The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-14

W.
"You and they Bill dl,Cays k,,oaD qUhere
to find me-"
expected to find the spirit Of rebellion
SO fully developed upon his own hearth.
stone. Miss Julia and Miss Olivia Potts
came in unsmiling and red nosed. They
had evidently shed tears since leaving
home that morning. Potts held out a
hand to each of them with wistful
smile.
"Well, my dearies?''
ooh, father, it almost killed us!''
And the floodgates were lifted once more
"And mans foes shall be they Of
his own household" said Potts, laugh
ing mirthlessly. "Well, now, I have
only this to say-if you three women
have any convictions Of your own on
this subject, you are at liberty to abide
by them. That is all I ask for myself.
l have no objections in the world for
you to amuse yourselves in the various
sorts of work women delight in at such
junctures as this. I am Union man,
and I suppose I am about the only man
in Apologize county who is one"--
II am sure of it,"
"That is what makes it so terrible"
Zone man can't be right and every
other man wrong, father
Potts put both hands to his ears.
Zone at a time, ladies. As I was
about to say, you have no manner of
right to question my position, and I do
not intend you shall Of course you can
make it deucedly unpleasant for me,
but trust you will try to recollect that
l am your father if am not a seces.
sionist. Then, with increasing choler:
"Confound it all! Who wouldn t rather
go out and be shot into mince meat in
preference to leading the dance you wo-
men are going to pipe for me?"
"Then why don't you do it, father?"
ave are not going to lead you any
dance at all, Lester. We are going to do
our duty, however, as we conceive right
by the noble men who are going to pre-
vent the vandal horde from planting its
heels upon our necks."
Miss Melanie considered this rather
fine, and it put her into better humor
with the situation.
"Well, l suppose we may as well
have tea. Of course our home duties
are first We may agree on that if we
are as wide apart as the poles in our po-
litical convictions.
Father" said Ollie, looking at him
obviously, "the whole town is going to
be illuminated tonight
"Well?'
"Of course you couldn't consistently
lake us to see it, but julie and want
10 go dreadfully."
BLESS you, my love, don't in the
east expect to get through this thing
expect to be giving aid
md comfort to the enemy straight
through. Consistency is jewel l can't
'fford 10 wear, 80 if You and julie want
% see this fooling I'll take you, Of
ave might send for Neddie?" The
brought a very pink flush
INTO Ollie's pretty cheeks.
"Ned Matthew'S"
eyes, sir. He could go consistently
nough. He is all on fire with military
rdor.'
"All on fire with military fiddle
ticks. Why, the boy belongs by rights
n the other side. All of his kin are in
he north. He is Maine BORN
He is a better southerner this min
tie, father, than
"You are! Finish it, finish it. Iexpect
D get used to such stings in the next
ew years. Perhaps little daily prac~
ice in the bosom of my family may be
,lutary."
Never before had the old single roof
the squat little house behind the
leanders harbored so much bitterness
5 it did that day. Miss Julia subsidized
ito sullen silence Miss Olivia wiped
ngry tears from her eyes. Miss Mclanie
lbbed her needles with irate energy.
no apple of discord had been flung
ito their midst. Mr.. Potts finally broke
lie silence which was becoming pain
il.
as Edward Matthews going into the
my, Olivia?"
eyes, SIR"
"Who is going to look after his
other! He came out here for her
,alth, and the salary he draws from
o is all they have"
"Yes, papa, he has weighed all that,
1t he says be considers his first duty
to his country, and he knows we
ont let Mrs Matthews suffer. Ned.
o will look perfectly lovely In y uni
rm."
Perfectly" her father repeated,
it'll scott in his voice, and the jarring
,te vibrated harshly through the little
,me circle.
The kissing of n slyrocket carried
em all to tho front door presently.
DO inconsequent shouting of boys
'eeted It's advent. 4
Come" said little Potts grayely,
let us go and assist in celebrating u
'ople's folly sae y, a.: tar,e1
''CHApTER VIII.
Ralhsvap heard it and life resolved