Middletown transcript., 1870-05-14

northern fortress. Only by the interven-
ton of man in the ranks was summary
punishment averted, for the scion of Ger
man confederation elevated by political
power, brooked no law.
By one of those rare humane acts, Gan
exchange of prisoners) young Stanhope
reached his native state after ten months
incarceration, to find property squandered
and ruin rampant.
Enough had been already done. Lee
surrendered, the south, worn by conflict
and privation humbled; the government
inclined to leniency. The vanquished Sec
ton won by seeming magnaminity accept
ed the promises in good faith, proud of
the encomums for bravery lavished by
victorious foe, lulled into tancied security
of mutual protection, and hoped for good
time coming.
Reconstruction by republican bulls,
taught. the doctrine that the voice of ma
jorities should be heard, that loyalty alone
should have precedence, but the hydra
head of party with lynx eye saw and seiz-
ed pretext, revealing the inspired hnoW-
tcogc that the negro constituted alone the
loyal element,
The scum of northern cities, men lost
to honor, banned by society started forth
" carpet-bag" in hand needy advcnturers
to trade on bogus patriotism. Women,
shame to their sex, the purlieus of courts
and dark alleys, on whose white faces no
blush arose, with the God stamped brand
of Ishmael, bowed to the rice swamp ne
gro, and taught the creed that color was
passport to heaven.
Conservative commanders gave way to
radicals, and the owners Of a servile race
were made to bow subseryient to their
wishes, while insults were heapcd directly
on innocent sufferers.
A backslider from the tenets of demo-
cratic faith, legalized murder, and rode
with iron shod heel over one of the fairest
of southern provinces.
Although obnoxious laws oppressed
measurably the entire breadth of the suf-
fering country, it was reserved for the
State of South Carolina, to become the fo-
Gus from which light radiated.
Percy Stanhopc, lionized by his fellows,
became shining mark-he was a marked
man. Conscious that resistance was vain
he took no active part in the contest about
him. lie saw the state offices filled by
aliens to her soil; he saw sable skinned
Philippians representing bogus consttu-
ents, presuming on their authority, cloth
ed i'll power, and his soul revolted
While on visit to the city of Raleigh,
whittier he had gone to prepare for his
coming nuptials with Miss Du Bois, the
news reached him that a South Carolina
assembly, composed of mud-sills, had pas
sed an act forcing negro equality on her
citizens. The hot blood of his nature
brooked no curb, and he passed comment
freely. Professor Morse did not, in per-
fccting his discovery, rival the dark skin
ned race in transmitting intelligence
News circulates electrically, and though
no press or courier speeds the matter. ne
grocs for circuit of fifty miles are cogni-
zant OF events about to transpire. A bur-
ly African, polishing boots, adept in de-
ception, fit representative of his crafty,
lying race, treasured the words of passion
that fell from Stanhope' lips. Perfecting
his arrangements, when the following
morning broke, jubilant with thoughts of
conjugal bliss, he started homeward The
pail of national darkness, heavy with woe,
shimmered brightly to him when woman's
face and woman's smile beamcd on its
border. Heaven glorious in the blessed
ness of eternal felicity, once crushed the
ambition of an incarnate fend, and her
fairest prototypes reach the goal through
much tribulation. Isles where eternal
verdure carpets the earth, vocal with the
song of birds, profuse in meats and fruits,
hide in their most enticing grottoes the
deadly asp, and poisonous cobra. Stan
hope, in the flush of his young manhood
, and joyous health, astride noble horse,
exhilerated by exercise, scarce noticed a
negro he passed as be neared the sea side
cottage. Trees that, like the poplar,
lift upward all their boughs, give no shade
: whatever their height and those who
swim brcasting the tide should husband
r strength for the exertion.
FOURTH PICTURE
Floating over the vast and wondrous
armament the clouds were -hued to
the young lover. The hand of old father
! Time held broken sickle, while pomp
and pride of possession reared fair fabrics
in the vista, dazing the reaching sight
with beams colossal Serene the stars
:, twinkled, and the soft zephyr toyed with
natural forest garlands, simmering the air
in magic circles about the travellers brow
as he neared home.
The roar of the distant sea was unnoted
the dashing rush of returning tidal
wave in eddying boil emptying waters
across the ford stayed him not, nor broke
=, the chain of thought. A mind crowded
with beautiful images created no false fe-
yer, impregnating the heart with life's
upas. That charm, born of virtue, was
the talisman of his hope. Staphope was
hasting to the love of one who bred in
peace, wore the tiara of innocence and
e dignifed its dover. 1t was the hour Of
t his tryst.
Percy how musical the name accented
: by her; how master-like the spell of heI
L l.