The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-12-12
A DIVIDED HOUSE
Story of the Civil
War in Missouri.
By SIDNEY Z. POWELL.
Notp Fret Published.

BY SIDNEY e. POWELL.
Nop Fret Published.
CHAPTER m.-NEw ACQUAINTANCE.
The day Ellie was sixteen John
returned from the city where he had
finished his course in medicine, for
he had determined to make q doctor
Of himself.
Charlie and Ellie had met him at
the depot and as the three rode home
in the family carriage, they seemed
to have forgotten the intervening
years and felt like they we're children
"John, I am going into the army"
said Charlie, 'that will be my pro-
fe%ssion, and I will fight on the Union
side. There's no secession for me-"
Johns face flushed with vexation
the moment his brother said it.
81 am not surprised" John said,
''that you go contrary to the rest of
us, you always did. How do you
stand2" he asked turning to Ellie
who was watching Charities gloomy
looks at his brothers. words.
ooh, l am for the South. I hate
oppression and II the south wants to
secede they ought to be allowed to
do it.--But will there be a war3n
"Every one thinks SO, and l don't
see how it can be avoided now
whether we want it or not it will be
forced upon us and the end lie hard
to determine"
ooh, John, suppose you and Char
lie have to 60 in the army" said
Ellie.
"Nothing could please me better"
said Charlie looking at Ellie.
The sorrowful look on her face
made him sorry he had said it. He
remembered the lonely life she led
IN his mothers home and could UNI
ierstand what his going away meant
Ior her.
"Little sister," he added, "don't
AXE it to heart yet awhile there may
not be any war"
81 hope," said John, 'if there is
one, you will know which side to
light on"
John was driving the carriage and
had the front seat to himself, but
once or twice he looked back to see
rom his brothers. face If he was
in earnest about going on the
Union side.
81 think ElHe," he said without
looking towards her, "that from all
he secession literature l have sent
you, you should have been rebel
enough to influence Charlie to fight
Tor the south. You haven't much
influence over him, have your"
"What makes you think that2"
asked Charlie, "she could make me
do anything she wanted. But she
does not want to influence me. I
am afraid she doesn't think l am
it,"
ooh, Charlie" cried Ellie, "always
that suspicious, unjust way of judging
ne. You know how I plead with
you sometimes by the hour, not to
smoke, not to drink, not to swear,
and ever 80 many more negations.
Does that look like 1 didn't care?"
Her beautiful blue eyes were turned
so sadly to him that John felt vexed,
that his brother should worry her
with his humors.
"The truth of the matter u.s." he
said, "that you don't wish to be in
huenced to act against your inclina-
not even by her, and it is I'M
Just to charge her with not trying to
do it,"
"Well," said Charlie, in his old
laughing way, "John is here now to
teach us justice and it may be he
will win me over to be a secessionist
even-but to be serious, l am tired
out with this way of going on.
"Mother's cranky notions, and the
laziness and deviltry of the negroes
will run me crazy If l don't get away.
And to cap it all now, those Clayton
have come and appear to be
determined to run the affairs of every
one in the country, mothers in par
and I propose to leave a clear
Geld for them"
"What Ire the Claytons doing"
asked John, looking back at Ellie.
"Nothing," said Ellie, "except
that they are at our house very Of
ten and are always sending for me
to come over there. Aunt Mag
thinks a great deal of them. She
says that Miss Margaret is the most
elegant lady she ever saw and Mr..
Clayton, her brother the most pol
ished man."
"They r the most deceitful shams
I aver saw" said Charlie, "they
never mean anything they say, and
everything they do is to scheme and
plot and undermine some one."
"Charlie, I don't think you have
any right to talk that way" sale
El6a HUhst haua than dnua tf