The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-31

70 such insult "
Insult Ny dear ieIlow"-(he was just
about to say, Mr. Clement Sutherland cannot
insult me" but delicate and generous in his
consideration for the feelings Of Mark, he only
said -" look in my face, aud see if YOU think |
am very much troubled" Aud, indeed, the
pleasant countenance Of the youth was well
calculated TO re.assure his friend.
They relapsed into silence as they approach
ed the river. sutherland was absorbed in
mournful and bitter reverie, which Lauderdale
forebore to break. They crossed the Pearl in
perfect silence; Lincoln glanoing from the beau
tiful semi-transparent river, with its surface
softly flushed with rose and saffron clouds, to
the gorgeous fields OF cotton, with It's myriads
beyond myrads of golden white flowers When
they left the ferry-boat and cAntered up tho
gradual ascend Of tho road, and entered upon
the domain cf SilentsbRde once more Marx
put out HIS hand and seized that OF his friend
saying, Here at least is my home, where I
may welcome any friend of mine for any length
of time; and do not 80 msch inrqte you as |
entreat you 10 come and stay with me as long
as you can give me your company, if it be only,
dear Lincoln, to prove that you forgive mo the
offence that has been offered YOU"
Pray say no more about it, dear Mark
how are you responsible for an affront offered
yourself as well as me- As for stayinc with
you, will do so with the greatest pleasure as
long as may"
And once more Marx Sutherland fell into
silepce-into bitter and sorrowful meditation
into deep dependency Since India naughty
rejection of his hand, his Life had grown awful
ly real to him. Before that, he had thought,
spoken, and acted, as one under the influence
Of some inspiring dream. His anticipation and
appreciation of the trials that awaited him.
differed as much from the real experience of
them as the imagining of some glorious mar
tyrdom falls short of the suffering it.
Young enthusiast that he was, he had
| thought only OF the excitement and glory of the
herolsm, and not Of the fierce torture and mad
dening shame of the sacrifice But now he felt
his position in all its dreadful reality And it
was well that he should 50 feel it, 1t would
test his sincerity, try his strength, prove his
character And now be rode on despairing
almost heart-broken. Yet even in this dark
and clouded hour, one bright star Of hope. and
promise, and strength, shoDe on him - his
mother-a mothers love-a mothers undying
| unchanging love 1t has been the theme Of
poets, Of philosophers and Of novelists since
hearts first beat with affections and tongues
first gave them utterance Ii If the chosen
Scripture Illustration TO express even the divine
love of God. The young man rode along, deep
| ly musing on that mothers love-decply thirst
ing for it. He felt-uan as he was--that it
would be g sweet and grateful relief to SIT bv
her side, to drop his proud but weary head
upon her shoulder, and for little while 10 give
vent to the flood Of sorrow now stiaed in his
bosom-sure, that if others thought even such
a transient yielding to grief unmanly, she, that
| tender and affectionate mother never would
think 80. And 30 he unused upon that love-
the only earthly love that never faleth-that
neither misfortune can abate, nor crime alien
ate. And unfortunate and suffering in the
cause Of conscience as he was how confident
| ly he trusted in that mothers love, and sympa-
thy, and support! Yea, though all other aliec-
| ''yn nig1.t fail him-.thopph friends should for
| sake and relatives abandon him. and even his
loved bride discard him--she, his mother, would
be true
| He would have staked his salvation upon
this, as they turned into the avenue Of lines
leading up to the house, and saw Mrs. Suther-
land standing smiling, upon the piazza. But
on seeing the young men approach, in one in
slant the lady's conntenance changed.
She had had her lesson.
Without advancing one step to meet and
| welcome them, she allowed them, alter dis
mounting from their horses, to walk quite up
the steps, and to the very spot where she stood,
and to bow and speak before she relaxed ono
muscle Of her cold, set countenance.
She replied to their greeting in the coolest
| tones, inviting them to enter the house.
For on instant, Mark and Lincoln raised
their eyes to each others face, and their
glances met. A pang Of modification and dis
appointment sped through the heart of Suther-
land and Lauderdale, apparently not tho
least surprised or disconnected, took his rcsolu-
ton.
Preceded by the Indy, they entered the house
and passed into front parior, and ut her cold
invitation, which seemed more like strained
and reluctant permission granted, they took
seats Nothing could be more deeply disagree
able and embarrassing than the next few min
utes. Mrs. Sutherland took her sofa in perfect
silence turned her face towards them with
look of cold inquiry, and assumed the air Of
waiting to hear what might be their business
with her-what they might have to communi-
cate
This was very perplexing They did not
come on business-indeed, they were made to
feel that they had no business there. They had
come 10 be entertained and comforted and
compensated, after the Clement Sutherland in
fiction. They had nothing particular to an
swer TO that cold, questioning look, except Lau-
derdale, who, cool as his own cline, informed
Mrs Sutherland that the day was very fnep
The lady bowed in silent assent.
"The weather for many days past has been
very pleasant continued Lincoln, without the
least embarrassment
"Yes-I think the present state Of the at
mospherc highly favorable to travelling said
the lady, too fastidious TO stab with q butchers
knife, bat quite capable of piercing with a fine
stilett0
"Your climate here, madam, is not near so
sultry as we Of the North have supposed it to
be-" perseyered Lincoln, not whit abashed
"Hem--yet at this season We think it too
hot to be wholesome to you Of the North, said
the lady, with curling lip.
humph" thought l.auderdalc, "your cour-
tesy, madam is cold enough to cool the hottest
hour Of the hottest day in the hottest elmo un-
der the sum-" But, turning to his friend Mark,
he said
Sutherland il madam will excuse us, will
you be kind enough to let me have my room4"
And Mark, released from the vice into which
he had felt himself compressed for the last ten
minutes very gladly sprang up to accompany
him. Lauderdale bowed to Mrs. Sutherland,
with some pardonable formality of ceremony,
perhaps, as they left the parlor
When they had reached Lincoln's chamber
in the second story, Mark threw himself into
chair, and covered his face with his hands.
Lincoln went calmly TO work, packing up his
wardrobe. After while, seeing that Suthcr-
land kept his attitude Of humiliation, he went
up to him, clappcd him upon the shoulder
cheerfully, and said
"Nsusr mipd, my dear Mark nevsr mind
You take this to heart far more than necessary
Now, dare say that one Of your hot-blooded,
fire eating Mississippians, treated as | have
been, would cdli somebody out and do some.
thing desperate; bat really dspot feel obliged
to do anything OF the sort"
III am Mississippian--do you consider me