The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-06

I
for her children, the young girl by her
side was equally busy striving with her
poor woman's strength to pull down and
cast away from her heart fondly-cher-
ished image-an idol of whose very exis-
tence she was unconscious, until Arthur
Ferguson, in declaring his passion and
questioning if she loved another, had
torn the veil from her heart and exposed
its secret passion. Increasingly since
then she had labored to remove the
beautiful picture, and supplying its place
with others as fair, if not fairer; but
loves coloring will not be blotted out,
and even a light touch was anguish to
the suffering sentative heart.
"Ah, mew she murmured to herself,
Hthis cruel, cruel war! Had there been
no war, my love, my loveP-and she
softly on the word-"had not
been unworthy Southern grill Had
we been victorious, q daughter of the
proud Palmetto land would be magnani-
NOUS in forgiving! To heal the wound
ed, to soothe bruised heart is the noblest
work of woman! Had we conquered,
then even a Maham need not have
blushed to acknowledge love for an enc
my so noble, so generous and so brave.
He loves mel I know it, although he
never spoke of love. I read it in the
glance of his truthful eyes. I hear it in
the tones of his rich and manly voice.
But alas, alasl 0, mother, motherI she
suddenly exclaimed, startling her mother
by the undertone of anguish in her voice,
"why are we vanquished? Five years
ago Carolina proudly dared to say: I
am freep to-day tyranny, ignorance and
vice sit in her high placesl Why is it
soH Have we no right to freedomf Did
not our fathers win it at Cowpens, Kings
Mountain, Hobkirk Hill, Eutaw and
Fort Moultrie? and cannot truth, cour-
age and endurance keep it? If so, why,
ohl why have the valleys of Virginia
drunk the blood of our loved ones in
vain? Why we're our victories in Ken
lucky, Tennessee and Georgia in vain?
Why the courage displayed, and hard
ships endured by our brave "Boys" at
vicksburg in vain? Why the bold ef-
forts of her sons to avenge the insults
heaped upon fair Louisiana in vain?
and why, OIL mother, why does the
whole land weep? Why the groans of
my bleeding country? Why the ming
ling of fear and sorrow on every facet
Has our God forgotten to be gracious ?"
aHush, hush my child! He doeth all
things WE'LL We know not now, but
we shall know"
There was deep and prolonged silence
in the room. The young murmurer
bowed her head in acknowledgment of
the righteousness of the gentle rebuke.
GA gemman's at de doe, en- send you
dis" said ragged little freedman, hand
ing Mrs. Maham card.
"Col. Gray! Hubert Grayl Ask him
to come in, Ned" exclaimed Mrs. Maham,
rising eagerly to welcome her Walters
friend.
Warm and affectionate was the greet
ing between Mrs. Maham and Col. Gray.
His position as a Federal officer, his
birthright to the unloved appellation,
Yankee" was all forgotten in the at
tractive and cherished sentiment, "My
Walters friend and our protector from
insult and wrong.">
Marion's first emotion was thrill of
exquisite joy which flushed her pale face
with a radiant and rosy light, but con-
sciousness of her unfortunate love sent
the warm blood back as quickly to her
heart, leaving her even paler than before,
and the hand she mechanically offered
Col. Gray was cold and passive in his
warm grasp.
The surprise and gladness Of welcome
being over, Mrs. Maham and Hubert
were soon in intimate and friendly con-
versation. Questions and answers fol-
lowed each other in rapid succession.
Col. Gray was naturally ardent in his
affections, and quick in his sympathies,
and readily entered into the hopes and
fears, joys and sorrows felt by his friends
mother for her children and friends, her
home and country.
Harry was enquired for by the Colonel,
his absence regretted and his happy be-
trothal rejoiced in as fervently as if he
had been Hubert Gray's own brother.
Col. Gray wore no uniform, a pleasant
incident to his friends, to whom the Uni
ted States uniform would have been a
disagreeable reminder of the bitter past.
He told them he had resigned his posi-
ton in the Federal Army, had few days
previous received an approval of his res
ignation, and was then en- route for his
home; but feeling a great longing to
visit Berkley Hall and its dear inmates
once more, he had yielded to his inclina-
tions.
"I apprised my mother of my inten-
tions; she sends much love, dear Mrs.
Maham, to yourself and Miss Marion,
and expresses hope to have you visit
her at no very distant day in her home" f"
Mrs. Maham courteously expressed her
thanks for the invitations, and her feel
ings of grateful affection for the gentle
woman who had been as mother in
L Il.