The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-12-02

teIs Nnot DaVlng YET lOund any biluatIOI
which did not horribly disagree will
him), that Tom had better continue tC
direct his letters to the postoffice.
Some expression in the letter made
Tom Ackland almost fear that Johns
mind had become affected. He wrote
at once imploring his cousin to return
to Boston if well enough TO travel, and
offering, If he were not, to start for
Charleston at once in order to be with
him.
John Ackland, in his reply, assured
his cousin that he felt quite unable Ia
undertake the fatigue Of even a much
shorter journey than the journey from
Charleston to Boston. He begged that
Tom would not think of joining him
at Charleston. He could not at pres
ent bear to see any one. Even half an
hours conversation, especially with any
one he knew, excited him almost be.
yond endurance He avoided the sight
of human faces as much as he could
His only safety was in complete seclu-
sion. Every one was in conspiracy to
distress and injure him. He might tell
Tom, in strict confidence, that all the
people in Charleston were so afraid of
his setting up business in that town,
that they were determined to ruin, and
even to murder him if they could. There
were persons (he had seen them) who
followed him about wherever he went,
in order to poison the air when he was
asleep; but he had been too sharp tor
them. The letter concluded with some
quotations from Rousseau on the sub
ject of suicide 1t bore such evident
traces of mental arrangement, that Tom
Ackland resolved to lose no time in
going to Charleston. A statement
which attracted his attention in the
next mornings newspapers, confirm ed
his worst fears, and greatly increased
his anxiety to arrive there
CHAPTER VII
At this time, some political friends
of Mr.. Dobbins, whose opinions had
been advocated with great ability in
the Richmond Courier on a subject of
a question so hotly debated between
North and South, that it had threatened
to break up the Union, invited that gen
tleman to a public banquet at one of
the principal hotels in Richmond. Mr.
Cartwright was present at this dinner
SO was Judge Griffin; so was Doctor
Simpson, the brother of the magnetic
young lady; so were others of John
Ackland's fellow-guests at Glenoak.
The dinner was a Union dinner, the
speeches were Union speeches, the
event celebrated was the triumph of
Unien sentiment in harmony with
Southern supremacy. After the great
political guns had fred themselves off,
the ladies were "admitted from behind
the sceen," toasts of gallantry and per-
Sonal compliment were proposed, and
the minor orators obtained a hearing.
None ofthese were more voluble than
Mr.. Cartwright. He rose to propose
a toast. The toast was a Union toast,
for it united the absent with the pres
ent. lie would invite the company to
drink to the health of "Our absent
friends"
At this moment Mr.. Cartwright was
disagreeably interrupted by a bus tie
and buzz of voices among the sable
attendants at toe door. "Order order"
cried Judge Griffin, Indignantly looking
round.
"Please, Massa Judge" cried one
burly niger, bolder than his fellows,
"Massa Ackland he be in de next
room, and want to speak berry 'tic'Ier
with Massa Cartwright"
"By Jove, Cartwright! do you hear
that :" exclaimed the Judge. "What
Ackland! John Ackland7"
"Yessir. Massa John AcEland he
be in a bustin'big hurry, and waitin'
to see Massa Cartwright berry 'tic'lar." Z"
"Why not call him ini' suggested
the Judge. EVERY one will be happy
to see him, after all the trouble he has
cost some of u.s."
"NO, no. cried Cartwright, much
overcome by the surprise. "Gentle-
men, / will not detain you longer. To
our absent friends! And now" he
sdded, emptying his bumper with an
unsteady hand, 81 am sure you will all
excuse me, since it seems that one of
my absent friends is waiting to see me. +"
CHAPTER VIII.
Mr. Cartwright hurried to the door,
and next moment found himself face to
face--not with Mr.. John, but with Mr..
Johns cousin Tom, Ackland.
Mr.. Tom Ackland introduced him
self: "My excuse" said he, sis, that
/ am only at Richmond for few hours,
on my way to Charleston, and that, ac-
cidentally hearing from one of the helps
here that you happened to be in the no.
tel, was anxious to ask you VIII ether
you had lately heard from my cousin,
or received any news of him from
Charleston p
"None," said Cartwright. II trust
there is nothing the matter 7"
"You have not even seen his name
mentioned in the newspapersi'
"NO."
"Yet presume paragraph l have
here from Boston paper, must also
have appeared in the Richmond jour
mails. Pray be so good as TO look at it. +"