The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-02

his wife mounted on a chair. with. burning
chief like an inspired priestess.
Only the stranger, still standing. beside Col.
Starbottle, remained unmoved and impassive.
a sudden silence.
Convincing and unanimous as this demon
s~tratiOn is, gentlemen" he began quietly, IL Is
my duty, nevertheless. to ask you ~ you have
have brought. it is my duty to tell you that IL
means civil war. II means the clash OF arms be-
tween two sections OF q mighty country, II means
the disruption Of friends, the breaking OF family
ties. the separation OF fathers and sons, q broth
ers and sisters even perhaps to the dissever-
IT means the sovereignty Of the South and
the breaking Of a covenant with low-hOrn trad
ers and aboiitionists," said Capt. Pinckney.
IF there are any gentlemen present" con
rnptI"n. who have plrddsed Ills State to he
support 81 the south In, this emergency, or 10
The ests6li;hmsnt Of a Pacific republic in I'D
paper" Ia. lified q sheet OF paper. lying before
Col. Starbottlc. but who now feel that the
gravity of the newsdemands a more serious con-
sideration OF the purpose, they are ut liberty To
withdraw from the meeting giving their honor
Not Il | know it," lnterruptcd a stalwart
Kcntugkion as he rose TO his feet and strobe
placing his back against the gateway, "lll shoot
the first coward that backs out now"
A rom Of Rughter aud approval followed. but
was silcnCcd again by the quiet. unimpassioned
voice Of the stranger.
you all feel that this news If the. fitting culmi-
nation and conservation OF the hopes, wishes.
ana plans or tnlS meeting. you VIII assert IL
agnin, ON you're own signatures. &c Col. Starbottle
at this table"
started from his concealmcnt. When he now
saw the eager figures pressing forward To the
table he h%esitatcd no longer.
Slipping along the passage he reached the
staircase which led toihe corridor In he rear Of
the balcony. Descending this, rapidly he not
only came upon the backs Of the excited crowd
around the table. but even elbowcd one OF the
conspirators aside without being noticed.
His wife. who had risen from her chair at the
end Of the balcony. was moving toward the table.
With, u quick movement he seized her wrist
A cry broke from her lips as She recognized
him, but, still holding. her wrist. he stepped
quickly between her and the astunisLcd crowd.
There was a moment Of silence. then the cry
OF spy" and Seize him rose quickly, but
was heard commanding them to stand back.
Turning to Clarence. he said quickly:
Il should know your face. Who are you Z"
The husband Of this woman. and the master
a voice he hardly recognized as his own:
stand aside from her. then. unless you are
hoping that her danger may protect YOU" said
the kentuckian, drawing his revolver.
beside Clarence. I'VE are neither OF us cow
ards, Mr.. Brooks.t though he spsaks the truth,
OF savage scorn at Clarencc-'is my husband
But what is your purpose in coming here -
~ have given you all the information" said
you, as a gentleman, leave this house at once
and that is my purpose. 1t is a. the informa-
IlOu NOu VIII EtI ITDIn me IL lOuk 10 Nou
and your friends insult my, wife. with
your unlimited presence. What l may
what / may choose to demand of you, according
to your own code Of honor".he fixed his eyes
one not usually discussed before a lady
Pardon me. A moment.a single moment"
friiled shirt front. the lightly buttoned blue coat
with its expanding lapels. like bursting petals,
and sRdy the ,n smiling ,nbIs ana mask So of ,n that T. se CIassnsn Tislns
and his wife with infinite courtesy,
".The-er-humiliating situation In which we
find ourselves. gentlemen the reluctant wit
nesses of err what we trust IL only a tempo
rary disagreement between our charming hostess
nized under the highest title to our considera-
ton is distressing to us all. and would seem to
amply Justify that gentleman'sc claims to a per;
delight to give. But that situation rests upon
purely social Of. festive nature!
lit may be- continued the Colonel, with a
thcse decantcrs and glasses. and The nectar
furnished us 6y our Hebelike hostess"I,he
while he bowed TO Mrs. Brant gracefully
has led the gentleman TO such a deduction.
OF a business or private nature. it strikes me that
tho question OF intrusion, may be fairly divided
justified in view of that privacy in asking him
IL his-er.entrance TO this house was..er-coin-
c'asWSti M't mn ei 'front.' oRPe door in a posssss Is Of s,r.n.
gers ?" said Clarence. more in reply 10 a sudden.
contemptuous glance from his wife than star
through the window"
of my boudoir. where another intruder once
broke his neck" interrupted his wife, with a
"Where once helped this lady to regain pos
session OF her house when it was held by another
party OF illegal trespassers, who, however. were
content to cali themselves Jumpers and did not
claim the privacy Of gentlemen"
bottle 6aughtiiy. "~that.-"
scorn, that | have neither the wish TO know
nor the slightest concern In any purpose that
house you take your secrets aud your privacy
with you. without let or hindrance from me-"
do You mean to say, Mr.. Brant," said Judge
Beeswinger. suppressing the angry interruption
of his fellows, with a dominant wave OF his hand
you have no sympathy with your wife's political
~
necessary, to make you quit this house, and that
is all you have a right TO KNOW" returned Clar-
But / can answer FOR him." said Mrs. Brant,
rising with a quivering voice and curling lip.
There is no sympathy between US; We are as
But, YOU are husband and wife-bound to-
"A compact" echoed Mrs. Brant with a bit
ter laugh. Yes! the compact that binds South
and the trader the planter and the poor white
that has been broken, and so can this!"
Clerence's face paled. But before he could
and a disInounted vaquero entered excitcdly.
Turning 10 Mrs. Brant, he said hurriedly:
Mother Of God! the Casa Is surrounded by a
rabble OF mounted men. and there Is one among
them even Low who demands admittance in the
name Of the law"
This is your work" said Brooks, facing
Clarence iurionsly; you have brought them
He would have clutched Clarence, but the pow
erfui arm OF Judge, Beeswinger interviewed.
ence. appealing to the others. Are you fools
to stand there and let him triumph Don't you
see the Yankee trick he's played upon us -
HE has noe" said Mrs. Brant, haughnily. ~
have no reason to love him or his friends, but
| know he does not lie
"Gentlemen! Gentlenen!' implOred Col.
StarbOttle, with unctucus persuasion, may I
-er-remaTk- that all this Is far from
the question. Are We to be alarmed
because an awkward Tabble, no matter whence
they come, demand entrance here in the name
OF the law | am not aware Of any law In the
State OF California that we are infringing. by
all means admit them"
The gate was thrown open. 4 single. thick;