The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-16
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PLEDGE OF ETERNAL LOVE.

THE PLEDGE OF ETERNAL LOVE.
When CASTOR reached his home that
night ST. Glare had gone to bed. 1t was
one o'clock. He couldn't sleep yet, so
he sat on the window sill and tried to
realize his great happiness, as he looked
out on the green lawn with it's white
gravelled walk gistening in the full
moon.
1.-THE world is beautiful, life is sweet,
and God is good" he cried in an ecstacy
of Joy.
And then he did something he had not
done for years-not since his boyhood--
he knelt in the silence of the moonlit
room and prayed! Love the great Re
vealer had led him into the presence of
God. The impulse was spontaneous and
resistless. Lord, l have seen Thy face,
heard Thy voice, and felt the touch of
Thy hand today. I bless and praise
Thee, Forgive my doubts and fears and
sins, cleanse and make me worthy of
her whom Thou hast sent as Thy mes
senger" So he poured out his soul.
Next morning he grasped st. Clare's
hand as he entered the room. bob, I'm
the happiest man in the world"
Congratulations! You look it,
''She loves mel I'd like to climb up
on the top of this house and shout it
until all earth and heaven could hear and
be glad with met"
We'll, don't do it, my boy. See her
father frst."
iii manage him."
Il don't know about it, but If you've
got her, you're the first man that ever
got far enough to measure himself with
the general l wish you luck"
"You the same, old chum. May you
conquer Boston and all the Pilgrim
Fathers!"
Thanks. The vision of one of them
disturbs my dreams. One will be
enough
Then followed six golden days on the
banks of the Catawba. He called her
his queen and worshipped at her feet.
And when they rode homeward one
evening he dared to put his arm behind
her, high on the phaeton's leather cush-
ion, as they were going down hill, and
then lowered it a little as they started
up the grade. She leaned back and
found it there. At first she nestled
against it very timidly and then trust
ingly. She looked into his face and both
smiled.
isn't that sweet, Sallie?"
Yes, it isl don't think mama would
mind that, do your
'Of course not"
well, l never promised not to lean
back in phaeton, did II"
Certainly not and it's all right"
Toward the end of the week the general
began to show him a grave friendly in
terest. He invited Castor to go over the
mills with him. The mills were located
back of the wooded cliffs that skirted
the town a quarter of mile up the
river. The general stood on the hill top
and proudly pointed it out to him.
isn't that a grand sight young man!
We employ 1000 hands down there, and
consume hundreds of bales of cotton a
day. We began here after the war with
out a cent except our faith, and this
magnificent water power. Now look''
You have certainly done a great work
here, SIR said CASTOR, 81 had no idea
you had so many industries in the en-
closure"
Eyes, sit down here on the hill some
nights in the moonlight and look into
this valley, and the hum of that machin-
cry is like ravishing music. All! young
man. | wish you boys of brain and genius
would quit throwing yourselves away in
law and dirty politics, and devote your
powers to the South's development
Yes, but, general, the people of the
South had to go into politics instead OF
business on account of the enfranchise-
ment of the negro. 1t was matter OF
life and DEATH
Il didn't do it,"
mo, sir, but others did for you"
"How?" he asked incredulously, with
just a touch of wounded prideA
We'll, how many negroes do you en-
ploy in these mills?'
None. We don't allow negro to
come inside the enclosure"
Precisely so. You have prospered be-
cause you have got rid of the negro"
I've simply let the negro alone. Let
others do the same
But everybody can't do it. There are
now nine millions of them. You've sim