The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-05
CONFEDERATE POSTMASTER

Of dozen houses.
Jenkins was a young fellow. about
years old, and he was assisted IN the post
office by his wife. pretty little woma
who was very popular In the settlement.
The office occupied front room in th
Jenkins cottage, which was surrounded b
well-tilled farm. just large enough I
support the postmaster and his wife.
Following the example Of the othe
Southern postmasters. Jenkins continued /
discharge the duties Of his office after hi
State had become q member Of the new
Confederacy. He did not resign his old 20
sition under the Federal government. II
simply ignored the department at Wash
ington. and proceeded to act as postmaste
from the Confederate authorities at Rich
mond.
Everything was in their favor, jenkins
and his wife supposed, and they did MOI
dream Of any trouble.
The two made up and distributed the
mails, as usual, and the government en-.
velopes and stationery in the office were
sold to the Confedcrates who needed such
supplies. The entire stock then on hand
was worth only few dollars, and Jenkins
knew that he could settle the account with
Uncle Sam at moments notice.
The night after he had received his COM
mission from Richmond the postmaster
and his wife discussed the situation at the
supper table.
Let me tell you," said the head Of the
family, some OF our big men may get into
serious trouble. The officers In the United
States army who have gone into the Con-
federate service before they resigned. or
before their designations were accepted,
are In great danger"
"In what way, asked Mrs. jenkins.
why, to put II in plain English was
thereby, they have committed high
treason, and II the Federas ever get hold
of them there will be the biggest hanging
bee ever known in the history OF the
world"
Mrs. Jenkins PAUSED a moment and 1t
was evident from the expression Of her
face that she was absorbed in deep
thought.
Her husband casually glanced across the
table and his wife's anxious look startled
him.
What is the matter, sallie?" he asked
excitedly.
ut seems to me, Dink," she replied,
that We are in the same boat with the
officers you speak Of, II they are guilty Of
high treason, we are guilty. too"
Great Caesar!" exclaimed Jenkins.
How do you make that QUIT"
You did not resign your commission as
said the little woman. "You
went right ahead with your business and
took the oath of allegiance 10 the Confed-
edacy. and accepted from 1t an appoint
ment to the very office which you were
then holding under commission from the
United states government. That looks like
treason. and as ] anu your assistant in the
Office am traitor also"
Il never thought OF It In that light"
said her husband gloomily.
Nor did l think OF it," was the reply,
until your talk about the army officers
suggested it,"
Mrs. Jenkins suddenly left the table and
made dash into the next room. She re-
hand.
Here's law book" she said, (which
was left here BY Squire Jones' Let lis see
what 1t says about high treason"
1t was an old English book. but the young
couple took 1t for granted that 1t wassyood
authority.
They slowly and painfully plodded
through hundreds of pages, and they felt
more discouraged every moment.
AT midnight the book was laid aside and
two very pale faces confronted each other
over an untasted supper.
We are in for it," groaned the chief
criminal.
am afraid So" chimed in his associate
ana partner. Now. state briefly your con-
illusions"
We'll according to this book" said the
postmaster, Is We are guilty OF high trea-
soh' no doubt about that. The punish.
ment Is the most terrible l ever heard Of.
our property will be confiscated; our
blood VIII be attainted, and we are not to
have the benefit OF clergy They will drag
us on hurdles to the place OF execution.
where they Will hang lis and then cut us
into four quarters. Our heads Will he hung
UP In some. public place for the people to
gaze upon"
THE mean. low-lived rascals!" com.
mented Mrs. Jenkins. II never heard Of
such treatment for a lady"
Nor either" said her husband "hrt
you see we have never looked into this
matter before.
What shall we do?" asked the woman
tearfuIy
u have scheme" whispered the other.
The guilty conspirators put their heads
together and conversed In low tone for
a half hour.
Then they rushed from room to room
and worked hard for an hour or two
They packed two valises with their best
sarments and few articles Of value. and
divided their money between them.
Tne good people OF Cottonville were
much disturbed by the disappearance Of
the postmaster and his wife the first day.
but when they failed on return to the fol-
LOWING day the matter was investigated.
IL was quite mystery to the few fam.
llies in the ne!ghborhood. but nobody was
enterprising enough to offer a reward or
follow the missing couple, and the exclt-
Ing events OF the war soon turned the
Of the people into other channels.
Another postmaster was appointed, and
cottonviile moved along serenciy.
Ten years after the surrender a matter