Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-05-26

take to convert him from traitor into
q respectable member of society, ao-
cording to Mamie Colyer'B mental pro-
cess2
The solution to this problem had not
been satisfactorily reached when a soft,
slow voice foated toward him from the
grass plot beneath his feet in hesitat-
ing question.
"Mars majuhi Is that you, sittin up
thar smokin, Mars Majuh Strong9'
Strong flung his half smoked cigar
over the balustrade and leaned across 1t
eagerly in search of the speaker. The
voice was strangely familiar.
Isn't that Dolbear, old Dolbear from
Sans Souoi3"
1T sho' is, suh."
"And they have sent you to me with
q message9"
"Who. boss?'
my mother, Mrs. Strong, my sister,
Miss Colyer-some Of them," with hun
cry volubility.
"No, sub, nobody didn' send me.
jes' come Of my own cord. WANTED
to hear eff the tale were true"
A heavy sigh, almost a sob, escaped
the officers lips. but he clung eagerly
to this one clumsy link in the chain
that must eventually be welded afresh
and bind him and his beloved together
once moro.
"There are steps there at the end Of
the old balcony. Sit down, old man,
and tell me about tho old place. Did
you ride or walk2"
II walked, sub. Thar amt but two
beases lef' on that place, and by the
time they got home today from fetchin
your nanny and your bro Seth back
'erds and fo'erds they was plum give
out. You see, they dom get none too
much con these days. But l was 'bleeged
to come. sez, 'Lucindy, carn't sleep
a wink tonight less N verifles it, >"
"Verify what. old MANI"
He was conscious Of his own duplici-
ty. He knew quite we'll what 1t was
old Dolbear wanted to make sure of.
Verify the blessed insurance Of free
dom, sub. Mex sho' eff the story that's
goin the rounds Of the folks as how old
Eben Martins second boy, Strong-him
as was named after ole mars-is ben
made head of Mars Lincoln's soldiers
and sent here to fetch we all the free
dom and the sartain promise Of the land
that flows with milk and honey? Eff it's
true, wants to dus out the ole meetin
house and hol pra'r meetin thar tonight
to bless de Lawd, oh, my SOUL and for
git not none of his benefcks."
Strong Martin found tho old mans
grandiloquence singularly irritating.
Was it really impossible to get away
from the narrow personal bearings OF
this stupendous crisis in the history OF
tho world? Must he, whose only balm
was found in moments Of exaltation
that lifted him above the universal con-
domination Of his course into brief
sense CT we'll doing, In striking his foe
BILE blows at a gigantic wrong, bo drag
ged earthward by tho driveling of all
old dotard who IN the days Of his pam
pered bondage had quite looked down
upon the overseer's boys7 Was the rev.
erential homage Of this poor freedman
all the substitute destiny had to proffer
him In exchange for the love and conf
denoe of his best beloved ones7
Old Dolbear's rhapsodies reduced the
abstract principle for which he had
been contending to the pitiably narrow
Limitations Of o personal obligation.
Liberty for the human race was a grand
idea, we'll worth a human holocaust,
but tho thing liberated was poor,
mean groveler, with whom personal
contact was distinctly disagreeable 1t
was not easy to maintain footing on
the aerial heights Of sublime theory
when the mire Of Its practical illustra-
ton clogged ono's feet heavily. After
all, was tho game worth the candle?
He preferred taking Dolbear from
different point Of view. AS citizen he
had his limitations. AS link between
him and those he loved he would be al
together acceptable. He made haste to
bring his visitor down from his forensic
perch.
Individually you have nothing to
thank me for, old man. Accident has
located me here with handful OF men
to keep in order. Yes, you are free.
You are no man slave any longer. You
are free to come and go when you please.
You are free to leave Sans Souci forev-
er tomorrow morning if you have
mind to. You are free to care for your
self and your family and to select your
own way of making living You are
free to work or to starve. / wish you
Joy of the privilege.
"Thankee, sub. The same to you,
boss
There was a SOFT scraping sound on
the balcony step as Dolbear punctuated
his gratitude with backward sweep OF
one foot.