The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-11-25


COL Richard Warresby, direct descen-
dant in the female'ine 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 n tail, proportional
man Of some forty years, whose face,
though kindly, indicates strong resolu-
tion and coura O.
His title of Colonel was won by the
most daring bra cry on the field Of bat
tie, and as he sits gazing into tho fire,
this Thanksgiving morning, visions OF
soldier life rise wildly tefore him. He
lives again that day at y icksburg, ten
years ago, when he encouraged his men
TO repel q sally Of tho besieged upon
those working in the trenches Once
more he stands face to face and fights
hand to hand with that bravo Confed-
crate officer so gallant and handsome,
whose face is indelibly imprinted upon
his memory. Again he sees hat officer
fall beneath his sword and again he
shudders as he feels these large, dark
eyes, fast glazing in death, fixed upon
him with look Of unutterable hatred
to the last.
"iardon 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
rary absence from home had hitherto
prevented him from meeting. Great
heavens! There before him stood the
very officer whom he had killed at Nicks-
L. O. L
somer than 1t had been ten years ago,
and its features were of 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
full, 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 reeted, and he knew
no more
Rena Mention was the only child OF q
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 great planta-
ton, and the pet ano darling OF 800 or
400 slaves, 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 q
diamond locket, saying: my darling,
keep this always for papa's sake, and II
] am killed you VT not 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- daughter penniless For a
time little Rena was .cared. for by her
aunt but she, too, died, and at sixteen
the girl, who had developed into amag-
nifcent Southern beauty, was thrown
completely upon her own resources.
Making her way to New York, she
found employment as a governess, and
IL was in that capacity that she had
been engaged by Mrs. Warresby and had
accompanied her TO her New Eng and
home.
When dinner was announced on that
Thanksgiving Day, Colonel Warresby
had entirely recovered his composu sure,
and greeted the rural guests who had
been hidden to his hospitable board with
his accustomed courtesy. To Miss-Men-
ton he was particularly kind, explaining
his strange conduct OF the morning by
saving that he had been overcome by a
sudden dizziness He assured her that
she should be in all respects a daughter
of the household, and said that nothing
should be left undone to make her happy
In her new home.