Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-19

was not serious trouble Men were hot
tempered on slavery and the rights OF the
state In those days and in that section;
much was forgiven Levin Shockley; men
touched their ioreheads Significantly and
Whispered by way OfeXcuse for their old
friend that ne lately had suffered a grave
domestic affection. Some gossip there
was whose tone was not helpful TO faith
IN WOmaDhood, not matter that much
interested the homeward-going statesman
gossip, however, that did not spend its
strength in that little township for many
q day thereafter, not till the visit Of
Ioomos was the merest memory and the
lace OF Levin Shockley was forgotten-for
forgotten II was long ere his history faded
there, history that took on an eager life
when before that eventtul sabbath night
was all over the county had heard that
Lhe wire Of the hamlets parsOn had
ned with shame-faced lover, and
that IN the same night the parSon had
qult the scene OF his LIES best endeay-
or.
"TOombs never heard again OF the man
VINO anroDted him so boldly till by acct
uenI ne fell upon him YagTant, and dy-
ing at his very gate. Because | loved
BOD I0ombs, because | know what his
real nature was, and know, too, how
falsely his motives and manner have been
read, Tor such reason | am glad OF the
chance to tell this story. Could a more
glorious commentary be written on any
heart than actions told here. Levin shock
ley's last days were vindictive enough Of
robert Loombs against all calumny that
mas dared attribute unmanhness to him.
nave 1 told ali? No. Levin Shockley
did not wander south without an incent-
I'VE. The war left him a cripple and des-
tltute. lie had not been Union orator
only: he shOuldered a musket in good
tlme, and he had fought braYely, falling,
believe, at Gettysburg in an onward
charge at the head of his company. And
now, finally dying from the effects of bat
tie FIELD exposure, he had wandered away
down into Georgia. Why? you ask.
why? To seek that recreant wife Of
years before. A letter somehow had got
to him from her, she was in a Southern
almshouse; her sin had demanded heavy
waves; be who had led her into crooked
paths had ended his wickedness with bru-
tai desertlon. With 20 hope-so she wrote
with no petition for rescue she still
wanted to ask forgiveness ere the end
came. 1T was pitiful letter; pathos was
in every line, and Its mission WAS fulfill
ed At once and with all the energy of a
failing lie the wronged husband started
toward her whose memory needed in his
heart no resurrection. That letter was
in his hand and be lay fainting at the
roadside when Bob TOombs found him,
and that strange day in the Old time
came back all clearly 10 hisremembrance.
But gentle nursing did not suffice to bring
back health TO Levin SbOckleY. He died
one New Years day, but death was hap
piness. The wife was found. She, too,
was sick unto death. Bob ToOmbs stood
in the room when the two long and cru
elly-parted were finally met again. He
carried In with his arms her wasted fig
ure from his carriage that had brought
her to the dying husband. 1t was not a
scene to vuigarize by gazing. Enough it
is to know that there was only joy and
peace and all forgiveness there. The old
lite was revived, but not for existence in
this world; heaven is for reunions so sa-
cred, so joyful, as WAS this on that New
Years day when Bob TOOmbs gave hap
piness in all its brightest perfection to
TWO souls"