The state herald., 1892-02-05
COLONEL BAss1NGER.

eAN6 Ae'o oho Atihhtn- n utRu WORM
fence" bordered the road, and an inner
fence OF vine wreathed white pickets
enclosed the house Between the two
fences tiourished grove OF magnif-
icent oaks. and within the picket en-
closure were crowded flowers and fruit
trees In tropic profusion. Rose bushes
clambered among the branches of peach
and apple trees and the veranda lat.
tice and pillars. up to the second story
windowa were wreathed In trailing
robes OF green vines and odorous
blooms.
A wide hallway divided the house
and broad, windswept verandas with
quantity carved railings ran entirely
around the building. Following the
delicious aromatic shade during the
summer Colonel Bassinger, with
newspaper and fan. in his luxurious
rolling chair, daily circumnavigated the
house, pausing at established stations
along the route TO read, doze, enter.
tain visitors.
To go with the union, meant TO give
up all this with the vast social and
political power and prestige 1t insured; /;
to go with the secession element would
result Colonel Bassings Or wisely fore
saw. In longer-drawn but final ruin;
while to take any part whatever In
the unpleasant agitation meant the
interruption OF that ample and becom-
ing leisure so dear to tho life OF the
old-time country gentleman of wealth
and luxurious tastes Besides, the
colonel, despite his military title, wns
man OF peace by nature. and neces-
sarily SO by circumstances
Many years ago at a ball he had ex-
changed few hot words with another
chivalric young gentleman concern
ing the position Of their respective
names upon yo ing lady's dancing
card. The young lady being fully as
hot-blooded as either Of her admirers
had promptly and sonsibly erased both
their names for the evening and left
them TO settle the matter to suit them.
selves At sunrise tho following
morning they had met in grove and
under the sun tinted dew. w.drippinp
leaves OF an oak tree had settled the
affair after the fashion OF Southern
gentlemen. The colonel's log was
shattered at the first fire but his
enemy was unhurt It was therefore
known that the colonel had been
In the wrong.
The young lady. however, with true
womanly perversity. had take0 the
Coloners part declaring that he had
been right all tho time. and visited
him often durin, his enforced retire.
ment from public life. She reproached
herself bitterly as being the cause OF
the Coloners misfortune and since he
had suffered all this for her sake, she
felt that she could do no less than
share his life and immense fortune
which she would have gladly done
acs,Er;Sy aacs,ESyMAs naturally agreeable and
So they wore married.
The Colonel brought her TO his
fathors ancient mansion and settled
down TO life OF ease and prosperity.
Children clustered rapidly about his
luxurious rolling chair and wealth
came to him. Then his wifc died and
after her his loved sons and daughters
one after another. until only tho
youngest was loft-now n lovely young
lady Of eighteen years. Martha Wash
ington Bassinger was tho Joy Of her
fathers life and was beloved by all
whose eyes ever rested upon her sweet
gentle face from tho lowliest farm
hand grubbing In the murky swamps
oi the Little Gomez up 10 the lordly
young plantation princes and cotton
kings from the Blue Ridge to the sea
islands
Midway. perhaps between tho social
extremes. but first in tho girl's heart,
stood Tom Harkness-the coloneI's
private secretary-who really occu-
pied the position Of secretary OF state
In the administration OF tho great
farm.
Tom was a distant kinsman Of the
coloncrs
Colonel Bassinger loved his country
his whole country. lie had road
much during his daily circuits around
the house and had studied tho sub iect
deeply In all Its bearings His man.
ner OF life had made him wise, deep
thinker. He loved his country much.
but no loved himself moro In man.
ner, Tom stood In his eyes MS u repre-.
sentative OF the union-possessing
many Objectionable elements. bu, tho
bcst obtainablo OF his kind.
''Sincc I can't extract the Yankee
In him must put up with H.. he ren.
soned. 'nnd It's Just so with tho coun-
try. We must put up with the Ynn.
kcc element for tho preservation OF
our own peace"
II was this agreeable nnd prosper.
Gus state OF affairs thn, the war. talk
wns disturbing. First his own inter.
ests wcrc threatened Then his dnugh.
ter! II Martin Washington wero
only we'll married. That wns tho
only discordnnt noto In tho old colo.
nei'r kindly thoughts for Tom Hark.
ness He feared nm attachment be.
tween his poor kInsman and his dnugh.
ter had he only known tho truth.
they were already bound together In
heart with n passion that only death
could sever
Tom WIS growing restless and wn.
evidently struggling with nm attack OF
the war fever but whether his fathers
or mothers blood would dominate his
patriotism the colonel know not Him.
soil. no knew slavery was doomed md
often wished his own slave. might bo.
come FREQ md happy. but under pros.
ont environments hc felt TINT they were
better under his ownership than they
could possibly bo II turned out Into
tho world In their Ignorance nj tho
mercy Of every sharper and spocula.
tor.
Over his morning dram, al the
corner beside tho great apple tree,
back by the roso bushes and around by
tho western nnte ho mcditaied long
and nnxlously. lie loved his country.
his daughter. his homo and his slaves;