The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-04

Mr.. Martin, who was sitting in the room,
and at his request set down to read a little
to him. Just then Mr.. Sprague came up
stairs. He walked slowly into the room,
Mr.. Conkling rising to meet him. Some
words passed between them, which did not
hear, but the toae of which arrested my at
l rose to my feet. Mr.. Conkling
walked straight across the room to where L
stood, and said: Mrs. Sprague, your hus-
band is very much excited, and l think it
better for all of us if [ should withdraw. 1t
my departure
PUTS YOU TO ANY DAGGER,
say so, and I will stay, whatever the conse-
quences." He spoke in a very calm voice,
although [ knew he must have been excited.
1 told him not to mind me, but that if Mr..
Sprague was in a passion it would be useless
to argue with him and might lead to vio-
lence. Meanwhile, Miss Martin had passed
Mr.. Sprague coming to the house, and was
frightened almost out of her wits by his
stopping her and telling her that there was
going to be a tragedy up at the house. She
hurried down to the pier and ordered up a
barouche to take away her invalid father
from such a dangerous place. Poor old Mr..
Martin struggled to his feet and tottered to
the head of the stairs. / called to Mr..
Conkling to stop and help the poor old gen
tleman to his room, which he did kindly and
tenderly. Then Mr.. Conkling walked down
stairs and out on the platform. My oldest
daughter, Ethel, followed him, and
PUT HER ARM AROUND HIM
and said: Don't go, Mr.. Conkling." Mr..
Sprague stood about fifty feet off on the
edge of the piazza, cycling us in a desperate
sort of a way. I knew [ had done nothing
wrong, and tried to be as calm as [ could.
When Ethel wants Mr.. Conkling to stay 1
said, "No, Ethel, Mr.. Conkling Will go, but
no one shall hurt either him or u.s." My
husband all this time kept perfect silence.
Mr.. Sprague took his gun with him when he
went after Mr.. Conkling. | know it was
loaded, for Willie, my boy, came to me just
afterward and said: mamma, papa's gun
is loaded with three slugs, and if he shoots
any one he'll kill them sure Then he told
me that his father had told him that he had
no caps, and asked him (Willie) for some,
but he didn't think it best to give them to
his father. l have reason to be grateful
that no one was murdered.
Were you present, Mrs. Sprague, in the
senate on the night of the Conkling-Lamar
affair? | was, and in company with several
distinguished senator's wives. The story
that | nearly tainted at the idea of an en-
counter between Senator Conkling and Sen
ator Lamar is utterly false. | hardly knew
of the affair until it was over, and l am GER
tain hat l exhibited no more feeling
than
AS A WARN PERSONAL FRIEND
of Mr.. Conkling. There were others who
exhibited far more interest than [. I sat
before Mrs. Senator Cameron, and 1 remem-
Der that Mr.. Cameron himself, in his excite
ment, rushed down the marble staircase two
steps at a time in order to get on the floor
before the trouble was over. The report
that !! wrote notes to Mr.. Conkling on that
occasion is a shameless falsehood. I GER
tainly would not do so. Obviously it would
be an improper and unladylike action. Some
absolute contradiction is due from me ofthe
stories of my remaining out at late hours
and meeting Mr.. Conkling at the capitol. 1
loathe to speak of these things, but they
have been dwelt upon until instead of mon
strous f%alsehoods they appear to the public
like admitted facts. At the proper time
and in the proper place l will state the true
character and origin of this persecution, and
can honestly say that I want the truth about
the matter to be known at the proper time.