Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-06-17

| the qulct dignity, ana seH-posSes-
ssan, the quaint, old-fashioned colonial
precision of speech, modified by soft
Nirginian intohGtion, aud, above all.
some singular individuality In the man
himself, produced profounc sensa-
tian, and seemed to suddenly give ts.is
| gathering an impressiveness il had
lacked before
For an instant Clarence forgot him
self and his personal wrongs in the
shock of Indignation he felt at this po-
tent addition to the ranks of his
enemies. He saw his wife's eyes sparkle
with pride over her acquisition, and no.
ticed that Pincllncy cast disturbed
! glance ut the newcomer.
The stranger assembled the. few ..teps
to the balcony and took Mrs. Brant's
hand with profound courtesy.
Introduce me to my colleagues dis
tinctly and separately. 1t bchooves "A
man at such moment to know 10 v HON
he intrusts his life and honor, and the
life and honor OF his cause"
1t was evidently no mere formal oour-
tesy of the stranger As he stepped
forward along the balcony, and under
introduced to each of the mcmberr he
not only listened with scrupulous care
and attention to the name and profess
sion of each man, but bent upon him n
clear, searching glance that seemed to
| photograph him in his memory. with
two exceptions.
He passed Col Starbottle's expanding
shirt frill with n bow of elaborate pre-
cision, and said: "Col StarbottIe's
fame requires neither introduction nor
explanation" He stopped before Capt.
Pickney and paused.
IAN officer of the United States arm =.
/ believe, sir?"
yes"
Educated at West Point, think. by
the government TO whom YOU have
taken the oath of allcgiance?"
Yes"
Very good. sir said the stranger,
turning away.
You have forgotten one other fact
sir" said Pinckney, with a slightly
supercilious air.
Indeed, what is it?''
81 am, first of all, native of the
state of South Carolina"
n murmur of applause and approval
ran round the balcony. Capt. Pinck-
ney smiled and exchanged chances with
Mrs. Brant, but the stranger quietly re.
turned to the central table beside Col.
Starbottle
Il am not only an unexpected dele
gate to this august assembly, gentle.
men, he began, gravely, but am the
bearer of, perhaps, equally unexpected
news. BY my position in the southern
district am in possession of dispatches
received only this morning by pony ex..
press. Fort Sumter has been besieged.
The United States flag, carrying relief
to the beleaguered garrison, has been
fired upon by the state of South Caro-
lima"
y burst of almost hysteric applause
and enthusiasm broke from the assem-
bly, and made the dim vault-like pas
sagcs and corridors of the casa ring.
Cheer after cheer went up to the yelled
gallery and the misty sky beyond; men
mounted on the tables and waved their
hands frantically, and in the midst of
this bcwildering turbulence of sound
and motion, Clarence saw his wife
mounted on "A chair,with burning checks
and flashing eyes, waving her handlscr-
chief like an inspired priestcss.
Only the stranger, still standing be
side Col. Starbottle, remained unmoved
and impressive. Then with an impera-
tive gesture he demanded a sudden ST
lence.
convincing and unanimous as this
demonstration is, gentlemen" lac began,
quietly, 1t IS my duty, nevertheless, to
ask you if YOU have seriously consid-
cred the meaning of the news have
brought 1t is my duty to tell you that
II means civil war. 1t means the clash
OF arms between two sections of n
mighty country. it means the disrup-
ton of friends, the breaking of family
ties. the separation of fathers and sons,
OF brothers and sisters-even perhaps
to the DISAGREEMENT of husband and
wife."
1T means the sovereignty of the
southland the breaking Of a covenant
with low-born traders and abolition
lists" said Capt. Pinclnev.
IF there are any gentlemen present"
continued the stranger, without heed
ing the interruption, who have pledged
TINS state 20 the support of the south
IN this emergency, or TO tho establish
ment OF Pacific republic in aid and
sympathy with it. whose names are on
this paper" ne lifted sheet Of paper
lying before Col. Starbottlc, but who
now feel that the gravity OF the news
demands more serious consideration
OF the purpose, they arc at liberty 10
withdraw from the meeting giving
their honor as southern gentlemen TO
keep the secret intact"
Not II know it," interrupted n stall
wart kentuckian as he rose 20 his feet
and strobe down the steps 10 the patio.
For he added, placing his back
against the gateway, III shoot the first
coward that backs out now"
roar Of laughter and approval fol-
lowed, but was silenced again by the
quiet, unimps stoned voice Of the stran-
ger.
III, on the other hand" he went on.
calmly, you all feel that this news is
the fitting elimination and consccra-
ton Of the hopes, wishes and plans Of
this meeting, YOU will assert IL again.
on your own signatures, TO Col. Star.
bottle at this table"