The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-23
THE MOCKING BIRD

house. It's fields were devastated by the
raids Of contending armies. Horses and
cattle no longer tenanted the roomy barns,
the former having been led away for sery-
Toe 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 Cenfederaoy. 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
elsewhere, for with the death of the young
master on the bloody field of Antietam the
male issue Of the Sylyesters 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, beautiful young woman Of e2,
was the only surviving sister of the former
master. Her affection for the old place
and her servitors was unnistakable but it
soon became apparent to all that the un-
happy girl was indeed face to face with
ruin and was powerless to obey the dc
tates of her heart
For almost year after the surrender
of Lee at Appomattox Anne Sylvester
tried to fight against fate Then, reluc-
family confessing her impotency, she relin-
pushed 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 the 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 perfulned 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 q 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 tho breast Of the unhappy Anne, and
her cousin rousing herself from q reyerie
into which she, too, had fallen, placed an
arm around her and drew her olosor.
Come, dear, be brave. Perhaps all
these things you love 80 fondly may one
day be yours again. There must surely
come time when all these ravages Of war
will be obliterated, when prosperity will
come back to the south once more. Por-
haps'-
"Im not thinking of that, dear, re-
turned Anne sadly.
A shadow crossed Mary's face for mo-
ment. Then she opened her lips to speak,
but her cousin interrupted her:
"Ah, things have changed SO in the last
four years that l sometimes feel that it
will do me good to go elsewhere for q 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
few moments she raised it again.
"See, Mary, seer' she continued as she
pointed to noighboring magnolia. "Do
you see that tree? 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 ii
came while the magnolia was in bloom.
Then one year 1t left us suddenly and has
never visited us again. Do you know what
no. How can you know? You were not
with me then, Mary"
"Come, darling, calm yourself" To-
monstrated her cousin gently.
"I'n tell you, DEAR" continued Anne,
more quietly. at has been the only one
of all my secrets that I never told you of.
It Is just four years ago tonight since
sat here with Andrew Cotton, listening to
the hooking bird, as you and l SO often
used to do, and never before had its notes
seemed half so beautiful Andrew andI
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, was looking over the NOON
lit lawn and through the dark cluster of
poplars-at the castles we had been build
ing in the air-he gently told Inc of his
purpose to enlist in the ranks of the men
who had invaded our country and laid il
waste. AS he spoke my heart rebelled
against him and bade me cast him out l
= rose and ordered him to leave mo. He
protested, but I refused to listen to what
he had to say. I told him no had been
false to me and traitor to the state to
which we both owed allegiance. Then
turned away and left him standing there
alone
"The night after our quarrel went
into the garden, hoping in my heart that
would find him there, but resolved that
II he spoke to Inc l would treat him as
had done the night before. He did not
come again, ard since he left l have not
heard from him. But, Mary, do you know
that since the moment when l told him
that all was at an end between us tho
sweet voice that used to come to us from
the magnolia tree has not been heard again
by any one about the place? That is why
this old garden has become distAsteful to
me, and / am not as sorry to leave it as
you fanoied might be- "
do you love him still?" asked Mary
softly as she took her cousins hand.
YES" answered Anne as a dirk flush
mantled her brow. "If, after what he told
me, he had altered his intention because of
his fear Of losing mo, should have de-
spiscd him. / hated the convictions no
professed, but l respected them because
his conscience told him they were true. Ii
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 were silent
Perhaps" caid Mary, but she said no
more, for at that moment she vas r7n- !
scious of once familiar sound that E;s0Eo
out full and clear upon the stiffness of the
perfumed air. Note after note of joyous,
soul thrilling melody seemed to awaken !
the silent garden to the consciousness of |
life
Mute and brsathless, Mary clutehed at |
tho arm Of her cousin. But Anne had |
rison ard was standing, pale and motion
less, bssi&e the scat which she bad vseat- |
ed. Her eyes were turned toward the left,
and as Mary followed their case che saw ,
the figure Of q man advancing scfess the
lawn. As he drew nearer ho barred his
head ana extended his hand
IL have cens back 70 you, Anne" the
stranger began unstessily. "The long
war is over, and tho nsrth and the south
are oss. Lat rs snjsy tho blessings OF
peace New York Sun.
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