The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1896-06-11
co'sRIomr. s's.. Nv saar HAM.

the company of his pr0Ximityp
He held his breath Us the sound OF
voices came from the outer gate of the
courtyard. Mrs. Brant rose but at the
same moment the gate swung open
and man entered. 1t was the Mis-.
sourian.
He turned with an old-fashioned
courtesy to the single woman standing
OH the balcony. MY fair CORE
spondent, believed am Judge Bee
swinger. Your agent, MacNiel, passed
me through our guards at the gate,
but l did not deem it advisable to bring
him into this assembly Of gentlemen
without your further consideration. I
trust l was right"
The quiet dignity, and self-posses-
sion, the quaint, old-fashioned colonial
precision of speech, modified by soft
Virginian intonation, and, above all,
some singular individuality in the man
himself, produced profound sensa-
tion, and seemed to suddenly give this
gathering an impressiveness it 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 Pinckney cast disturbed
glance at the newcomer.
The stranger assembled the few steps
to the balcony and took Mrs. Brsnt's
hand with profound courtesy.
Introduce me to my colleagues dis
tinctly and separately. 1t behooves a
man at such Il moment to knowto whom
he intrusts his life and honor, and the
life and honor of his cause"
1t was evidently no mere formal cour-
tesy of the stranger AS he stepped
forward along the balcony, and under
Mrs. Brant's graceful guidance, was
introduced to each Of the members, he
not only listened with scrupulous care
and attention to the name and profess
sion Of each man, but bent upon him
clear, searching glance that seemed to
photograph him in his memory, with
two exceptions.
He passed Col. Starbottle's expanding
shirt frill with bow Of elaborate pre-
cision, and said: "Col. Starbottle's
fame requires neither introduction nor
explanation" He stopped before Capt.
Pickney and paused.
San officer of the United States army,
believe, sir7"
"Yes."
Educated at West Point, I think, by
the government to whom you have
taken the oath Of allegiance?"
"Yes."
"very good, sir" said the stranger.
turning away.
"You have forgotten one other fact,
SIR" said Pinckney, with Q slightly
supercilious air.
Indeed, what is it?"
81 am, first of all, a native Of the
state of South Carolina"
A murmur Of applause and approval
ran round the balcony. Capt. Pinck-
ney smiled and exchanged glances with
Mrs. Brant, but the stranger quietly re-
turned to the central table beside Col.
Starbottie.
Il am not only an unexpected dele
gate to this august assembly, gentle
men," he began, grayely, "but am the
bearer of, perhaps, equally unexpected
news. BY my position in the southern
district l 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-
lina!"
A burst of almost hysteric applause
and enthusiasm broke from the assem-
bly, and made the dim vault-like pas
sages 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 bewildering turbulence Of sound
and motion, Clarence saw his wife
mounted on chair,with burning cheeks
and flashing eyes, waving her handker-
chief like an inspired priestess.
Only the stranger, still standing be-
side Col. Starbottle, remained unmoyed
and impassive. Then with an impera-
tive gesture he demanded a sudden si-
lence.
Convincing and unanimous as this
demonstration is, gentlemen, he began,
quietly, lit is my duty, nevertheless, to
ask you If you have seriously consid-
cred the meaning Of the news 1 have
brought. 1t is my duty to tell you that
ii means. civil war. Itmeans the clash
OF arms between two sections of a
mighty country, it tmeans 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 q covenant
with low-born traders and abolition
lists" said Capt Pinckney.
If thereare 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 70 the establish,