The National tribune., 1888-09-27
Co. COLDYls DEATH.


Col COLBY's DEATH.
Of battle to be as brave as the bravest, and
was recognized as an efficient officer amOnghis |
army associates. While strict discipline
rian. he was kind and eOnsideTate to his men.
The next day Maj. Taylor got leave Of
absence for the afternoon from his Colonel, a
pass through the picket-lines from the bri-
gade commander, and went ont to Buena
Vista to Ell his engagement with the beau
tiful Mrs Col Colby; for she was beautiful
indeed. Like the Major, she was above the
average hight, standing some five feet seven
inches high, with person showing the high
est state Of physical perfection. She was a
blonde Of the purest type, with light golden
hair that needed DO addition In quantity or
color. When did up in the graceful folds and
rolls that she alone knew so well how to ar
range, il set of her head with a grace and
beauty that would have made society belle
green with envy. 4 mouth full Of peaTly
teeth, not too large ana yet not too small.
She was a well-bred, finely-edUcated South
ern woman, who had adorned the best So
ciety; but now her wardrobe was, like that
Of a majority Of the Southern women, re-
duced by the ravsges Of war to that point
that twas an effort to make a presentable
appearance before company.
Mai. Taylor rode Ieisurely along the road
that led to the country mansion ofCOl. Colby,
which was situated on one Of the foothills Of
the Cumberland Mountains, and overlooked
the whole valley of Smiths Cove he had
named il Buena Yisfa-well named it Buena
Nista-ior from its eastern and northern
verapdss il was indeed beautiful view.
After an hour Of general conversation the
LADY eXcHsea herself to look after the tca-ta5le
arrangements, while the Major occupied his
time in aa examination OF a choice selection Of
books aud the many pieces Of rare bric-a-brac
testefuily scattered throughout the room. At
length tea was served with grace only enjoy
ed by the cultivated and while their small-talk
at the beginning was pleasant TO each, yet it
was not long before their conversation drifted
10 the aEi-absorbing questions Of the war, when
8 spirited battle Of words arose between them,
till st It's end twas hard 10 tell which held the
best part Of the battlefield. She was al ardent
rebel and defended the cause Of the Confed-
eracy with all the energy and logic che was
master Of while he was an uneompromising
Cnionist and loyal soldier, who fully believed
that the cause he had espoased was wholly
right and would finally prevail.
"Ees, Mrs Colby, the day viii soon come
when the South viii lay down her srLas and
again submit TO the powers Of the Union. Then
thousands Of our Northern soldiers who have
marched all over this beautiful Southland viii
settle among you. and with their skin, energy
and Yankee push viii enrich themselves and
your people with them. Your people arc now,
TO great extent, impoverished, and with each
year % the struggle viii become more so. Your
States, Counties, municipalities and individuals
viii be deeply IN debt Taxes unpaid, with no
way 10 pay them, your large planters viii have
70 divide their plantations and sell Of parts Of
them into small anEce farms, with the owners
Of tiiem the tilleE Of them. The free negro
labor will soon regulate itself, and the SoHth
wiii start on the short cut 70 prosperity that
has never been dreamed Of"
Hsi hai la! Major, beg your parden for
laughing, but upon my word, l could not help
H. for ] had taken yours for a cool, calculating
mind, not given 20 such chimerical notions as
yen have expressed. But forgive me, Major,
and j wil give you the credit sf being an en-
thusiast on the side Of the North. ! know that
sometimes given matter IS accomplished by an
enthusiastic prosecution that might have been
failure under the operations Of slow, cool
judgment; but yOu are much mistaken IN the
temper Of the people Of the South, If you think
for q moment that such program as you las
down can be carried out No, Sir, if in case
this waE ends by the military submission Of the
South, your people could not live among Us
We viii not sell cur lands 70 you. We would
rather our former slaves should possess them
We viii ostracize you IN every way possible
we viii neither invite or accept an invitation
IN social life; We viii neither deal or be deal
with Ia business way; we viii neither pray
for YOU nor accept the PRAYERS Of your mos
oeyout; we viii live more secluded from th'
contact Of your people than We ever have from
our negro slaves. Yes, Major, you may whil
rs, but you viii never conquer US - aud rs the,
rose from the table she said, " Come this way
Major" and leading him out 70 a beautifu
flower garden, she stepped on bed Of runnin
vines and began trampling them with her heel:
and said:
"Step on them Major: kick and stauap them
you can't hurt them"
Indeed What are they, that they can stan
such rough usage" said Taylor.
We people Of the South call them 'Tebs
vines the more they are kicked the bette
they grow. Thus il is with the South; you ma
kick and break us to-day. but we will be foan
strong and healthy tomorrow"
can't reconcile your argument on tn
question with your treatment OF myself sine
our Acquaintance" said Taylor.
- would not be a Southern woman Ma
Taylor, if forgot the obligations owe to on
who befriended me when in peril No, Maio
] am only expressing the sentiments OF II
great body Of the Southern people Whi
here and there an exception may be made I
persons, yet, ! am sure ] fairly speak for II
body OF the South; and more, if YOU sha
finally conquer peace, aud we again become
part Of the body polite OF the old Union, =
viii finally win with the ballot what we hal
lost with the bullet, and again, as in the o
days, send our greatest statesmen 20 the Hal
OF Congress. and through their superior stat
craft rule you as we have for 60 years or NOR
OF course ] understand that we will never la,
the numerical strength, but we can always 4
pend upon an opposition TO the radical maiori
IN the North 10 do our bidding, aud throue
them we viii again triumph over your narroi
minded Puritanism in the North"