Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-03-24

With the stars for IritHCSSCS they had
plcdgcd their trOth&.
cd lawns and walks in front, and the
cluster Of uutdwcllings behind to be
fuund on every large and well 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-
vanc,d III wears. but holding still an
unrivalcd influence in that region, and
at that time representing his district in
the state legislature.
Judge Hathaway was, moreover, a
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-
lievc in his country-to use a phrase
often on his own lips-''as whole and
not in part, and consequently he held
views respecting the great political
agitation of his time as broad as they
were unpopular with his legislative as
sociates.
Already had he cast in his lot with
the minority of the house and was
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 unseltish devotion to the interests
of his commonwealth saved him from
the open charge of disloyalty.
l.. l.. n,l
BluffS-the name of the plantation
consisted of the judge, his wife. "A lady
many years younger than himself. and
one daughter. IIiIda. the pIlde 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. hut he held lieutenant's COM
mission in the navy and for some
months had been stationed in fore ign
waters. Tuthc fair ii Ida. however, he
was more than cOuSi1, for Just l., fore
he had sailed on his iast voyage he had
wood and won her for his promised
bride Under the spreading live oaks,
in which the mistletoe grew and -four
they had pledged their troths. each to
the other. till death us do part. -
Late one Saturday evening the judge
arrived home from the capitol, and as
he stepped from his carriage all noticed
that he moved with 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 tine legislature have so wea-
ried you that you are already quite sick.
We cant let you go there any more"
L shall go there no more, my daugh
ter, " 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 re-
Trained from questioning him about the
doings of the L.. stature, 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 tremulousness in his
tones:
Wife and Hilda, my pet child, l
have much to say to you. but my heart
has been too full to speak. Three days
ago our joint legislature by an over
whelmiHg 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. !"
He paused for moment, overcome by
his 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 50 be-