The National tribune., 1892-08-11

Towering shrubs on both sides of the gravelec
9idewalks-one leading to bower on the lawr
Ehd the other TO an arbor in the garden. There
HAS ivy over the main entrance and woodblnt
about the columns of the porch.
"A Paradise on earth J" i exclaimed.
at is indeed; but less than 10 years ago il
possessed none of it's present attractions"
NV exclamation was involuntary, and
merely expressed my admiration. 1t was not
addressed to anyone, and no answer was ex-
pected. The reply, therefore, was surprise
especially il came from total stranger.
At that time" he continued, There was
on the spot where that elegant mansion now
stands small single eabin-dingy, deserted,
and dilapidated. The beautiful green lawn
was neglected grass plot. the neighboring
fields piny wood, and where the ornamental
shrubbery now grows sassafras and sedge
struggled for the mastery. Weeds and brlars
grew where now You see roses and rhododen-
drons.n
The stranger was plainly dressed. and his
manner was complaissnt His object seemed
TO be the conveyance of desired information
rather than the display of superior knowledge.
By his side sat small, delicate-looking NO.
man. whom i afterward learned was his wife.
"You seem to know something of its his
fory?" ] remarked.
i am familiar with a part Of ii" he re-
plied-"tha which / think the most interest
ing. as it contains some adventure"
When j travel without companion-a thing
never like to dol avail myself of every
opportunity TO while away the tedious time Of
lonely journey. So / asked him if he would
crafty me with an account of what he knew
of the house and its history.
" / am not skilled in the art of narrative"
he replied. !" It is gift that only few pos
sess in any marked degree, but if you can
tolerate my clumsiness of speech i shall en-
deavor to relate what know"
HATE a /
able to silence on a journey of any considerable
duration. Under such circumstances j am
never disposed to be critical as TO verbal or syn
tactical short comings. But in the present in
stance | do not anticipate any lack of enter
fainment."
this assurance. for he Immediately related to
me the following narrative, which now repeat
as nearly as l can in the very language he
employed:
1T is now several years since I came to
dwell in the beautiful village of Winchester.
9 shall not troubie you with the reasons why
left Vermont and settled in Virginia except TO
say that hoped to better my condition. To
that end I accepted the first employment that
offered, and in less than a week was in charge
of livery stable.
MY first care, after securing employment
was to find a suitable house TO dwell in. for /
had resolved that, whatever might betide. my
WIG SnOulu De comfortably sheltered.
The old deserted cabin to which have re-
ferred, and 20 acres of ground by which 1t was
surrounded, were offered at low rent, and
obtained lease of them and immediate posses
sion, ~,
at was known that / had come from New
England and when the war began was gen.
orally regarded with suspicion, aud for a time
kept under espionage. ] should have been
pressed into the army navy of the Con-
federacy, if my labor could have been utilized
TO any advantage. But ] was then, as / am
still, an unfortunate cripple unfit for any rapid
or graceful movement.
But the official vigilance. at first very ar
noying, was soon relaxed, and in little while
wholly discontinued. In the meanwhile |
drove about the country. carrying passengers
wherever desired. j also carried ordinary
express packages, including now and then con-
siderable sums of money.
AT that time there lived on the opposite
side Of the village Mr.. Colauit, who had come
from the State ia which ] was born. In the
years which had intervened before the war he
had grown rich in land and slaves and powerful
in politics.
"When the Confederacy, constrained by the
straits Of necessity, began to levy forced loans
upon the Weather citizens, il was claimed by
the civil authorities that, as he had accumu-
lated his wealth in the South, he Was bound by
every obligation of citizenship to contribute as
federacy. But when pressed for contribution,
1t was found that he had quietly disposed Of
nearly all his possessions.
That he might not escape the levy, he was
5mmediately summoned by the military au-
fhorities, and questioned regarding the disposal
of his property. The examination was rigid
and particular, and accompanied by threats of
imprisonment and confscation, but resulted in
nothing satisfactory.
From that time forward, however he was
an object of suspicion and surveillance, part of
the time by spies of the Government and after
ward by mercenary individuals. And this
continued until the Federal troops gained
possession Of the Valley from Harper's Ferry to
Winchester
"A few days thereafter slave brought me q
note from MIR. Coloait, who requested me 10
come aud see him. Ii was the first time he had
ever noticed Tie, though had lived in the viii
lage for years, and done business within few
squares of his residence.
"a native Of the very town in which he was
born, 1t was thought by Others that i might
have received more attention. / was not Of
that opinion, however. for he was an old man
oil great wealth and consequence, while was
the exact opposite in nearly every particular.
In fact. there was nothing in common between
Ms except our birthplace, mere accident 10
which ] attached no importance.
I" That little accident however, was not re-
gsrded by Mr.. Colquit with equal indifference.
When bis trouble came, he bethought himself
Of my birthplace, aud called NE TO his assist
snce
Only the result of my interview with Mr.
Coiquit is of any present importance. How he
managed in the short space of half an hour to
sift my character, is more than can c0mpre.
bend. The questions he asked were such as
one person might ask another under like cir
Cumstences There was nothing in them to
attract attention or excite suspicion. Yet they
were put with purpose, which was thoroughly
eubserved.
Satisfied OF my integrity, Mr. Colquit took
me into has confidence, aud, pointing to a
email TIN trunk IN the corner of the room, said:
That Golfer i wish delivered to Mr. Henry
Marshall, at Harpers Ferry. Can it be done?
Yes, if lac be there TO receive it, 1 replied.
he will be there. He expects it,
Then he shall not be disappointed unless
bomething unusual happens
Why do you speak Of contingencies? Do
yon apprehend accident or danger?'
Not at all. Ii is my custom. There is
nothing sure but death
"A pause IF several seconds ensued, during
which Mr.. Colqnit reflected
s. 1t is proper for NE TO say he continued
presently, that this box is no ordinary trust
II contains papers and treasures of very great
value
lie paused q moment to note the effect of
This disclosure. As l heard it without surprise
or other emotion he was apparently satisfied.
OF course he continued, it is not my in
tention 10 impose any risk upon you without
due warning ana the ASSURANCE that you will
be amply rewarded