The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-12-16
AL RIGHTS RESERVED.
JUST AFTER THE WAR.
a STORY oFTHE SOUTH
Write, for THE WEEKLY SENTINEL By Eleanor
". Jones, Of Neao Borne, N. c., Agthor
CHAPTER XXNIII.

VI. Jones, OF Ne1C Be7'ne, ~. T., AgthOr
CHAPTER XXXIII.
1t seems ages since Jamie, Leonard
and ! shared the vigil OF that horrible
morning, whose few hours seemed years
in the imprints they have left upon
my memory.
In vain did my companions endeav-
or 10 prevail upon me, the necessity of
taking some repose, but it is one night
to be recalled when sleep lost a vic
tim, for not one moment Of uncon-
sciousness cane to solace me, during
those hours in actual verificatation OF
Delaceurt's threat to me.
With the first grey streaks of dawn
came the terrible consciousness Of
fathers and mothers knowledge of
this awful catastrophe and unable to
divine what may result therefrom.
After long consultation, | am sent
to communicate to Belle, the sad intel
ligence Of poor Inflated Arches death.
Jamie undertakes to break the horrl-
BILE news to our parents.
never knew just how he accom-
plished it, but when with trembling
hands, l helped Belle hastily dress, ex-
planning, in an incohearent way that
Archie was dead, and dragged her,
gazing stupidity at me, as if insensible
of my intention, down the stairs, we
passed that trio from the other room.
Twenty years seemed suddenly to have
laid their blighting hands upon his
slunkenform bending it almost double
with with their increased weight, and
shrivelling the leaden-hued skin, until
the face seemed to shrink to one-half
its recent size.
Jame's and mothers arms support
ed his feble frame, as he tottered with
uncertain gait, slowly down the steps,
across the hall, and into the room,
where, in sleeping attitude, with the
torn, blood-smeared garments, all re
moved, by Jamie and Leonard's care
and replaced by those which gave no
evidence Of the last nights broil, with
one arm thrown carelessly over the
disfigured countenance, revealing only
the uninjured mouth, lay in calm re-
pose, Archie, the murdered, Archie
name-sake Of the murdered one
wondered if father would think of
this coincident, end almost his words
confirmed my fears, as with reserved
strength, he threw himself beside the
lounge, and kissing the damp locks,
whispered audibly, cit was the name,
my poor Inflated boy; it was your
fathers accident, that is visited now
on you, to crush the little life left in
him o, my boy, my boy!"
1t was the first allusion had heard
from him, to the little brother whose
life he had unintentionally shortened,
yet how much of long-concealed agony
found utterance in his low tones, bur-
dened with the woe of his own lifetime.
All day Friday, and part of Satur-
day did we cling to this form of clay,
the all that remained to us, Of him,
who seemed so little likely to leave SO
soon.
At three in the afternoon of Satur.
day we carried him to the silent city
and placed him near our sleeping
Jessie.
Poor Belle controlled herself with
wonderful fortitude until the coffin lid
was fastened, when with very endear
ing terms of affection, with hand clasp
ed, and streaming eyes, she besought
her favorite brother to speak to hel
once more.
All! how / wished that the font
manifestation of our love, which now
-overlooks all his failings, in searching
for the better traits, had been scatter
ed throughout his life, instead of thu
reserved for that time when it cal
bring no qualification to his heart
stilled in its wonderful machinery, nj
longer alive to what might have caus
ed it earthly grief or joy.
Leonard postponed his departure
and as a brother, shared our common
sorrow, and under the influence of hi
genuine sympathy, I found mysel
leaning upon him for the consolation
he seemed to know SO we'll how to al
ford. [ felt stunned, and it was fortu
nate for me to have some one upol
whom | could wholly rely, since it ha
fallen to Jamie's lot to minister to GU
bereaved, heart-broken parents.
Sunday came. What dreary pam
1t brought WITH IL; only one wee
back, and we were a united family
standing together in our little church
Now One break has occurred, and W
shall never form here, as then, an III
broken band again.
The world seems full OF trouble t
our clowded vision, as we gaze upon
with eyes dimmed by the sorrow {
the present hour.
When we return to our home, file
with the gloomy shadow which deaf
throws as mantle over his ternporar
abodes, and which requires many da,
ere it passes and the sombre present
repairs to cast its shade over 9th,
homes, to fill them with the WOO, whie
destroys all pleasure, and banishes tt
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