Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-03-10
CHAPTER "

HOW VIII IL StrlkC Liza! " ON Snc
feel more like she belonged up here than
down yonder:'
The imposing white gate and the trim
pyracantha hedge that shut from view
the grassless trampled quarter lot were
before her. The huge, unsightly corn
cribs the clustered cabins, the overseer's
unlovcly house, were behind her. The
big gate swung with smooth noiseless-
ness on its strong hinges, the latch
clicked against its hasp with well rcgu-
lated gentleness, leaving her on the side
of elegance, beauty refinement.
The scent of heliotrope and June roses
was afioat on the air. Liza loved hello
trope the "bcst i'll the world There
was struggling plant Of it on the Wa
ter shelf at home that every member of
the family with unskillful solici,udo
had tried to keep alive. Maybe Liza
wouldn't SO much as look at it, let alone
rememberin how she had fetched it
home from the big house the day she
went to say goodby to Gabrielle. " Poor
Gabrielle! who had pincd away and
died in the city boarding school such 2
little while after.
In front Of her, stately and white
pillared, the big house reared its crest
proudly. 1t had sheltered many genera
tions of Stron2s, each one of whom had
made his entrance and his exit upon the
worlds stage with unblemishCd propri-
ETY.. Shining lcafcd japonica bu. hes
crowded close up to the broad white
stucco steps. Behind them she could
hear the governors voice raised i'll ex-
cited expostulation with an unseen au-
ditor or auditors.
She had told Ebcn there would bc
folks to dinner at the mansion that day.
She wished she had made her entrance
by the side gate. The governor had
never ceased to lie formidable to her, al
though 22 years of her life had been
spent within sound of the imperious
voice that foatcd angrily across the
shining shrublcry. Mrs. Martin snilfcG
scornfully.
"Politics knowcd it. jest lis'n at
him" :-----~
"No, sir, am not ffi'- f0ii' secession. secession. !
am for sticking to the old fiag-our flag
as much as it is a Yankee flag. This
Internal runpus is all the work of Il lot
of hot headed, thin skinned fire eaters
who would chccrfully send the whole
country to the devil rather than submit
to any fancied atfront to their own pre-
cious selves. Gradual emancipation is
what we want. Emancipation is inevi-
table. The voice of Christcndom is
against slavery D--n the darkies; let
them go. We arc too Internally tender
tOed We are freezing for fght-that
is, you are, Clements, and you, Dali
ghrcn. Oh, don't look at me with those
innocent blue eyes. And you need not
trouble yourself to chew that blond
mustache into fringe. The devil himself
couldn't scare you. But it You don't
get your fill of buster and gore before
we're out of this mess, then you may
boil my head for fiat Dutch cabbage.
1t is all wrong, sir, all wrong, this i'll
fcrnal twaddlc about our rights, our su-
prenlacy, our divincly appointed mas
tcrship. Well?"
Mrs. Martin started ncrvously Sho
had emerged from behind the japonicas
and was waiting for a chance to deliver
Eben's message. This sudden turning Of
the governors batteries Oh her unpro-
tcc.cd front "nustcred" her more than
ever She delivered herself briskly:
"Eben wants some new brushes or.
dered. Rats
Hey? What? Gin brushes? Rats?
The same cry every year. Ask Martin if
he thinks am made of money. l tell
you, sir, you are Understanding the
magnitude Of this thing. When we get
at it, it will be no holiday affair. You
are going to get licked out OF your boots,
Dalghrcn, and only hope l may live
long enough to say, L told you so. +"
Upon my word and honor, Eben,"
Mrs. Martin said that night, when sho
was entertaining her "men folks with
recital of all that had happened since
dinner, "you would "a thought the
fight was comm off t'morrer mornin,
right there and then, to "a heard HIM
l left him rantin and prancin and shak-
in his fist now at Colonel Clemens, then
bellerin at young Dalghren real outra-
geous. He's one of 'em, the old man
is"
Eben chuckled comfortably. He rather
enjoyed his wifc's nervousness. II was
not easy to upset Becky.
"He wouldn't hurt a hair on dogs
back, the gov nor wouldn't. lido believe
he's the one thing on TOP Of the earth
Won re scared cf Etch -