The New Orleans crescent., 1868-05-03
Written for the Sunday Crescentl
BARTRELLE.
CHAPTER XVI.
Leave vengeance to our God,
And lay the iron rule aside;

nized throughout the city. Those who knew
him best readily accounted for this political
spostasy, by ascribing to it the sinister mo-
tives which ever seemed, to be the rule Of his
conduct.
Nevertheless Unionist he had become,
and was already high in favor at headquarters.
1t was under such impressions as these, hav-
ing heard of his change of faith, that his
father saluted him at the breakfast table on
the morning following the party, with an
angry CLEAN in his eye and sneering lip.
"Well, sirl / am told must recognize in
my own son o Gamaliel to teach his father
loyalty would, he continued with deep
feeling, "before had heard of this last dis
grace, the grave had closed over my dis
honored boy"
Warren Hayes exhibited under these severe
reproaches a momentary symptom of ex-
treme confusion, and replied in tone of un-
wonted submission.
eff you, sir, can wish me dead, cannot,
though the heir of your wealth, return the
compliment Few there are who, in sincerity,
can say as much; but whatever may be my
political predictions, and however unhap-
PLY they may differ from yours, still is there
one sentiment in common with US, and that
marks me as the true descendant of line
famed for its memory of injuries"
"I do not understand you, SIR"
1t is not necessary that you should; but
Mildred can enighten you as to my meaning,
if you take interest enough to inquire"
"Then it is true that you have identified
yourself with the Lincoln cause?"
81 am so pledged, sir"
"This last act, Warren, has grieved me
more than all your other sins, although your
life has been made up of folly and error.
Had this step been taken from a deliberate
sense of duty, though differing from you,
should have honored you. But that convic-
ton is denied me. must believe that your
motives are hidden from the penetration of
honest men; and such being the case, the
follies of an unhappy life will end
in ruin. Go your ways, Warren; but
if the consciousness of such q truth
can weigh fathers load in your breast, you
must know that you carry with you fathers
broken heart. Go your ways-accompanied
by every good mans contempt; by every
honest mans scorn. Your presence is con-
tumely and your name a reproach."
To say that Warren Hayes was not deeply
affected by what his father said, would be
doing him injustice. But his emotions were
evanescent and did not produce that whole
some sense of evil in his heart, which some-
1ao Io 20 a 1abo TO-
He was simply mortified; but his humiliation
brought with it the conviction that he must
no longer remain in the city-he must leave;
and now he thought his interest with the
federal commander might be made available
in procuring position in the army.
With this object in view he left
the house and hastened to headquarters.
Seeking and obtaining an interview with
the general, he entered his presence with the
easy grace of an accomplished courtier, and
spoke with winning address the customary
compliments which were wont to pass between
visitor and host upon such occasions.
~ am growing rather tired of my inaction,
general, and have called this morning to see if
you cannot put me in the way of some sort of
active service"
Indeed, am very glad to hear it." was
the gratifed reply.
"Yes, these rumors of fights and skirmishes
on the border have stirred up my blood, and
1 think would like to see some of them"
"And do you really wish to enter the
army?"
"Indeed, do"
"Then think 1 can be of service to you.
But you have, believe, no military expe-
rience?"
"None whatever. have been studying
tactics some, and have also acquired some
little idea Of the duties of an aid-de-camp."
"Ah, indeed how would you like the lat
ter position on Gen. Lyons staff2 You will
see service there"
at would be the very thing want"
"Then think can aid you. am in need
of trusty messenger to carry dispatches to
the general in the field, and if you can set out
tonight, 1 will undertake to further your
wishes in the direction you desire"
Nothing could suit me better. will be
frank with you, general, continued the visi-
tor, with an ingenious look well calculated to
win the confidence he sought, and leave be-
hind him an impression of exceeding honesty
My father, as you are perhaps aware, leans
to the rebel side, and with my decided pro-
clivities in the opposite direction, our inter
views are growing decidedly unpleasant. And
this morning concluded it would be best for
me to take some decided step at once, and
4. Il. 4
tressing, at the same time contribute some
thing in furtherance of the principles 1 SO
deeply cherish"
81 honor your determination, sir, beyond
measure. 1t shows flial respect as well as
sense of duty" replied the coniding officer,
really moved towards the young man, whose
delicate sensibilites were undergoing, as he
imagined, such a trying ordeal. Had he un-
derstood the real facts in the case, we very
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