The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-11-27

ID a
ed by the consent and aid of the colored
people, who thus properly appealed to
responded generously aud WELL :,
The State was reconstructed and re
stored to her sons
Percy Waring distinguished himself
in Congress by his bold and fearless de-
fence of the rights of his State, as re-
constructed. All classes felt that he was
right When he returned home, ovation
after ovation awaited him. The colored
people invited him to address them, and
as he told them plainly and truthfnlly
their rights and their duties, they gath
cred around him as around one whom
they could trust.
Some of his friends were smagnani-
nous enough tc come forward and renew
their acquaintance with him, frankly
acknowledging their error aud prejudice
others still kept him under the ban of
social ostracism.
Among those who still treated him
with coolness were Ralph Sinclair's fam
lily. None condemned him more vio-
lently than Peyton Avenel
Years passed, and with their slow rev.
olution, reconstruction upon sure foun-
dation, was gradually being accomplish.
ed. The gentlemen of the South were
either passing away or their bitter an
tagonism to these changes was relenting.
While these changes were working
out their fulfilmcnt, and Percy was vim
dicating his sentiments by the criterion
of their success and extension, let us for
moment look at the relations that ex-
isted between him and Lucille AYenel.
Born of kindred ancestry, both iuheri-
tors of goodly patrimony, reared on
neigiiboring plantations in the country,
and meeting often in the same socill cir
cles in tie city, their intimacy had
ripencd into love.
Their love had been mutually confessed
in the sunny hours of childhood, had
ripened with their years, aud been j D
cognizcd and approved by their parents.
i,eeille's :. father loved the boy as he. said
like hH own martyred son, who had
fallen in an early stage of the war.
He has lost gallant father" he
would say, Il a noble boy. l will be
his father, and he shall fill the place of
my fallen SON."
Their engagement thus hallowed by
the golden memories Of youth, thus con-
tinued and sanctioned by her tather's
blessing, had been interrupted in its con-
summation, only by the ruins and poverty,
consequent to the war, and since by her
fathers disapproval and anger at his
political course.
Percy Waring knew Lucille Avenel,
too well, to fear that she would misunlcr-
stand or mistrust him, but he knew her
fathers allegiance to the principles in
abeyunce,' as he called those issues for
which the Sonth had so gloriously but
so vainly struggled, and he knew Lu-
Giles allegiance to her father His pre-
judice on himself must pass away before
he could claim his Lucille.
Years passed away, and Percy War
ing had reaped high honors aud rich re-
ward. His sentiments has been adopted
by large and influential class of the
South, and under their influence, peace,
IN its truest sense, and prosperity un-
dreamed of at the South, were allaying
all differences, settling all conflicts of
classes, aud pouring untold wealth into
the country.
All opposition, all prejudice to him
seemed giving away.
At this period he thought of his Lu-
ellie, thought of her girlish beauty and
freshness, in the budding of her charms
aud the development of her disposition.
He resolved to make an effort to win her.
He had never called at her fathers since
they had been in the city, and it had
been a long time since he had spent an
evening at Ralph Linclair's.
This evening he resolved to call at the
house of the latter. They had deter
mined TO relent. He was invited in.
Lucille Avenel and her father were there.
AT first the old man did not wish to recog-
nize him, but his feelings gave way when
he heard his manly voice, and saw his