The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-10-10
PART III.
CHAPTER U.-CoNTNUED.

CHAPTER u.-CoNTINUED.
IL was fine specimen OF the old col
.onial planters house, with its broad
verandas, it's great detached offices and
negro quarters, and had. thus far, es-
capped the ravages and billetting of the
war. 1t had been occupied by its owner
up to few days before the engage
ment, and so great had been the con-
fdence of the enemy in their success
that ii had been used as the confederate
headquarters on the morning of the de-
cisive battle. jasmine and rose, un-
stained by the sulphur of gunpowder,
twined around its ruined columns and
half hid the recessed windows; the care
less flower garden was still in it's un-
kept and unpluclIed luxuriance, the
courtyard before the stables alone
showed marks of the late military oc-
cupancy and was pulverized by the
uneasy households OF the waiting staff.
But the mingled impress of barbaric
prodigality with patriarchal simplicity
was still there in the domestic arrange
Iuents of n race who lived on equal
terms with strangers and their own
servants.
The negro servants still remained
with certain cat-lile fidelity to the
place, and adapted themselves to the
:. northern invaders with child-lilSe en-
.oyment of the novelty of the change.
' Brant, nevertheless, looked them over
with an experienced eye, and satisfied
himslf of their trustworthiness; there
were the usual number Of "boys," gray
haired and grizzled in body service,
and the "mammes" and "aunties" OF
the kitchen. There were two or three
rooms in the wing which still contained
private articles, pictures and souvenirs
of the family, and n ''young lady's"
5oudoir which Brant with character
-stic delicacy kept carefully isolated
and intact from the military household,
and accessible only TO the family serv-
ants. The room he had selected for
himself was nearest tia small, plainly
furnished apartment with az almost
conventual simplicity in its cold, white
walls and draperies and the narrow.
nun-lilIe bed. II struck him that IL
might have belonged to some elder
daughter or maiden aunt who had acted
VI housekeeper, as il commanded the
wing and the servants Offices with
easy access to the central hall.
There followed week of inactivity,
an which Brant felt n singular resem-
blance in this southern mansion 10 the
old casa at Robes. The afternoon
shadows of the deep verandas recalled
the old monastic gloom of the Spanish
house. which even the presence OF
iounging officer or waiting orderly
could not entirely dissipatc. and the
scent of the rose and jasmine from his
xpgindows overcame him with sad mem
ries. He began 10 chafc under this in
action. and long again for the excite
snent OF the march and bivouac in
which for the pnst four years he had
buried his past.
He was sitting one afternoon alone
before his reports and dispatches when
this influence seemed so strong that he
half impulsiyely laid them aside 20 in
dulge In n long rcverie. lie was re-
calling his last day at Robes, the carly
morning duel with PinclIney, the re-
turn 10 San Francisco. and the sudden
resolution which sent him that day
across the continent TO offer his scrv-
ices to the government. He rcmem-
bercd his delay in the western town
where a volunteer regiment was being
recruited. his entrance into IL as pri-
vate. his rapid selection, through the
forcc OF his sheer devotion and intclli-
gent concentration. TO the captaincy of
his company. his swift promotion on
fields 20 the head OF the
regiment. and the singular success that
Ind followed his resistless energy
which left him no time 10 think OF any
thing but his duty. The sudden intru-
sion OF his wife upon his carccr-cven
In this accidental and perhaps innocent
way. had seriously unsettled him.
The shadows were growing heavier
and deeper. Il lacked only few mo-
ments Of the sunset bugle when he was
recalled TO himself by that singular i'm
stincti,e consciousness - common TO
humanity-of being intently looked ut.
lie turned quickly the door behind
him closed softly. He rose and slipped
into the hall. The tall figure Of a won
N was coming down the passage. She
was erect and graceful. but as she
turned toward the door leading TO the
Offices. he distinctly saw the gaudily