The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-03-07

Written 6

$1,000
Mr. Strong paused. Such IT nurs- pt
end to the story somewhat S, ne,
especially as it seemed to disy went l.
ly of the hero. 1 correctly which
however, that it was a Ia, this Il
pause thrown in by Mr.. StrC. -. .ne
purpose of adding zest to the narrative
"a mere subterfuge on his part to
arouse attention, SO remained silent,
awaiting further developments. 1t
may be we'll to remark here that
there are some very worthy men and
women in the world, who are forever
practicing this kind Of thing. They
are utterly unable to perform the most
trivial task in life, without encourage
ment.
1t is their nature to strive for ap-
probation. They will not work, unless
some friend or relation, standing at
their backs to act the part of wide
mouthed admiration and wonder, is
prepared to shout pean of praise as
each successive triumph is scored. l
have known young men in college for
whom the professor was called upon at
all times to improvise himself into a
two penny horn blower ready at a
moments notice to trumpet forth their
many excellences, else they became
sulky and morose, and believing them
selves unjustly treated, would refuse to
study. 1 have known women and
wives who were rendered unhappy for
life, because their husbands neglected
to praise every dinner they pre-
pared for him, and worse still there
are ministers of the gospel who fear
they fail rightly to expound the scrip
lures, unless after each sermon some
good brother or sister be found to
grasp their hand with words of COM
mendation for discourse which will
prove a lasting blessing in their Chris
tian experience.
Mr.. Strong possessed such nature,
and the dramatic pause in his story
was mute appeal for the expression
of horror. 1t having been meted out
in sufficiently large doses, he was
ready and willing to continue. Light
ing fresh cigar from the stump of
the first one; he began again: "Well,
of course, 1 did not mean you to un-
derstand that Pillan was never seen at
Chapel Hill again. What 1 meant
to say was that many years and great
events transpired before Chapel Hill
or the State even saw him again.
The day after the duel when it was
found that neither Dromgoole nor Pill
Ian were IN the University, and no
one knowing anything of their where
abouts, there was good Juror raised.
No one knowing Of the quarrel the
idea of a duel was never broached;
and White, tire other witness to the
affair, and myself, who were the only
person able to solve the mystery, were
far too frightened to reveal a secret
which was sure to call down upon us
the wrath of an exasperated people,
and the tears and reproaches of the
heart broken parents. Every effort
was made to discover the whereabouts
of the missing young men, but without
success.
For three weeks it was the talk OF
the State. At the end Of that time it
was forgotten by every one but few
students and the parents of the unfor
tunate boys. Those were exciting
times. The distant muttering of sui
len war could already be heard for of
to the North. None knew, and few
cared, when it should break over the
land. Secession or union was the all
important topic of conversation. In
the debate which involved the dissolu-
tion or preservation |: of a nation, all
minor questions sunk into insignifi
canoe. A people called upon to de.
fend their lines and liberty soon forgot
both broken hearted Pillan far out on
the western plains and poor Drom-
goole, sleeping quietly down there
among the rustling pines, in his mar
row, bloody grave. Time went on
Old William Pillan and his wife did
not survive their sorrow long. They
wept away the poor eccentric old
hearts over the less of their dazzling
boy. They shut themselves up il
their room, seeing no one, and, finally
taking to their beds, died within day
of each other.
The neighbors were informed o1
their illness 100 late. even to see them
living. With tender, compassionate
hands we buried them side BIZ side
over yonder in the little family grave
yard, while the lilac bushes arouno
The old house we're filling the air with
their fragrance: the periwinkle ant
Virginia creeper were clambering ovel
the moss grown tombstones, and thu
blue birds were building their nests il
the hollow apple-trees- The house
which at best was but q rambling
wooden structure, was shut up, sool
assuming an air of desolation and
decay.
At first the negroes made some pre-
tence of looking after it, but when tn,
war came on even they deserted, ant
the old place went to rack and ruin
Years went by. The flower of Norti
Carolina's chivalrous SONS went to fgh
their country's battles. From Gettya
burg to New Orleans the green grave
which dot every battle ield proclaim
with far more force and pathos thai
tongue or lpen can the strength of tn
love which these men loved thei
country and her cause. After fou