Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-02-12
COLONEL PASSENGER.

the brow OF a hill. a hundred yards up
from the old stage road, between
Augusta and Atlanta. A high worm
fence" bordered the road and an inner
fence OF vine wreathed white pickets
enclosed the house. Between the two
fences fourished 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 ofpeach
and apple trees. and the veranda lat
tice and pillars. up to the second story
windows were wreathed in trailing
robes OF green vines and odorous
blooms.
wide hallway divided the house,
and broad. windswept verandas with
quantity carved ratings. ran entirely
around the building. Following the
delicious aromatic shade during the
summer Colonel Bassinger. with
newspaper and a fan. in his luxurious
rolling chair, daily circumnavigated the
house, pausing at established stations
along the route to read, doze, enter
tain visitors.
10 go with the union, meant TO give
up all this with the vast social and
political power and prestige it insured;
TO go with the secession element would
result Colonel Bassin2er wisely fore
RS sS " ~ in longer drawn but final RUM
while to take az. part whatever in
the unpleasant agitation. me:snt the
interruption of that ample and bec6ms-
ing leisure SO dear to the life OF the
old-time country gentleman of wealth
and luxurious tastes. Besides, the
colonel, despite his military title, was
man of peace by nature, and neces-
sarily so by circumstances
Many years ago at ball he had OK
changed few hot words with another
chivalric young gentleman concern
ing the position of their respective
names upon young lady's dancing
card. Tho young lady being fully az
hot blooded as either of her admirers.
had promptly and sensibly erased both
their names for tho evening and left
thera to settle the matter to suit them
| selves. At sunrise the following
morning they had met in a grove and
under the sun tinted. dew dripping
leaves OF an oak tree had settled the
affair after the fashion OF Southern
gentlemen. The colonels leg was
shattered at the first fire, but his
enemy was unhurt 1t was therefore
known that the colonel had been
in the wrong.
The young lady however, with true
womanly perversity had taken the
Colonies part declaring that he had
been right all the time, and visited
him often during 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
enyway-as naturally agreeable and
desired atonement
So they were married.
The Colonel brought her to his
fathers 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 hia wife died and
after her his loved sons and daughters
one after another until only the
youngest was left-now lovely young
lady OF eighteen years. Martha Wash
ington Bassinger was the Joy OF her
fathers life, and was beloved by all
whose eyes ever rested upon her sweet
gentle face from the lowliest farm
hand grubbing in the murky swamps
OF the Little Gomez. up to the lordly
young plantation princes and cotton
kings from the Blue Ridge to the sea
islands.
Midway, perhaps between the social
extremes, but first in the girls heart
stood Tom Harkness-the coloners
private secretary-who really occu-
pied the position of secretary OF state
in tho administration OF the great
farm.
Tom was a distant kinsman of the
colonel's.
Colonel Bassinger loved his country
his whole country. He had read
much during his daily circuits around
the house. and had studied the beet
deeply in all its bearings His man.
ner of life had made him wise. deep
thinker He loved his country much.
but he loved himself moro. In a man.
ner, Tom stood in his eyes as a rerre.
sentative of the misunderstanding
many Objectionable elements, but the
best obtainable of his kind
Since | can't extract the Yankee
In him | must put up with it." he re,-
soned, and it's just so with the coun-
try. We must put up with tho Yam
kee element for the preservation of |
our own peace.
1t was this agreeable and prosper
Gus state of affairs that the war; talk
was disturbing. First, his own inter-
ests were threatened. Then his daugh-
ter! II Martha Washington were
only well married! That was the
only discordant note in the old colo
nel's kindly thoughts for Tom Hark-
ness. He feared an attachment be-
tween his poor kinsman and his daueh-
ter. Had he only known the truth.
they were already bound together in
heart with passion that only death
could sever.
Tom was growing restless, and was
evidently struggling with an attack of
the war fever but whether his fathers
or mothers blood would dominate his
patriotism the colonel knew not Him.
self, he knew slavery was doomed and
often wished his own slaves might be.