The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-09-08

l"i'iiy PieaSantneSS, UnWllllng 10
contest the fervid torrent of secession
talk, he at first kept silent. This led to
suspicion, and finally to open warfare on
the part of the generous people who had
| once extended their arms to him. His
father had died, and the widow, an ar
dent Southerner, learned to look on him
with constlaint. Even Hal, merry, hand
some Hal, who had adored the ground
Lance trod upon, began to quarrel with
him. There was nothing for it but re-
treat. Lancelot returned to his Northern
home, and soon heard the news that
Hal had become volunteer at Manassas.
After that there was long and painful
gap in their relations. 1t was while
wandering aimlessly around Europe
ten years later that Lancelot made
up his mind to return to America,
and to visit the home of his fathers
The heresolution once taken was acted upon
with almost feverish zeal Now that
he had again shaken Halls hand, had sat
istied himself that the slim lad of nine
teen was still somewhere lurking behind
the veil of adipose matter surrounding
the man of twenty-nine, Barksdale
breathed long sigh of relief As for
the squire, he was one of those guileless
natures content to take things as they
find them. Barksdale's foreign airs ex-
cited in him wonder not unmixed with
amusement. He fell to specializing over
what the women would say to the coming
of this importation of fastidious elegance
into their impoverished household. In
old times Cherrycote had never specu-
lated; secure in homely plenty, it had
simply flung wide open its doors and bid
den the stranger in.
Suppose we walk the rest of the way"
Barksdalc said, springing with alacrity
from his mousetrap equipage. II have
so much to say to you, Hal, l don't know
where to begin"
Il don't walk much nowadays; but
still said the squire, getting down
in rather breathless fashion, and
leading the mule, followed by Poss and
his spawned steed along road carpeted
with pine tags and bordered with wild
honeysuckles.
II haven't asked you about your
wife," Lancelot said, when it appeared
that the question could no longer in com
mon courtesy be deferred.
"Kitty? Why, she's Splendid" said
lne squire, ucdtGlly' Anu II you IL De
lieve me, Lance, I've six young ones, all
girls. The old house is as full as ever,
but you'll find things down at the heel,
l reckon. The same story everywhere
hereabout: no money, poor labor, no re-
pairs7 the women struggling with in
! efficient servants, worn out furniture,
worn-out clothes. But Kitty's temper
don't wear out, thank Godl You've not
forgotten what a splendid girl she was,
LanCeW
~ have not forgotten her in the least, "
his brother answered, in tone of slight
constraint.
Launcelot thought of the time when
he had last seen Kitty Morris, then a
youthful cousin of Mrs. Barkdale's, on a
summer visit to Cherrycote. She was
standing in the deep grass of the old
orchard, under the cherry blossoms, in
the spring of '61. She was mere slip
of girl then, with large dark eyes, and
a weight of dusky hair upon her small,
proud head. He remembered the gown
she wore, a sort of full-bodied, thin
white stuff. with sash of crimson, and
the trick she had of intcrlacing her small
brown Southern fingers while she talked.
an impetuous treble, the sound of which
still echoed in his ears. "What prom
ised was not to an enemy of my country.
l would rather die than marry YOU"
She had faced him bravely, detiantly,
two red spots filming in her ordinarily
clear pale cheeks, but there was trem-
BILE in her voice, as if she would have
been glad to cry instead of speaking.
Thus they had parted, and now Lance
lot was again to meet her as the wife of
his alf-brother, the mother of Halls six
girls. For a moment he felt ike turn
ing back upon the threshold of his visit,
but after poor little vagabond Poss had
been sent to the servants quarters in
quest of refreshment for man and beast,
the two walkers struck into well-re-
membered path across the orchard lead
ing to the house. The berry blossoms
were again in bloom, ard there, under a
green arcade of snow-laden boughs, was
seen a merry group of ladies and children
picking violets in the grass.
Lancelot caught le glimpse of Kitty,
recognizing her instantly. From the
girl of seventeen she had expanded into
a splendid beauty of twenty-seven, 1.-THE
and brown as ever with rich color in
her cheeks, not in the least suggesting a
matron oppressed by many cares ofmater-
nifty and housekeeping. Swarming
over her were a number of affectionate
small girls and at little distance sat
Mrs. Barksdale the elder, looking thin
and care-wOrn, engaged in conversation
with lady whom he dimly recalled as
another cousin of the by-gone days, then
a coquetti'h parsonage with dimples, and
wonderful plaits of hair worn in a crown
around her head. The dimples were
still evident, though the cheeks had
faded hut the abundant braids were per-
ceptiby thinner. Barksdale took in all
these details, although he wondered at
himself for observing them in face of the
immediate powerful impression made on
him by the first view of his sister-in-law.
The color had receded from hls face.
leaving him deathly pale. The trial had
L. = l. 4. Il h. l...I