The Portland daily press., 1898-02-18
COPYRIGHT 1893. BY THE AurHoR.>

ever, for the FIRST time in their official
existence and burned with warlile 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'a
first question, her only one, had been:
"And Nanny Jane-does she go
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 Cloverdell. 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 a worthless cad now, but when ]
come back covered with glory she will
look on 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 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 a
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
a clerk was left at a desk. He proceed
ed as far as the big wareroom. Not a
salesman was to be found. He smiled
bitterly and walked to the front door
of his store. It 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 little Potts he DOTTED his
shabby felt hat to swing it over his
thin, white locks, with a senile shout:
'Hooray, hooray for the Confeder-
acy! Down with all Union men, trail
tors and idgitsP'
That was the beginning of little
Potts martyrdom.
The meeting to which Mr.. Thatcher
had summoned the colonel was in full
blast. Notwithstanding everybody's
conviction that the time for words was
past, vast amount of talk had to be
disposed of before any practical conclu
sions could be arrived at.
1t was held in the courthouse, that
being the only building in the town
large enough to hold the excited pop
ulace. Women were there in force,
grown bold by that rampant patriotism
which made action of some sort impera-
tive. Colonel Bascom, handsome, con-
spicuous figure, had the platform when
little Potts crept in, with a white,
drawn face and the mien of man by
nc means sure of his welcome. The
words that reached him as he slipped
into seat near the door made him less
than ever sure of it. Said the speaker:
"The hour has come for every man to
declare himself for or against US. AS
state we have spoken. AS individuals
it would seem by this gathering that
the action of our legislators is Endorsed,
but, my friends, we are going into a
tremendous conflict. I am not one of
those who think this is going to be a
boys holiday frolic. We want no enc
mics in our midst. Open foes we know
how to cope with, but household enc
mics are the most dangerous sort, and
therefore, I repeat, the time has come
for every man to declare where he
stands. Tomorrow I shall begin the
work of enrolling volunteers for the
company propose taking into the field
myself. I more no man that CIoverdell
has ever held in high repute will be
absent from that meeting"
The colonel bowed his handsome head
and sat down amid wild applause
When it subsidized, there was moment
of profound silence. No one seemed to
know exactly what should be done or
said next. In the midst of it little Potts
was seen to leave his seat and walk res
olutely toward the platform, with his
eyes fixed sorrowfully on the faces OF
the men who had been his friends. He
walked up the steps to the judges seat
and lifted hand to command atten-
ton. 1t was accorded him without a
word or murmur of welcome.
He began in a trembling voice. Per-
haps it was the first speech he had ever
attempted in public, and he knew his
audience was not in touch with his
sentiments, all Of which told against
eloquence.
Friends of Cloverdell, you have
just been addressed by man whom
have always delighted to honor and
whom I shall admire and love all the