The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-02-10

whenever the theme was Berkley Hall.
for it is beautiful Without seeing,
could not have conceived of so much
romantic beauty, unaided by either
mountains or sea. That long, dark
swamp, what beautiful background ii
makes to the picture, how soft are its
shades; and these grand old trees, how
graceful they are, with their sad looking
vestment of long, grey mossl Your
people, all of them, and everything
around you look as though you might
tell tales of long, long agor"
After driving. some distance, chatting
thus freely and gaily as only old, true
and true friends do, Walter remarked
Hubert, I have some happy news to tell
you"
"I have guessed it already, old fellow.
Take my best wishes for your future, and
may you be as happy as you deserve TO
bel If sweet, fair face, and gentle,
winning manner are the index of lovely
character, then Miss st. Julien is worthy
even of Walter Maham Is the happy
day appointedf"
"No, Dr.St. Julien is unwilling for OUR
marriage until our national troubles are
settled. He thinks it will be needless,
wrong, to subject young girl to the
anxieties and cares Of q wife, whose hus-
bands life must be spent in the soldiers
tent or on the field of carnage"
"The anxious thoughts and wearing
cares I should imagine would be felt for
the loved one, be he husband or lover.
I don't think the old gentleman's reasons
are good; but surely, Walter, you do not
anticipate war? I have never dreamed
of such thing! I have never, 1 am
ashamed to confess, looked carefully into
the questions which have been agitating
our country. I read the papers it is true,
but always throw them aside with the
feeling that it is big smoke and little
fire. to gain some base political end.
You know I have always had contempt
for the wiry ways of politicians; over all
they say and do I fell like writing, I'm
purep 'Impurep Since the days of our
Washington and his noble peers, our
statesmen have only been politicians"
"Our great Calhoun was statesman,
sans pcur ct sans reproche,' and the ar
chives of our little State record many
names of public men of unblemished
purity" said the young Carolinian,
warmly.
"True, true" said Hubert, "but your
Calhoun was, you must admit, in many
respects a solitaire"
"Hubert, 1 am so glad you have made
me this visit, I feel that we may never
again meet in social and pleasant con-
verse. A terrible conflict lies before us !;
one in which both you and I must take
a part, and we will not be together. You
will muster with our foe, the instigators
of the war, who are working for the lust
of money and tho lust of power; but
you, my friend, my Hubert, you will
fight Loyalty for flag! I must fight for
life and liberty, for home and fatherland !
Remember, come veal come woe, Walter
Maham is ever the friend of Hubert
Grayp
"You are right, Walter, if fight must,
1 cannot desert my colors, for 1 am a
soldier, and not even a Southerner to ex-
suse it; but, oh, be assured, would
rather suffer death than be compelled to
take up arms against your people-my
brothers! But why invoke these dread
full visions of carnage and death? 1 do
not believe we are going to fight each
other, and in month or two I will be
again in old Charleston, acting grooms-
man on that happy OCCASION Let us,
at any rate, look on the bright side as
long as we may, and when the storm does
come, make the best we can of it."
"Eyer the most thoughtless, Hubert!
The wise man builds to brave the Storm"
said Walter, sadly. "You are dreamer
still, living in a world of your fancy's
creation, you people it with ideal beings,
and see things only as you wish to have
them. Obi what On awakening will
yours be I meant not thus to sadden
this bright Christmas morning with
gloomy anticipations. See, yonder is
our little forest church; it is there our
solemn services touch my heart with
holier and more soothing power than any
where else; there my soul rests in holy
joy, looking to and trusting in the lowly
Babe of Bethlehemp'
TO BE CONTINUED.
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