Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-11-05

voices came from the outer gate of the
courtyard. Mrs. Rrant ros,'-- aurt,i tho
same moment the gate swung open
and man entered. II was the Mis-
sourian.
lie turned with an oil-rashioucI
courtesy Ia the single woman Standing
on the balcony. My fuir currr-
,poudrut, believe! am Judge Bee
,viugcr. Your agent. MacNirl, PASSED
lnc through our guards NJ he gate.
but did not deem IT adyisa,lrto hiring
him into this assembly of gentlemen
without your further consideration. |
trust was right"
The quiet dignity, and srlf-po~scs-
sion. the quaint. uld-fashiourd colonial
precision Of speech. modified by soft
Nirginian intonatinu. and. above all,
some singular individuality in the man
himself. produced a profound scu~r-
tion, and seemed tn suddenly give this
gathering an imprc>sivcnrss At had
lacked before.
For AN instant Clarence forgot him
self and his personal wroupE in the
shock of Indignation he felt at this lru-
tent addition to the ranks of hi@
enemies. lie saw his vifr's,ycS sparkle
with pride over her acquisition. and mo-
ticcd that pinchncN east "A disturbed
glance at the newcomer.
The stranger assembled the few steps
to the balcony aud tool, Mrs. Eraut :
hand with profound courtesy.
"lntroducr me To my colleagues -d dis
tinctly and separately. 1t hchooycs Il
man AT such moment 10 know 10 " hom
he iutrusts his life and honor. and the
life and honor of his cause"
Ii was evidently no mere formal cour-
tcSy of the stranger. rs H. stepped
forward along the balcony. and under
Mrs. Grants graceful guidance, WAS
introduced To each Of the Numbers. hr
not only listened with scrupuluuS care
and attention 10 tho name and prnfrs-
sion of each man. hu' bent upon him 4
clear. searching glance that seemed Ia
photograph him in his memory, with
two exceptions.
lie passed Col. Starhottlc's expanding
shirt frill with bow of elaborate pre-
cision, and said: col. Starbottlc's
fame requires neither iutroducti ION nor
explanation" lie stopped before Capt.
Pickncy and paused.
AN officer of the United States army,
believe. sir?"
yes"
Educated at West Point. | think. Ivy
the government Ia whom YOU have
1.
"les."
"Nery good, SIR" said the stranger.
turning away.
"lou have forgotten one other fact,
sir" said Pinckney, with "A slightly
supercilious air.
Indeed. what is it,"
81 am, first of all, n native Of the
state of South Carolina"
a murmur of applause and approval
ran round the balcony. Capt. Pinck-
ney smiled and exchanged Chances with
.lrs. Brant. but the stranger quietly re-
turned to the central table beside Col.
Starbottlc.
IL am not only aR unexpected dele
gate to this august assembly, gentle
Heel, 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 ponyrN-
press. Fort sumter has been besicged.
The United States flag. carrying relief
TO the bcleaguercd garrison, has been
fired upon by the state of South Caro-
lima"
\ burst of almost bystcrie applause
and enthusiasm broke from the assem-
bly, and made the dim vauit-lile pas
sages and corridors of the casa ring.
Cheer after cheer went MP to the veiled
gallery and the misty sky beyond; men
mounted on the tables and waved their
hands frantically. and i'm The midst of
this bewildering turbulence OF sound
and motion, Clarence saw his wife
mounted on n chair.with burning checks
and flashing eyes, waving her handhcr-
chief like an inspired priestcss.
Only the stranger, still standing be-
side Col. Starbottle. remained unmovcd
and impressive. Then with an impcra-
tive gesture he demanded n sudden ST.
lence.
Convincing and unanimous as this
demonstration is. gentlemen, he began,
quietly, lit is my duty, nevertheless, tn
ask you if you have seriously consid-
cred the meaning of the news have
brought. 1t is my duty TO tell you that
il means civil war. Ii means the clash
o. arms between two sections of u
mighty country, il 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 lowborn traders and abolition
lists said Capt. Pinckncy.
IF there are any gentlemen present."
continued the stranger. without heed
ing the interruption, who have pledged
this state to the support of the south
in this emergency, or to the establish
ment of Pacific republic i'm aid and
sympathy with it, whose names are on
this paper" he lifted sheet of paper
lying before Col Starbottle, 'llut who
now feel that the gravity of the news
demands a more serious consideration
of the purpose. they are at liberty to
withdraw from the meeting giving
their honor as southern gentlemen to
keep the secret intact"
Not if know it," interrupted stall
wart kentuckian as he rose to his feet
and STROBE down the steps to the patio.
For" he added, placing his back
against the gateway, In shoot the first
coward that backs out now
roar of laughter and approval fol-
lowed, but was sileuced again 10y the
quiet, unimpassioned voice of the stran-
ger.
"If. on the other hand" he went on,
calmly, you all feel that this news is
the fitting elimination and cousccra-