The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-30
THE HOOKING BIRD.

4dD4 OF the f1y4F6SDGIS
At the close of the war, however, a dark
cloud had settled upon the fortunes of the
house Its fields were devE-.Stea by the
raids Of contending armies. Horses and
cattle no longer tenanted the roomy barns,
the former having been led away for serv-
ice in the Confederate cavalry, while the
latter had been appropriated for food by
Yankee raiders. The silver plate and the
family jewels had been sent to Richmond
as patriotic contributions to the depleted
treasury Of the ConfederaCy. Many of the
slaves had gone to seek their fortunes in
the cooler climate of the north, and the
few who now remained behind had learned
that they, too, would have to find homes
elsew here, for with the death of the young
master on the bloody field of Antietam the
male issue Of the Sylvesters had become
extinct and the fortunes of the family had
been lost beyond repair. At first their
faith in their young mistress, Anne Syl-
vester, impelled them TO doubt the rumor.
Anne, a beautiful young woman Of p,
was the only surviving sister Of the former
master. Her affection for the old place
and her servitors was unmistakable but it
soon became apparent to all that the IN
happy girl was indeed face to face with
ruin and was powerless to obey the die
tates of her heart.
For almost a year after the surrender
of Lee at Appomattox Anne Sylvester
tried to fight against fate. Then, reluc-
family confessing her impotency, she relin-
quished the struggle and prepared to bid
farewell to the scenes and friends Of her
girlhood A distant relation in Nashville
had offered her home, and in the spring
of 1866 she began to make preparations for
her departure.
On tho evening of the day preceding her
leave taking of the old house Anne went
into the garden to sit for awhile among
the shrubs and flowers which had only
lately opened their perfumed petals to the
warm spring air. She was accompanied
by her cousin, Mary Edgerton, who was
indefatigable in her efforts to alleviate the
sorrow Of the unfortunate girl
Upon arriving at rustic bench beside
the trunk of a lofty oak they seated them
selves, and for several minutes both were
silent
At length a half smothered sob issued
from the breast of the unhappy Anne, and
her cousin, rousing herself from a reverie
into which she, too, had fallen, placed an
arm around her and drew her closer.
Come, dear, be brave Perhaps all
these things you love so fondly may one
day be yours again. There must surely
come a time when all these ravages of war
will be obliterated when prosperity will
come back to the south once more. Per-
haps'-
''I'm not thinking of that, dear, - re-
turned Anne sadly.
A shadow crossed Mary face for a mo
ment. Then she opened her lips to speak,
but her cousin interrupted her:
s'Ah, things have changed so in the last
four years that I sometimes feel that it
will do me good to go elsewhere for a lit
tie while. The old place is full of pleasant
memories, but sometimes get to thinking
out here Mary
She hid her face in her hands, but in a
few moments she raised it again.
See, Mary, seer' she continued as she
pointed to a neighboring magnolia. 81 Do
you see that tree2 Do you remember how,
on those warm spring nights, the hooking
bird used to sing among the blossoms, and
how often you and have sat out here and
listened to its musicf Year after year it
came while the magnolia was in bloom.
Then one year it left us suddenly and has
never visited us again. Do you know what
happened on the night 1 heard it lasts No,
no. How can you know? You were not
with me then, Mary"
ttCome, darling, calm yourself" re-
monstrated her cousin gently.
s'I'n tell you, dear, " continued Anne,
more quietly cit has been the only one
of all my secrets that never told you of.
It Is just four years ago tonight since L
sat here with Andrew Cotton, listening to
the hooking bird, as you and 1 so often
used TO do, and never before had it's notes
seemed half so beautiful Andrew and
had been talking Of our future and of the
home that he was going to take me to.
At last, while the hooking bird was
singing, while, with my head resting on
his shoulder, I was looking over the moon
lit lawn and through the dark cluster of
the castles we had been build
ing in the air-he gently told me of his
purpose to enlist in the ranks of the men
who had invaded our country and laid it
waste AS he spoke my heart rebel1ed
against him and babe me cast him out
rose and ordered him to leave me. He
protested, but I refused to listen to what
he had to say I told him he had been
false to me and a traitor to the state to
which we both owed allegiance. Then I
turned away and left him standing there
alone.
.sThe night after our quarrel I went
into she garden, hoping in my heart that
/ would find him there, but resolved that
if hs spoke to me I would treat him as
had done the night before. He did not
come again, and since he left I have not
heard from bimu But, Mary, do you know
that since the moment when I told him
that all was at an end between US the
sweet voice that used to come to US from
the magnolia tree has not been heard again
by any one about the placer Thatsis why
this old garden has become distasteful to
me, and I am not as sorry to leave it as
you fancied might be. -
- Do you love him still2' asked Mary
softly as she took her cousins hand.
Eyes, - answered Anne as a dark flush
mantled her brow. eff, after what he told
me, he had altered his intention because of
his fear Of losing me, 1 should have de-
spised him. I hated the convictions he
professed, but respected them because
his conscience told him they were true. If
he had been false to his conscience, then
he might have been false to me in later
years
Anne paused and for several minutes
both we're silent
Perhaps said Mary, but she said no