The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1892-01-23

strength, and something else gained,
too. IL was the spark uf love that had
been kiudlcd in his heart by the ges-
tie ministrations and winning ways of
Alice.
At length one morning the country
was startled with the news: Lee has
surrendered" 1t found the lieutenant
| still at the home of Slas MERIT. And
| that evening he asked him for his
daughters hand"
"Wha,r said Silas, marry my
Alice my daughter-and you Yan-
kce. o.. no never! I've done what
l could for an enemy in distress. The
war has ended now. Go. You are
welcome. bu! not TO nv daughter."
Then Alice came IN and pleaded her
lovers cause.
No. Alice, this man is an enemy to
tho south. Your brother fougn, against
| him. This can never be-
That night Alice was crying in her
mothers arms. in the morning Lieut.
Howard was gone. and so was Alice.
A note left on her bureau read:
DEAR FATHER: 1cannot give himu For
give nc. We will write you. ALiCH.
Alice had written. but for two years
Siias had cast her letters in the lire un-
opened. and she had finally ceased 10
write. Not hearing from hi, son and
having to give him up n dead only
made il harder for SiIas TO forgive her
lor marrying The lieutenant Aud
when finally. some two years before.
| he had listened sufficiently to his wife
to relent and write 10 her addressing
his letters 10 the city from which her
letters bad been mailed, his letters had
been returned. They had lost both
Of their children.
Only their faithful judy. who had
nursed their children, remained with
lh"m after the war. Silas had mort
ragged the plantation heavily to obtain
money To start anew. but each success
sive season only found him more deep
Is involved. IL" had been accustomed
to rely on the labor OF his own slaves.
but now all of his calculations were
wrong. II he put in big crop. at II
critical time his labor failed him. Dis
astcr followed disaster aud now this
Thursday morning in June, 1871. had
arrived. when the plantation, the old
home aud their nil was to be sold He
knew that all OF his belongings could
| not bring the amount for which the
prOperty was mortgagcd.
Officers Aa'i h~cn in ctarge of the
premises for some DAYS.
The old mau aud his wife drew their
chairs up to the table 10 partakc of their
last meal, Fears were in their eyes
and they were lr"mnlous aud felt for
sakcn. Old Aunt Judy. faithful till
!hc last. placed On the table that last
meal OF ham and egss and coffee and
some of her priced white rolls.
Oh Mars Silas. Mars Silas. my poor
old master, what's goin To come ob
wc?' Aud the poor old soul burst in
To llood of tears.
God knows, Judy, YOU faithful
creature; but YOU aud | and your old
miss nrr on Tia. town at last. Eat.
| mother eat,
Oh Siias, my husband | cant eatl
To think YOU and aud judy can't
even rest after the end of life neat h
the soil of the old plantationl 1t is
| more than can bear.
But didcn' YOU say. ole miss, de
clouds would roll byp'
Yes. judy. yes; Out perhaps We'll
reach the other shore first. That bell
Slla-; near that bell.
"lt's Tor the commencement of the
| sale. dear wife. 4 half hour more and
we will be homeless. See there's "A
carriage stopped in front Of the auc-
ton stand. Some of the city people to
| buy our home"
Their aged heads are bowed npon
| the table. while Judy, with her apron
| to her eyes. seeks relief in the open
| air.
The auctionecr has mounted HE
stand. This plantation. gcnli"inen.
| consists OF iSO acres. 1t is nrrdir>s
| for me TO describe it. 1t will hr sold
| for cash to the highest bidder Inc
amount OF the mortgage and tae in-
terest on the same due on the property
| is 50 600. and We must get all we can
| for the property. as there is no other
| that can be attached, and it's doubtful
| IL enough will be realized to satisfy the
mortgage. Now. how much for the
entir. property?'
AT tins point two gentlemen got out
OF the carriage that lad just driven up,
evidently strangers in the section.
Where Is the owner, Silas Mcrritr'
said one OF them. anxiously.
| III tHe NOust win MS WIG. salu
the auctioneer. The old people are
heart-broken at having TO lose their
home"
Thank God" the stranger mutter-
ed How much did you say the
r,gage aud the interest amounted
TOP"
| Nine thousand six hundred dol
lars. replied the uuctoneer.
| is it too late to take up the mort
| gageY asked the stranger.
No replied the auctioaesr; but
the property will probably not bring
| that amount"
Never mind. " said the stranger Il
will pay the amount of the mortgage
| and Interest"
Il shall deed the property to you"
said the auctioneer. What nanep
| NO release the mortgage, To Silas
MERIT and wife. Here is $500 TO show
| good faith. | will meet you at the
! court house II 10 O'Clock tomorrow to
| conclude the transaction. Dismiss your
audience. The sale of Silas Metrlts :
| effects is over"
Two ladies' aud three children were
| as>ieted from the carriage; but see. the