The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-15

A Renini.cenoc OF the KniEhts OF the Golden
Circle. | 30

huIe urcw rein IN n missouri lRnO WITHIN speak
ing distance of two young mon husklng corn
IN company with several adult negroes. 1t was
aoouta O'Clock OF a cold gray day.
Il hate to sec men work so hard" the rider
called, with intent to be sarcastic.
Hello, JEFF, the young fellows called rs they
rose from tho piles Of stalks before which they
sat and sauntorod toward tho fcncc.
You're q likely chap to talk about work,
ridin around the country on n newell, like they
weren't no work to do"
Tho rider grinncd. TITS too late to hnsk corn
anyhow. You South CarIlnians are always
about two months late Suddenly his voice
changed to n tone OF Joyous excitement, and he
bent over the pommcl of his.saddle:
Say, the knights meet tonight"
shut up, you fool, :" snid one OF tho huskcrs.
Don't you SOC tho niggcrs listening. What's
going orr
The riders voice sank TO a humble. 81 don't
know. Jim mot me and told me the Dutch ped.
dlcr had brought some news, and said he want
cd oil the Knights to DO on hand"
Where do we mecti'
"Jim Lyons's barn."
We'll. I'll tell You t~his-wc'vc got to have n
lot o pickcts out, for the niggers arc excited.
They have an idea something is going on that
would interest them"
"Jim'l watch out fer that. Wcll-so long.
BE on hand"
"We'll DO there"
The country about st. Louis was at that time
more secession than Union in feeling. and
though the farmers Of the creek wcro pursuing
their ways quietly, they were ready ut any
moment for an enterprise in MD of the South.
by n swift and decided stroke Of military fore.
sight, Frank y. Blair had captured Camp
jackson and It's arsenal in NIay, thus saving
the city and It's munitions to the Union, but
there had sprung up all over tho coun :ry II SC
cret society In sympathy with the South. These
societies were branches Of the Knights OF the
Golden Circle, and il was their hope that at
some time they might be able to do some
DECISIVE work in aid Of secession.
There was a lodge or circle at Gravois, into
which az me Contcderate syinpathizers we're
them little. There was something in the sud
den call for n meeting this November day. how
ever. which convinced, every eager Knight that
the time for action had come at last. Soipe
deed was to do-what 1t was no one could tell,
save the pcddlcr; but as the night grew thick,
from every direction, on foot and on horseback,
the men began % move through the cold. bleak
aG ," OF iba eo 5nS hrSgdox Wsra bro The The. two br! young "ms
Zimri Taylor. They. were both stalwart,
bearded, and quiet In manner, At supper they
uttered no word OF the news brought to them.
for black ears, keen as a harc's. were open to
hear the lowest word. The blacks We're al
or battles IN the south, which some, of them
comprehensive TO mean that certain white men
were lighting, for them. Others merely fclt
syInpathctiCally the tense anxiety of the time.
which portendod tragic deeds. There was u re.
straint in tho silence. which Abner's wife per.
he said to his wife:
%Iimgoins to the Post Office to hear the news
% AsfSness, / hope SSi It isn't at any "S'i proje ct OF the
3 quiet" he said, sharply. You needn't
Into ehe service. and l won't at least, not now"
Promise me not to do anything rash; Abner.'
tation among the Circle he said. vi" ,
The Younger brother grew impatient. 'oh.
Abner had already been under arrest for a ~
bellious act while on a visit to 81. Louis, and his
wife MGs easily alarmed now. by 7:3o the
and outside n circle of pickcts kept watch that
no prytng negro came within hearing DISTANCE
Of the loft in which the meeting was held; In
talking: was q big. black, whisss cred man d
wero hunched or sprawlinK about on the hay
listening in silence. At last the Chairman
Brothers of the circle. YOU are called together
tonight because there is work to be done
You've all been Just achin' to do something fo
keep our. mouths shct. We've had to subini
to these Yankee scrubs who hold our fot. Fo,
We have been helpless under the heel of thcs'
Northern vandals ever since. Now We have
chance to make them pay. Brother Most
Baumer was u peddle7 who carried drug
from st; Louis to the Confederate armies Ii
the southern part Of the state. He carries
could secure. lie now stcppcd out into tn
floor, the excitement of the big project in hi
visagc. lie plunged into the plan at once.
"hrothers, we hayeh chance to rob the North
Grant OF Cairo is home on a leave OF absence
He drove out to-day without Il guard. Nobod.
with him. Hes at old man Dents, which i
know the place. He will be there all nigh,
Ny plan /; to surround the house and seiz
him while he Is asleep. The Union cause vii
have one l.rigadicr- General less"
Two or three Of the Younger hothcads leape'
up. white with excitement.
Good! That's the plan. Wen make hin
pay Tor belmont"
The boldncss Of the scheme took the coole
men at a disadvantages. Before they ,coul'
gather their limbs under them another bellig
crent was in the middle of the floor, blazin
with excitement, his words n vollcy. sit is
glorious opportunity to serve the cause OF tn
south S%1S We 6 h"yS been orgHniTSd for Just IT, sue {
one to do this work tonight"
so will H. said one nj his side.
And l." shouted scvcral more.
Tho Chairman uttered "A warning hiss-"Sh!-
don't yell" For an instant II seemed ns il III
whole lodge was ready for this bold plan. but
ono shouted, Hold on n minute." and when tn
rest had time to look about to SEQ who hp,
spoken. Abnor Taylor was seen standing in tn
The big cornhuskcr looked grim and thrca,
= ening as he stepped forward and flung his Ia
Il vote no! Now. see here. ncighbors.
want n word right now. | know this licI
Grant. I've cut wood and hauled props wit
, him. He has eat dinner in our house many
, time. You all know him. and you know that
! better man never lived in this town. He's
/, gentleman and an honorable soldier. and l don
! propose to kidnap a man like that under sue
I circumstances. Why, tho man trusts us! io
: say he has no bodyguard well. I'll be one {
1 his bOdyRuhrds.
9 You all know I've no love for Yankees;
=, would cut tho heart out of Frank Blair II
J. could, but Con. Grant was our friend an
' n~cighbor. Why, I've seen him give his las
o - to a poor widow woman whose house wa
y burnt down. You all remember Tom Harris
b widow. Some O you follows hauled prop
with him., and now when he trusts us an
comes home here without n hodvguard he cl
poets TO be treated like a gentleman. and b
tho Almighty. he shall be II my fist has al
n weight"
our men" yelled some one. ITS all war, an!
how"