The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-03-26
A DIVIDED HOUSE.
A Story of the Civil War in
Missouri.
BY SIDNEY L. POWELL
Now First Published. }
CHAPTER e1.-ABOvE PRICE.

Leading her to the door of Charities
room, he left her on the outside, while
he prepared Charlie for her changed
looks.
Bertha and Mary were sitting near
and Bertha was reading from the little
red Bible aloud to Charlie.
TELL mother, " said Charlie to John,
"that | will not get excited, and |
want her please to come and sit by
me.
John led her in and she took her old
place at his pillow, and again their
hands were clasped.
Mother, this is not a divided house
now, - said John, land there is moth
ing to make it fall.
THANK God =" she exclaimed, fer
vently. But my life has all been
spent before | found out my mistake,
and all those years are wasted. My
house has fallen. ] pray God, my
children, you will take warning, and
try to destroy anything in your hearts
that takes the place of duty. To be
selfish is to divide your house and
bring it to ruin, | could not see my
duty for | was blinded by selishness.
Money and position were to me more
than God and Righteousness My own
case and pleasure more than the happi-
ness of my family, and the blessed,
hallowed love that is sent from heaven
to bind the hearts of parents and
children together, could find no lodg-
ment in my contracted, narrow heart.
Oh, pity me, pity me, and forgive me,
my children. You who in a miracu-
lous way have been saved from the sins
my selfshness and neglect were SO near
bringing upon you. But for Ellie, that
dear child | treated so badly, you both
would have been lost. John, it is
almost over now, dear son, | must tell
you now how l stole the letter you
wrote her, and she never saw it until
since | have seen my sins. Forgive me,
John. l always loved you, but my
Charlie, oh, will God forgive me, too,
like he has done.
Charlie was pressing the hand and
kissing it and John was caressing
lovingly the weary head that was now
leaning on his bosom, while Ellie knelt
at her feet.
Think as kindly of me rs you can, "
s1,, ,r-np+ -, ssT Ala ,,At 1.nx, tln+
Lon Clayton was running us to work
out his scheme. Dear children be
happy now. l love you-John--"
The sentence was never finished.
Mrs. Dabney's lips were closed forever,
her spirit had passed away.
Days and weeks passed, and John
and Charlie Dabney We're still unable to
return to their companies.
Their mothers death had grieved
them sorely, so much the more for the
sad past that could not be forgotten.
Bertha and her mother remained with
Ellie and helped to Nurse Charlie back
to life, us he said.
John was getting so strong and well
he told Ellie that he would soon be able
to 90 back to the army. She was in
Charities room, where she had been
reading aloud to the invalid, when
John told her this, and she threw the
book impaticntly down, saying:
Il am afraid, John, that wal has a
fascination for you, as you cannot stay
away from it.
when duty calls we must obey, he
said.
And duty calls you here to stay
with Charlie, " she said.
But he will soon he well and will
have to go himself. You will not need
rs, for an heIress can take care of her
self"
He had so often spoke of her money,
as he thought in that bitter, sarcastic
tone. Did he think that could crown
her life with happiness, and reconcile
her to losing all she had held dear from
her infancy? Had it closed his heart
against her, destroyed his pity and love
and consigned her to a cold, hard, love-
less future? If that was what her
money had done she wished it at the
bottom Of the sea.
Going to her room Ellie gave vent to
her wounded feelings in the way
usually resorted to by women, IA good
cry.
She could not understand why he had
ever written that letter, he was now so
cold and Indifferent to her. Something
had alienated him, perhaps love for
Bertha, who had so nobly nursed him
in prison.
well, if he marries her, " she said,
they shall have all my fortune, for /
hate the name of heiress."
Her thoughts and plans were inter
rupted by Bertha who came to see
why she staid away so long, aud to tell
her, too, that rumors had reached them
Of a party of raiders who were scour-
ing the country and committing the
most atrocious outrages.
mr.. Charlie says he thinks they
are rebels, 4" said Bertha, but DIR,
Dabney thinks they are neither fed
erals o confederates, but robbers
and cutthroats. 1t makes me shudder
to think of them"
Il hope they will not find us, " said
Ellie, but she had hardly gotten the
words from her lips before DR. Dabney
called them to come down Immediately.
He met them at the foot of the stairs
with a very pale troubled face.
1.-THE raiders are in the neighbor.