The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-11-26

NOi. klcDaru NarreSDy. ulTeCl ueScen-
dant In the female line from its builder.
The old wainscoted walls are hung with
family portraits. to which the Colonel,
who sits gazing into the log fire blazing on
the andirons, bears most striking resem-
blance. He is tall, well-proportioned
man of some forty years, whose face,
though kindly. indicates strong resolu
tion and COURAGE
His title of Colonel was won by the
most daring bravery on the field of bat
tie, and as he sits gazing into the fire,
this Thanksgiving morning. visions of
soldier life rise yividly tefore him. He
lives again that day at \i:ksburg, ten
years ago when he encouraged his men
to repel sally Of the besieged upon
those working in the trenches. Once
more he stands face to face and fights
hand to hand with that brave Confed-
crate officer so gallant and handsome,
whose face is indelibly imprinted upon
his memory. Again he sees that officer
fall h meath his sword and again he
shudders "a he feels these large, dark
eyes, fast glazing in death, fixed upon
him with look Of unutterable hatred
TO the last
ii ardon me for disturbing you, dear,
but want to introduce our new govern
ess, Miss Rena Mention, of Mississippi"
1t was his wife who spoke, erOusing him
from the trance like condition into which
he had fallen. He rose hastily to well
cone the young lady whom his tempo
rdry absence from home had hitherto
prevented him from meeting. Great
heavens. There before him stood the
very ofcer whom he had killed at Vicks-
burg! The face was younger and hand
somer than it had been ten years ago,
and its features were of a more delicate
and feminine cast, but there was no
mistaking those large dark eyes. Though
that dying look OF hatred had passed
from them, and they now wore cheer
ful. kindly expression, they were the
very same.
The Colonel tried to speak He tried
to grasp the small white hand so frankly
extended to him. Impossible. His tongue
Glove to the roof Of his mouth. He
staggered, the room reeled, and he knew
no more
Rena Mention was the only child of a
wealthy planter. who had inherited from
his father one of the finest estates in
Mississippi. Reared as the idol of both
parents, the heiress of a great planta-
tion, and the pet ano darling of 300 or
400 saves, her life was one uninterrupt-
ed day Of sunshine until the completion
of her sixth year. Then the guns at
Fort Sumter summoned her father to
the war. At his departure he gave her
a miniature Of himself inclosed in a
diamond Iocket. saying: "My darling,
keep this always for papa's sake, and If
/ am killed you wi rot forget me-
Captain Mention never came back. His
name was printed in list Of those killed
at Vicksburg. and his young wife, com
pietely crushed by grief, died before the
close of the war, which had swept away
all her husbands property, leaving her
ten-year old daughter Denniless. For a
time little Rena was cared for by her
aunt, but she, too. died, and at sixteen
the girl who had devclo; ed into mag
nifccnt Southern beauty, was thrown
completely upon her own resources.
Making her way to New York, she
found employment as governess, and
it was in that capacity that she had
been engaged by Mrs. Warresby and had
accompanied her to her New England
home.
When dinner was announced on thai
Thanksgiving Day. Colonel Warresby
had entirely recovered his composure,
and greeted the rural guests who hat
been hidden to his hospitable board with
MS GCCuStoHcu courtesy. lO MlSS Men
ton he was particularly kind explaining
his strange conduct of the morning by
saving that he had been overcome by q
sudden dizziness He assured her thai
she should be in all respects a daughter
of the household, and said that nothin,
should be left undOne to make her happy
in her new home.
And he more than kept his word. The
young Southern girl often marvelled a
his fatherly interest and kindness
Often she would find him gazing at he
with tears in his eyes and when he spok,
to her his manner seemed more gentl,
than VIXEN he addressed his own daugh
tiers.
No one save Rena herself knew tn,
measure OF his affection for her. HI
seemed to keep q certain secrecy in j
and to hoard it in his heart. He dc
lighted to anticipate her ever wish; h
could not bear to see a cloud upon he
face. He cou d not bear to sec her 81
apart. He seemed to fancy that she fel
slight when there was none. Once hi
attention was attracted by the dianon,