Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-21
Continuation of Chapter XVII.

4
nifed and grinning in spite Of himself
whenever he looked into the face of his
/ blushing mate. The mother was stand
/ ing near, her face full OF pride In her
| daughters beauty and happiness, her
heart all a CULVER with the memories Of
, her own wedding day seventeen years
/ before. Tom was thinking of the NOR
row when he would be turned out Of his
home and his eyes filed with tears.
The Rev. John Durham had pronounc-
ed them man and wife and hurried away
to see some people who were sick. The
old fiddler was doing his best. Hose and
hts bride were shaking hands with their
friends. and the boys were trying to tease
the bridegroom with hoary old jokes.
Suddenly a black shadow fell across
the doorway. The fiddle ceased, and every
eye was turned 10 the door. The burly
figure of q big negro trooper from com
pany stationed in the town stood before
them. His face was in broad grin and
his eyes bloodshOt with whisky He
brought his musket down on the floor
\ with a bang.
MY frien's. Use sorry ter disturb yer.
but has orders ter search dis house"
'Show your orders" said Tom, hob
bling before him
We'll. deres one un 'emr' he said, still
grinning as he cooked his gun and pre-
scented It toward Tom. EN- eff dat amt
ennuf dey's fifteen mo- stanin' 'roun' dis
house. It's no use ter make er russ.
Come on. boysF'
Before Tom could utter another word of
protest six more negro troopers laughing
and nudging one another crowded into
the room. Suddenly one Of them threw
a bucket Of water In the fire place, where
a pine knot blazeo and two others knock
ed the candles.
There was a scuffie, the quick thud Of
heavy blows, and Hose Norman fell to
the floor senseless. piercing scream
rang from his bride as she was seized In
the arms Of the negro who first appear
ed. He rapidly bore her toward the door,
surrounded by six scoundrels who had
accompanied him.
'sSfy God, save her! They are draggin'
Annie out of the house." shrieked her
mother.
Help! Helpl Lord. have mercyP
screamed the girl as they bore her away
toward the woods, still laughing and
yelling.
Tom overlook one Of them, snatched his
wooden leg of and knocked him down
Hoses mountains boys were crowding
round Tom with their pistols in their
hands.
what shah we do; TOMB If we shoot
we may kill Annie"
'Shoot, men! My God, shoot! There
are things worse than deathP
They needed no urging. Like young
tigers they sprang across the orchard to-
ward the woods whence came the sound
Of the laughter of the negroes.
stop the screechin'P cried the leader.
''She nebber get dat gag out now"
'sToo smart fur de po' white trash dis
time shot" laughed one.
Three pistol shots rang out like a sim
gle report! Three morel and three morel
There was a wild scramble. Taken COM
pletely by surprise. the negroes fed in
los he
were dead, one mortally wounded and
three more had crawled away with bull
lets in their bodies. There in the midst
Of the heap lay the unconscious girl
rs she hurt7' cried a mountain boy.
cant tell, take her to the house
quick"
They laid her across the bed in the
room that had been made sweet and tidy
for the bride and groom. The mother
bent over her quickly with light. Just
where the blue veins crossed in her deli
cate temple there was round hole, from
which a scarlet stream was running down
her white throat
Without a word the mother brought
Tom, showed It to him and then fell into
his arms and burst into a flood Of tears.
Don't, don't cry so, Anniel It might
have been worse. Let us thank God she
was saved from them brutes."
Hoses friends crowded around Tom now
with tearstained faces.
Tom, you don't know how broke up
we all are over this. Poor child, we
did the best we could"
TITS all right, boys. You've been my
friends tonight You've saved my little
gal. 1 want TO shake hands with you
and thank you. II you hadn't been here
my Godi I can't think of what would
"a happened Now it's all right. She's
ea e in Gods handsf"
The next morning when Tom Camp
called at the parsonage TO see the preach
er and arrange for the funeral Of his
daughter he found him in bed.
'Dr. Durham is quite sick. Mr.. Camp,
but he'll see YOU" said Mrs. Durham.
Thank you, ma'am-"
She took the old soldier by the hand
and her voice choked as she said:
You have my hearts deepest sympathy
in your awful sorrow.'
eth be all for the best, ma'am. The
Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
I VIII still say. blessed is the name Of the
Lordr'
II wish had such faith" She led Tom
into the room where the preacher lay.
why, what's this, preacher2 A band
age over you eye, looks like somebody
knocked you In the head?'
Yes. Tom. but it's nothing. I'll be all
right by tomorrow. You needn't tell me
I've heard the black hell-lit news. 1t
viii be all over this county by night and
the town will be full Of grim-visaged men
before many hours. Your child has not
died in vain. A few things like this will
be the trumpet Of the God of our fathers
that win call the sleeping manhood Of
the Anglo-Saxon race TO life again.
must be up and about this afternoon to
keep down the storm. It is not time for
q to break"
But. preacher. what happened to
your
"Oh. nothing much, Tom"
'Tl tell you what happened" cried
Mrs. Durham, standing erect with her
great dark eyes flashing with anger.
"As he came home last night from a
visit to the sick he was ambushed by a
gang Of negroes, led by a white scoundrel,
knocked down, bound and gagged and
placed on a pile Of dry fence rails. They
set fire 10 the pile and left him to burn
| TO death! II attracted the attention OF
DR.. Graham, who was passing. He got
10 him in time TO save him"
You don't say sor'
I'm sorry, Tom, I'm so weak this
morning I couldn't come TO see you.
i know your poor wife Is heartbrol1en."
Eyes, sir, she is, and it cuts me to
the quick when I think that I gave the
orders TO the boys to shoot But, preach
er, I'd a killed her with my own hand If
1 couldn't a saved her no other wayl I'd
| do it over egain a thousand times II
| had to-"
Il don't blame you, I'd have done the