The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-05-18
0riaimal Stutg,
BERKLEY HALL.
BY ala CARoLINE.4
CHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII.
"Shall it not be scorn to me to harp on such
mouldering string?
arl ashamed through all my nature to have loved
so slight thing"
My kind reader, let us take retro
spective glance few weeks previous to
the occurrences related in the last chap
ter, and stop with me for short time in
one of the handsomest residences in the
populous city of =, in one of the
Northwestern States. 1t was the home
of well-known and gallant Federal
officer and the then editor of widely
circulated newspaper, called "The Stand
ard Of Liberty" And worthy indeed
was it of its high-sounding title, SC can
did, bold and intelligent was the spirit
of its editorials, so fearless yet generous
its criticisms, and withal perfectly free
from the ribald gests and low persiAage
which robs so many of our purest and
ablest journals of their dignity and their
power. Flying under Democratic colors,
'0The Standard of Liberty" with the
stirring cry Excelsior, boldly lifted on
high her glorious flag, and fought fear
lessly against great odds the peoples
battles, regardless of section. Men but
half convinced, and still cropping under
the dark veil of prejudice and fanaticism
which had for so many years blinded
them to right judgment of the vexed
questions which had caused the land to
flow with blood, and every hearthstone
to reiterate the stern demand, "Where is
Abel, thy brother?" gazed with admira-
tion, although they held back from fol-
lowing after the courageous young editor
who, mere boy in years, worked, they
said, like strong man in life's meridian
splendor, feeling that to him a great work
had been given, and. the period for its
performance short. But one girlish
heart conned the secret Alright, and
thrilled with conscious joy that hers
had been the voice to awaken the intel
lectual giant to run his race, the chris
tian hero to redeem his mistaken past.
Although the young soldier was called
"an eccentric man, an old fogy," all in
voluntarily paid the tribute of respect to
one whose modest but fearless self
respect, generous impulses and ardent
affections savoured of the spirit of an
almost forgotten and chivalric age.
Into his home of wealth and luxury,
passing through lofty corridors and richly
furnished chambers, adorned with beau
tiful pictures and rare statuary, we enter
small but handsome library, and there
an its only occupant, the owner of all
this wealth and fame, we recognize our
old friend Hubert Gray.
The few years which had passed since
his farewell to Harry Maham at St. s.
depot had wrought but few changes in
Col. Gray, and had we met him in the
brilliant saloons of the beau-monde, pass
ing the light jest or the gay retort, we
should have said that care-dull, plod-
ding, wearing care-was a stranger to
the breast of fortunes favored child.
But sitting there alone, his eyes sternly
fixed upon two open letters which lay
spread upon the table before him, his
contracted brow, and lips firmly and
painfully compressed, told a tale of
wrong and suffering, and of battle
with his grief.
Suddenly the proud head was bowed,
and in voice of reproaching sorrow he
spoke: "Ah, woman! it is ever thus,
since the dark tragedy of Paradise! in
thee, SO fair and yet so vain and uncer-
tain, man worships but an ideal of truth
and holiness! And, yet, without thee,
Eden were no Paradise! And, alas,
alasl in each earthly paradise the SER
pent's trail is found All, Marion, Ma
rion! are you in truth but a fair creation
of my fondest, purest fancies? dream
of beauty which has vanished forever?
Then away, away vain fancies and idle
dreams. With my watchword, Duty I
will spring to the combat, and gladly
and fearlessly follow in duty's stern,
unfinching lead, knowing that my re-
compense is sure-'The joy which mixes
man with Heavenp"
That the reader may understand and
sympathize with the grief of our hero,
we offer tor his perusal the open letters:
Letter of Hubert Gray to Marion Ma
ham: