Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-10-06
CLARENCE
BY BRET

soePPeu IorWaru along the balcony,
and under Mrs. Brant's graceful guild
ance. was introduced to each of the
members, he not only listened with
scrupulous care and attention to the
name and profession of each man, but
benz upon him a clear, searching
glance that seemed to photograph
him in his memory, with two excep-
tions.
He passed Colonel ~Starbottle's ex-
panding shirt frill with a bow of elab-
crate precision, and said: Colonel
Starbottle's fame requires neither in
production nor explanation" He
stopped before Captain Pickney and
paused.
IAN officer of the United States
army, ! believe, sir2"
"Yes."
Educated at West Point, / think,
by the government to whom you have
taken the oath of ~allegiance?"
"Yes.'
Very good, SIR" said the stranger,
turning away.
"You have forgotten one other fact,
sir" said Pinckney, with a slightly
supercillious air.
Indeed, what is it?"
IL am, first of all, a native of the
state of South Carolina"
A murmur of applause and approval
ran round the balcony. Captain
Pinckney smiled and exchanged
glances with Mrs. Brant, but the
stranger quietly returned to the CEN
trail table beside Colonel Starbottle.
Il am not only an unexpected dele
gate TO this august assembly, gentle
men," he began, gravely, but / am
the bearer of, perhaps, equally uneX-
pected news. BY my position in the
southern district am in possession
of dispatches received only this morn
ing by pony express, Fort Sumter has
been besieged. The United States flag,
carrying relief to the beleaguered gar.
rison, has been fired upon by the state
of South Cardinal"
A burst of almost hysteric applause
II enthusiasm broke from the as.
sembly and made the dim vault-like
passages and corridors of the casa
ring. Cheer after cheer went up to
the yelled gallery and the misty sky
beyond; men mounted on the tables
and waved their hands frantically,
and in the midst of this bewildering
turbulence of sound and motion, Clar-
ence saw his wife mounted on a chair,
with burning cheeks and flashing
eyes, waving her handkerchief like an
inspired priestess.
Only the stranger, still standing be-
side Colonel Starbottle, remained en-
moved and impressive. Then with an
imperative gesture he demanded n
sudden silence.
Convincing and unanimous as this
demonstration is, gentlemen" he be.
gan, quietly, ut is my duty, never
theless, to ask you IL you have seri-
ously considered the meaning of the
news l have brought. 1t Is my duty
to tell you that it means civil war. 1t
means the clash of arms between two
sections of a mighty country, it
means the disruption of friends, the
breaking of family ties, the separa-
ton of fathers and sons, Of brothers
and sisters-even perhaps to the dis
severment of husband and wifel"
1t means the sovereignty of the
southland. the breaking Of a cove
nant with low-born traders and abo-
litionists,' said Captain Pinckney.
IF there are any gentlemen pres
ent," continued the stranger, without
needing the interruption, "who have
pledged this state to the support of
the south in this emergency, or to the
establishment of n Pacific republic in
aid and sympathy with it, whose
names are on this paper" he lifted a
sheet of paper lying before Colonel
Starbottle, but who now feel that
the gravity of the news demands a
more serious consideration of the pur-
pose, they are at liberty to withdraw
from the meeting giving their hon
or as southern gentlemen to keep the
secret intact"
mot if l know it," interrupted a
stalwart Kentuckian as he rose to his
feet and STROBE down the steps to the
patio. For" he added, placing his
back against the gateway, "Iin shoot
the first coward that backs out now"
A roa Of laughter and approval fol-
lowed, but was silenced again by the
quiet, unimpassioned voice of the
stranger.
"If, on the other hand he went on,
calmly, 'you all feel that this news is
the fitting elimination and consecra-
ton Of the hopes, wishes and plans
of this meeting, you will assert it
again, on your W signatures, to
Colonel Starbottle at this table"
When the Kentuckian had risen
Clarence had started from his conceal
ment; when he now saw the eager
figures pressing forward to the table
he hesitated no longer.
Slipping along the passage he
reached the staircase which led to
the corridor in the rear of the bal
cony. Descending this rapidly he not
only came upon the backs of the ex-
cited crowd around the table, but
even elbowed one of the conspirators
aside without being noticed.
His wife, who had risen from her
chair at the end of the balcony, was
already moving toward the table.
With a quick movement he seized her
wrist and threw her back into the
chair again.
A cry broke from her lips as she
recognized him, but still holding her
wrist he stepped quickly between her
and the ~astonished crowd.
There was n moment Of silence,
then the cry Of Spy and Seize
him" rose quickly, but above all the
voice and figure of the Missourian
was heard commanding them to stand
back. Turning to Clarence, he said,
quickly:
Il should know your face, sir. Who
are you?"
"The husband of this woman and
the master of this house." said Clar-
ence, as quickly, but in a voice he
recognized as his own.
Stand aside from her, then, unless
you are hoping that her danger may
you," said the Kentuckian,
significantly drawing his revolver.
But Mrs. Brant sprang suddenly to
her feet beside Clarence. 'We are
neither of us towards, Mr.. Brooks
he speaks the truth-and,
shame to me-" she added, with
, Iook IF SayaUe ccorD ~ T1oranoa