Kr?wn;ng. white,
ged 106 jears lastChr.blu usday, dud
l Augutftu, Gu, liurt week.