The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-12

Thatcher wanted the "Bascom Light
guards" He had downed the sugges-
tion at the outset On the whole zap
plegate sharpshooters' appealed to
his fancy more strongly than any name
yet thought of, and as he dismounted
in front Of Thatcher's office be had got
SO far as to decide that the apple
gate sharpshootcrs should be uni
formed with dark crimson stripes down
the trousers legs and small crimson POM
pons in their military caps.
The city fathers heard it and called
an extra meeting to decide upon some
plan of action that should emphasize the
fact that Cloverdell fully approved of
the decision Of the state Legislature and
was ready and willing to do her part.
As to what that part was the city
fathers were little vague in their
official minds. They were a unit, how.
ever, for the first time in their official
existence and burned with warlike zeal
Reginald Belknap heard it, and his
cheeks famed with the ardor of his de.
sire. Now he could wipe out the stain
he had put on an honorable name.
Everything would be changed. He would
cover himself with such glory that even
Marianne would forget the lapse that
had robbed her of the home she loved
so well.
He had made his confession to her and
to Maxwell by proxy. Colonel Bascom
had gone over to Belhaven and told the
miserable story for him. Marianne's
first question, her only one, had been:
And Nanny Jane--does she 60
with the rest of our belongings
Marianne's, however, was not the fair
girl face which rose up to confront Bel.
KNAPP as he, too galloped downward
eager to be in the thick Of the excite
ment that held sway in Cloverdoll. Jes-
sica, with her severely beautiful brow
and her distant courtesy, as she had pre-
sided over the breakfast table the morn
ing after his invasion was to be won to
a gentler estimate of him. "She thinks
Pm worthless cad now, but when l
come back covered with glory she will
look OH me with kinder eyes" And as
he rode he lifted his hat reverently
from his head. "She shall be my inspi-
ration and my-goal. To- To make myself
worthy of her shall be the ambition Of
my life"
Little Potts heard it and slammed the.
lids of his big ledger together with
groan. "Good Lord! They have done it
at last! Fools, fools They know not |
what they have DONE"
He alone Of all the men whom Mer-
riman Bascom delighted to call friends
was not among the shouting, laughing,
chattering crowd that gathered on the
bluff that morning.
He walked into his outer office. Not |
clerk was left at desk. He proceed. |
ed as far as the big wareroom. Not
salesman was to be found. He smiled
bitterly and walked to the front door
of his store. 1t looked like Sunday in
that part of Cloverdell. One single form
was in sight. 1t was old Cuthbert Drew,
who, being deaf, had been slow to hear
the great news, and, being lame, was
making but tedious progress toward the
center of excitement AS he came
abreast of littlo Potts he dotted his
shabby felt Lat to swing it over his
thin, white locks, with senile shout:
"Hooray, hooray for the Confeder-
acy! Down with all Union mon, trai
.ors and idgitsr'
That was the beginning of little
Potts martyrdom.
The meeting to which Mr. Thatcher
lad summoned the colonel was in full
blast. Notwithstanding everybody's
that the time for words was
,ast, vast amount of talk had to be
disposed of before any practical conolu-
ions could be arrived at.
1t was held in the courthouse, that
icing the only building in the town
arge enough to hold the excited pop
lace. Women were there in force,
rown bold by that rampant patriotism
which made action of some sort impera-
i've. Colonel Bascom, a handsome, con-
picuous figure, had the platform when
|ttle Potts crept in, with a white,
rawn face and the mien of a man by
o means sure of his welcome The
'ords that reached him as he slipped
ITO seat near the door made him less
IAN ever sure of it. Said the speaker:
Ito Be Continued .'-tFss