Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-30
COPYRIGHT, 1897 az THE AUTHOR.

he had drawn up to Seth's side and
walked over to one Of the front win
dows, where he stood leaning heavily
against the easement, staring moodily
out over the early morning stir in the
encampment. It was impossible to stem
the current Of Seth's biting scorn.
eyes, she would, Miss Mamie would.
Her and sissy are the bravest soldiers /
know Of. They are just wrapped up in
the cause, Strong Martin, and the man
that amt ben true to the gray will
hat to hang his head before them two
spunky girls. They're grit to the back
bone. You may find shirks and towards
among the men-that's me-and you
may find traitors-false, black hearted
traitors - among the men, monsters
that's ready to lift their hands ag'inst
the very mother that sucked EN-
that's you-but the southern woman
rings true every time, sir. She does, by
jimminy."
Through the long, silent hours Of the
night just gone Strong Martin had been
schooling himself for this interview.
He knew how great a shock was await
ing his brother, and he knew how con-
tracted was the lens through which his
own departure from the traditions of his
family would be observed. Seth's crude
violence fell upon benumbed sensibili.
| ties.
He scarcely heard what Seth was say
ing. He knew it was abusive, but what
of that? He turned away from the Win
dow and faced the excited man, who had
remained seated from the beginning Of
this unpleasant interview. The sound
of his brothers. high pitched, querulous
voice was exasperating to his tired
nerves. He raised his hand authorita-
lively.
Hold up, Seth. What you are saying
does not amount to a row Of pins. You
are a Confederate simply from force Of
circumstances and surroundings. I am
a Federal from identically the same rea-
ons This accursed wal is practically
over, and you are on the losing side.
Tomorrow, at the hour of noon-today,
rather, for the night is already gone-if
you hear 10 slow guns from the direc-
ton of the gunboat lying off Deersneck,
you may know that Robert E. Lee has
surrendered and hat the war is over.
That is the signal agreed upon in case
the I'M Of surrender is confirmed.
That being the case, brother Seth, you
and I have other work than quarreling
before us. You are on the losing side,
Seth, and l on the winning, but we
must stand shoulder to shoulder in the
work of r~econstructing a home for our
loved ones. There is no one left to care
for mother and Liza but you and me-"
Seth removed his palmetto hat from
the human peg that was trembling vio-
lently beneath its slight weight and
searched its unlined crown for a hand
kerchief. His thin, sharp chin was quiv-
ering with excitement. His pale, blue
eyes shot flames Of wrath into the grave,
patient face Of his brother.
"My knowledge Of the country and
it's esource recommended me in high
quarters. You would not care to hear
the story Of my promotion. That has
nothing to do with the stern facts star
ing us III the face today. I am here. l
am here in a position to befriend all at
Sans Souci, and it was because I want
ed to consult with you first as to the
best method Of doing this without bring
ing down upon myself a deluge Of that
sentimental abuse that is lavished so
literally upon the invading army hat I
/ sent for you first. You owe it to your
friends to be rational. I may be ordered
away from here on a moments notice.
Tell me how l can best help them all. F"
Seth looked at him through narrow.
ing lids.
"Help who? Help those women out
yonder at Sans Souci?"
eyes. What do they need?"
Seth laughed mirthlessly.
"Need? Well l reckon they JUS
about need everything women folks is
used to havin. The madam, she is got a
brand new dress-a mighty fine N
She helped spin the yarn for it herself,
and sissy wove it on the hand loom. Lii
za'sgot to be a frs class weaver. Nam
my's wearin petticoats made out Of old
bedtickin, but she declares they are
prime good. Sissy goes clompin round
in a pair Of things called shoes that !
cobbled up fur her out Of an alligator
hide. They amt dancin pumps JUS ex.
ac'ly, but they beat no shoes all hol-
Ter. Mothers wearin a pair Of slippers
| figured out Of a pair of wornout sad
dlebag flaps. You see, we don't 60 in
for the fashions very heavy these days"
"But food? Every outside source Of
supply is closed against you. How do
you manage to keep in the necessaries
of life?"
Seth looked a him with lofty con.
tempt.
"It depends purity much on what you
mout call the necessaries Of life. We
used to think that coffee and sugar and
-four come under that head, but we've
changed our tune ence we've come
down to okra pod coffee and s~assafras tea
without no sweetenin."
Strong Martin groaned audibly. Seth
flung q taunt at him.
"Don't groan, majuh. You're on the
winnin side. as you've took occasion to
tell me more'n once this mornin. No
danger of you ever bein put to it for q
cup Of coffee or a pair Of shoes. AS for
us, we've got sorter used to doin with
out things, and it don't hurt half as bad
as you might think. It don't hurt half
as bad, no, sub, not one ten-thousandth
part as bad Us 1indin a traitor in the
bosom Of your family"
A book came hurting toward his
head. sent by Strong in a perfect frenzy
Of evaporation.