Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-01-17

iFl T-A-.,a NV st. Clair, as it rolls
M s i@ss s: :ssss & & ss s5ss
mile wide, two hundred feet deep-a very
epic poem written in water by Natures
own hand.
At bend in its course, half way between
the two lakes it connects, stands substan-
tlal farmhouse surrounded by neat outbuild-
tngs and poisoning orchards. 1t is from
the latter feature that it inherits its name
the Orchard House.
And in that pretty dwelling lives family
which has history.
When you look at the little summer-house
in the garden, which was evidently once
the pilot-house of a steamer, and see the
tall, tapering mast with the stars and stripes
floating in the breeze, you are prepared to
be told that it is the home of a sailor.
A very old, weather-beaten hulk is Daniel
Winthrop now, but in the year when my
story opens, nearly three decades ago, he was
a hale, yvell-preserved man of sixty, whose
silvery hair was the only external Fremont
ton of advancing age.
When the glad spring sun of 1861 was tint
ing the surface of his beloved river with
every hue of the rainbow, who had greater
right to say: THE Lord has proSpered he
and my cup is full of joy" than Daniel Win
throp!
For thirty years he had sailed the lakes as
captain of his own ships. Before 1.-The pes
ky railroads." as he expressed it, had
dropped the bottom out of freights," he
had made money 'hand over tist,' and
while yet enjoying the vigor of man
hood, had settled down to retirement
in a sailors Elysium-a well-stOcked farm
house, where he could sit on his own stoop
and watch the vessels glide by and the
ever-changing beauty of the lordly river.
But he had bigger treasures than bank
stocks. broad acres and shares in ships
his wife, Martha, who was the sweetest,
simplest helpnate that ever made sunshine
in a mans home; his daughter, Nell, just
twenty years old, whom he had done his
best to SPOIL but whose gentle nature had
been proof against every indulgence; and
his son, Harry, four years older than his
darling daughter, who had never given
him an hours anxiety, but had been stu
diously inclined, had taken fair degree at
college, and was now occupying well-paid
position as teacher in the public schools of
a distant city.
Moreover, during that winter his home
had been frightened by the visit of radi-
ant girl, Kate Frobisham, the daughter
of distant relative of his wife, who had
married Southern gentleman living in the
Shenandoah valley, and the old sailor had
learned to love the beautiful young Virgin
ian nader, who became especially dear to
him when he learned that she had promised
to become his sons wife.
But lightning came out of a clear sky and
struck the Winthrop homestead-as it did
the whole fair land, which had for years
been basking in the sunshine of prosperity.
Fort Sumter had surrendered, and the
terrible war of secession was a reality.
An American of Americans, coming of an
old Puritan stock of New England, Daniel
Winthrop's heart was aflame with honest
Indignation.
Thus, one day in spring, just as the big
ice barriers of winter had been swept away
and the glorious waters of his loved river,
rejoicing to be free, We're once more rolling
in their accustomed grandeur, Daniel Win
throp sat in the ''best room" of his farm
house in council with his women folk
In his hand he held a letter, which boy
had brought from a neighboring post-office.
eyes, he said, In reply to the appealing
looks of the ladies, as he hastily skinned
its contents; lit is from Harry, sure
enough. Don't take on about it, mother;
but he's done just what a Winthrop should
do when his country calls on him; he's"
'sNot enlisted!' Martha gasped, her face
white as her snowy apron.
''That is Just what the high sprited lad
has done, God bless himr' the farmer
chuckled. '.Pshaw! Martha, 1 am aston
ished at you. What is there to whimper
aboutl 1t won't take more than month or
two to bring these stubborn rebs to their
knees, and them
He paused abruptly, for Kate Frobisham
was standing before him with flashing eyes
and heaving bosom.
captain Winthrop" she said, speaking
more calmly for her suppressed passion,
sslet me retire before you have said what
would make me forget all your kindness.
This night leave your house to return to
my own people; do not make my parting
more bitter than is necessary
"Why, God bless my ife," Winthrop
stammered, 'you don't mean to say that
you are at heart a rebel-you, a gentle,
loyable girl not six months out of school:
The thing is preposterous."
81 am Southerner," Kate said, quietly,
"and l never was so proud of the land of
NV birth as l am at this moment. The
meanest trooper in my brothers regiment
is, in my eyes, a hero"
"And Harry; my boy, Harry" the father
pleaded.
as no more to me, Captain Winthrop,
than any other of the band of marauders
whose ranks he has joined"
"Oh, Kater' Nell sobbingly reproached,
"and he loves you sop
land l loved him, Nell. All, God knows
how l loved him." the girl acknowledged,
with tremulous lips.
"Then, surely you will"
'Never of my own accord set eyes on
hun again. 1t is my one hope that may
be able to forget his cruelty and mourn for
hun as one who is dead"
"Hush, child, hushr' Martha Winthrop
interposed; "you do not know what You are
saying"
AYE" added the Captain, soothingly.
UDo not saw in haste, lass, what you will
repent of at leisure. And, as for your go
ing home, that is a matter which"
as all provided for, sir.''
"Eh, how so!"
There was flush of indignant surprise as
he asked the question, for it was hard Tor
him to believe that the girl he had thought
worthy to be Harry's wife had deliberately
laid her plans to return home without
vouchssfng word of explanation to hls
family.
ga friend leaves for Cincinnati tonight
who will give me his protection thus far;
there some of my own people will meet me,
Kate replied, with assumed Indifference,
while at heart the proud girl was ready to
fling herself at the old mans feet and con-
fess the anguish these words cost her.
"Who, in the name of goodness, is taking
yoa 10 Cinsiunarl" the old man Numbered.