The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-01-02
A DIVIDED HOUSE
Story of the Civil.
War in Missouri.
BY SIDNEY n. POWELL
CHAPTER v1.-JoHN's PARTY.

CHAPTER v1.-JoHN's PARTY.
The Christmas holidays were
nearly over and Charlie had spent
the most Of his time at home.
Mrs. Dabney had ms ntained IN
usual good humor and spirits and
had been 80 concilistory as to con-
sent to Johns having a social gath
ering at The Elms.
Charl Q and Ellie wondered how he
had accomplished such q feat as to
gain his mothers consent. But in his
quiet, serious way he approached the
subject by saying:
"Mother, 1 think 1t probable this is
the last Christmas we will ever spend
1t THE Elms.' l am sure We are
On the eve OF a bloody civil war, and
Charlie and / will be forced into il.
We can't hope that another Christ
mas viii find us as we are now. One
Of us, or both, in all probability, VIII
be missing, While We are all here
let us have q party to celebrate my
coming home from college,"
And so they had the party, and
Charlie seemed to forget in prepar-
ing for it, that he was an alien in his
mothers house.
The double parlors were thrown
open, and all the old china and silver
that had been packed away for years
was brought out and put into use.
The neighbors for miles around
we're invited, but chiefest among
them all, in their elegant dress and
manners, shone, al Mrs Dabney
thought, her particular friends, the
Claytons. There was no dou5t about
it, they were indeed the most fault
lessly dressed of any there, but in
point OF beauty it was hard to deter
N ne whether Ellie or Miss Margaret
bore off the palm.
Charlie, who seemed like ElGe's
shadow, thought John was now
completely captured by the beautiful
heiress.
"Look, Elfe," he whispered, "see
how she turned her back on Mr..
Mabin to smile at John, and he, I do
believe, is going to take a seat by
her,"
"I think you have little to talk
about" said Mrs. Dabney who was
standing near and heard Charlie.
"Aunt Mag, he thinks he'll have
something to tease John about" said
Ellie trying to mend matters.
"Let US 60 into the other room
and find Mollie Norton" said Char
lie, uneasily.
And Ellie followed him, but the
trimming Of her dress caught on the
~splintered edge of a chair and
stopped her. She turned to extri-
cate 1t and found Mr.. Clayton con-
fro4ting her.
CHOW, Miss Ellie, I have you
stopped, and will not let you pass
yet awhile," he said laughingly. 81
have teen trying my best to get to
speak to you all the evening, hut
Charlie has monopolized your time.
I want to get your advice a out a
little matter and if you will only take
this seat, / will LIE q thousand times
obliged"
He pulled the chair forward and
bowed and smiled in his most charm
ing manner, while she silently seated
herself.
"Now," she asked, "what is it you
want to ask me a out2"
"Well," he commenced, "Mr. Ma
bin, you know him, a most capital
fellow, is trying to raise a company
of volunteers for the war that every
one says is imminent and he thinks
Charley has already pledged to join
it. You know Mabin is an abol =
ZIONIST and his company will fight
on the union side. Now / want to
know how we are to keep Charlie
out of it. l think so much of the
boy l can't bear to Q him throw
himself away"
"Who told your" she asked
br~eathlessly, for she was shocked
that 1t had really come to that.
"Why, Mabin himself, who, although
q union man, is a perfect gentleman,
Would it do any good to tell his
mother, you thinkf"
"No sir" she answered, 81 DOM
think 1t would. John car do more
than anyone else, and John be-
lieves in letting people follow the
dictates of their own condolences
But, Mr.. Clayton, it is kind in you
and I feel grateful that you SHOULD
take the interest in him."
She said this because she knew
how Charlie hated him and talked
against him. She would try, sh'
thought, to make him some return IL
Charities place.