Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-06-01

With the stars for witnesses they had
pledged their tr0ths.
ed lawns and walks in front, and the
cluster Of outdwellings behind to be
found on every large and we'll ordered
plantation.
This estate, embracing many acres
and numerous slaves, belonged, just be-
fore the civil war, to Judge Waldo
Hathaway-a man already we'll ad-
vanced in years, but holding still an
unrivaled influence In that region, and
at that time representing his district In
the state legislature.
/ Judge Hathaway was, moreover, q
man exceptionally well versed in politi.
cal affairs, not only Of his native state,
but Of the nation. Educated at the
north and having Travelled extensively
there, he had learned to love and to be-
lieve In his country-ro use a phrase
bitten on his own lips-"ss a whole and
not in part, and consequently he held
views respecting the great political
agitation Of his time AZ broad NJ they
were unpopular with his legislative as
sociates.
Already had he cast in his lot with
strenuously opposing the calling Of a
convention to consider the ordinance
OF secession, SO loudly clamored for by
the political leaders of the state. This
act had brought him under grave sus-
picion, and only his years Of we'll known
and unselfish devotion to the. interests
Of his commonwealth saved him from
the open charge of disloyalty.
The immediate household Of Oak
Bluffs-the name of the plantation
consisted Of the judge, his wife, q lady
many years younger than himself, and
one daughter, Hilda, the pride and pet
of the whole plantation, and just bud
ding into bright and lovely woman
hood.
There was another member Of the
family, Ralph Gasque. a nephew of the
Judge, but he held a lieutenant's COM
mission in the navy and for some
months had been stationed in foreign
waters. To the fair Hilda, however, he
was more than cousin, for Just before
he had sailed ON his last voyage he had
Tooed and won her for his promised
bride. Under the spreading live oaks,
in which the mistletoe grew and -four.
lshed, and with the stars for witnesses,
they had pledged their troths, each to
the other, It'll death Us do part"
Late one Saturday evening the judge
arrived home from the capitol, and a.
he stepped from his carriage all noticed
that he moved with a feebleness quite
unusual to himself. Hilda sprang for
ward to assist him up the steps, saying
playfully:
There, Papa Hathaway, the work
and worry of the legislature have so wea-
tied you that you are already quite sick.
We can't let you 60 there any more"
II shall 60 there no more, my dsugh-
fer. responded the judge YEARLY. Then
he remarked to his wife, "Have supper
served at once. my DEAR
He seemed so feeble and exhausted all
the evening that Mrs. Hathaway 70.
Trained from questioning him about the
aoings Of the legislature. as was her
usual custom on his return. The next
morning, however, he seemed more like
himself, but Immediately after break
fast retired to his library and remained
alone for some hours.
After dinner he Joined the family on
the broad veranda and sat for some time
looking off toward the bay, whose dane
ing waters were plainly visible here and
there through the trees, apparently lost
in thought. Finally he called Hilda to
his side. and stroking her waving hair
with his hand. as he had habit of do
Ing when she was beside him, he said
with an intense tremulcusness In his
tones:
Wife and Hilda, my pet child, ]
have much TO say to you, but my heart
has been too full to speak. Three days
ago our joint legislature by an over
whelming majority voted to call the
convention, and there is no doubt that
the ordinance of secession will be
passed. Before another spring some of
the ether states will have followed this
example, and can see that the inevita-
bic result will be long and disastrous
civil war;"
Hepaused for moment, overcome by
bis excessive agitation, and his wife
FASTENED to say sootningly:
Il wouldn't worry about it, judge.
There will be some way of compromise
arranged TO prevent bloodshed.
Would TO God that i could 80 be-
lieve," exclaimed the judge feyvently,
but knowing the temper of both the
north and the south as l do, can see
that the secession Of the southern states
from the Union will precipitate a civil
strife upon US which will only cease
with the emancipation of the slaves and
The complete exhaustion of the southern
resources.
Il am old and shall not live to see
he end Of the conflict; possibly l shall
lot live to see it begun, for l have a
TRANCE feeling that my days are speed !
ly to be mbered. I wish therefore
0 tell you now that it is my desire to
oxya Sy1,, .nf-csn &c.,. ~crs.Ai-. 1