The National tribune., 1898-09-08
CHAPTER xxx.

of log cabins, giving glance INTO each a
they passed it. They were mostly tenantless
aud contained nothing of interest. But wher
near the end, as they halted for a moment o.
so before a door, feeble voice called from
within:
Er0nsonl Dave Bronson! do come in ! y
Astonished beyond measure they entered
and made their way to the corner whence the
call had come where a man, apparently
wounded unto death, was lying upon a rude
bed, supported upon poles resting in forked
sticks driven in the floor of the cabin.
The place seemed to be q little more in
viting than the most of those they had seen.
Its windows were larger, and let in more of
the sunlight and air. 1t lacked the unwhole-
some smell and instead of tobacco, pipes,
jugs. glasses. and playing-cards which were
the objects most obtrusive to the view in
those into which they had looked before, this
had books and papers; the walls were COW
cred with illustrated papers, and although
the furnishing. as in all the rest, was clumsy
and rude, there could be no mistaking that
it was the abode of some man of superior re-
fnement
This study Of the surroundings took but
the instant that they were walking towards
the bed then they examined eagerly the
face of the one who had called them. They
intelligent face Of young man less that 80,
who had evidently had much pain and sorrow
before this last blow came. But no sense of
recognition came to them until the man put
out his hand TO Bronson and said:
"Whv don't yOu know me, Dave? / knew
your voice as soon as heard it by the door"
"Why, its Henry Marston " said Bron-
SOD with a start. My cousin and my old
schoomate How in the world did you come
here? You have certainly not been an officer
in the rebel army! You, whose father is the
strongest Free So Ter in La Sale County?"
''Yes, it is too true" replied the other,
his face crimsoning family. 1t is shame
fully true, and | am now paying the right
eous pena ty."
But what motives took you-you, Of all
the men in the wOrld-into the rebel army"
asked Bronson, with some little heat he could
not repress. Then, bethinking himself, he
said gently: " But, no; pardon me tor asking
those questions now. You are wounded and
suffering greatly. Isn't there something we
can do to relieve you? Questions can be
asked and answered at some future time.
Sha'n't ] go and bring one Of our Surgeons
here? He can tell Us what to do for you.
- No, Dave" sid the other, with calm
resignation; thanks for your kindness.
You are cOnsiderate and kind, as YOU ever
were But it's no use. Pm past all surgery.
Our SurgeOn-he's Northern man and as
skillful as you can find anywheTe-has done
all that can be done for me- He SAYS that !
cannot live longer than shutdown, and know
what he says is true: and Pm glad it's So
The greatest possible favor that anyone can
do me. you are doing now IN being here to
listen to what have to say. Bring up those
stools there and sit as close as you can, be-
cause my voice is going fast and have a
long story to tell. "
Bronson and Walter did as directed, the
former seating himself so that his ear was
close to Maston's mouth. Then the latter
began in low, measured tones, as If economic
ing his strength that he might do all that he
desired to with il before death interviewed.
. think Providence" he began, must
certainly have directed your steps hither, as
final mercy TO an erring but deeply re-
pentant man, because there is nothing ex-
cept death that / have so much desired as
that my people should know how strong the
temptatiOn was that made me forget my
father teachings and the loyal pTomptings
Of my own heart, TO bring distress and shame
70 the best. OF mothers, whom | love as no
other man ever loved his mother. ] have
tried to write and tell them something OF
this, that they might at least think that i
was no careless or willing traitor, doing all
this great wrong out OF wantonness, but
you can imagine by the time j have finished
how difficult such a written confession would
be- especially before | had atOned for my
errors with my life as / am now doing.
You will remember when we parted in
Chicago some seven years ago, was going TO
New York TO take a course in a school OF
mines to 1T me for my profession as a civil
and mining engineer"
Yes, and ! beard afterward that you had
graduated al the head Of your class, and re-
ceived profitable situation as superintendent
Of a furnace In Tennessee" said Bronson.
Which was true" continue Marston.
"The furnace was in Dickson County, not q
great way from here. / entered upon my
duties with enthusiasm, and though ] made
the mistakes that young man will whose
theoretical knowledge greatly exceeds hi.
practical ] more than compensated for these
by my zeal and unlagging attention to my
work, and my superlntendcncy became a
gratifying success. This gave me a standing
IN the community that encouraged me TO &c
into society and mingle with the sons and
daughters Of the wealthy planters.
My Northern origin, and perhaps toe
frank utterances IN regard to what / saw in
the South that did not exactly accord with
treat me with little reserve at first, bu1
this soon wore almost entirely away, especi
ally as / learned TO adjust my speech NOR,
carefully TO their prejudices.
- 1t was not long before ! found myself
becoming strongly attached TO the daughter
OF a wealthy planter, who was also one o.
the principal owners of the furnace where |
was employed. At first ] struggled against
the growth of the feeling and then / thought
it calmly over, aud discovering no reason
why ] should not, if / could, WOO and wiz
her, / entered into the competition for hel
with a score Of Others.
Having all the coquetry Of girls OF be-
class in the South, she kept me constantly OF
the tenter hooks OF anxiety. To-day would
think ] was the most, tomorrow the least
favored of all her suitors. She seemed {.
find in me many qualities that she admired bu
these were all more or less obscured by tn,
feeling that, being Northern man, ! Lacked
the spirit and dash and brilliancy which
with a Southern girl, and at her age, weigl
more than all other qualities combined Thu
naturally piqued me, and with the ardor o
my passion waxing daily, the desire Il