Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-17
Blu REV. THOMAS DIXON, JR.

Stroyed the wheat crop and the cotton
was dying in the blistering sun of Au-
gust, and a blight worse than drouth, or
flood, or pestilence, brooded over the
stricken land, fiinging the shadow of its
black death over every home. The tax
gatherer of the new republican form of
government" recently established in
North Carolina now demanded his pound
of flesh.
The Sunday before had been a pecu-
liarly hard one for the preacher. He
had tried by the sheer power of personal
! sympathy TO lift the despairing people out
of their gloom and make strong their
faith in God. In his morning sermon he
had torn his heart open and given them
1 its red blood to drink. At the night SER
vice he could not rally from the nerve
| tension of the morning. He felt that he
had pitiably failed. The whole day SEEM
| ed failure black and hopeless.
All day long the sorrowful stories OF
( ruin and loss of homes were poured into
his ear.
The sheriff had advertised for sale for
taxes two thousand three hundred and
twenty homes in Campbell county. The
land under such conditions had no value.
1t was only formality for the auctioneer
to cry 1t and knock it down for the
amount of the tax bill.
As he arose from bed with the burden
of ali this hopeless misery crushing his
loneliness came over him.
MY love, 1 must go back to bed and
try to sleep. 1 lay awake last night I'M
til o'clock 1 can't eat anything" he
said to his wife as she announced break
fast.
John. dear. don't give up like that"
But you must Come, here is some
thing that will tone you up. I found
this, note under the front door this morn
ing.p t.sl
what is it7'
ga notice from some Of your admirers
that YOU must leave this county in forty
eight hours or take the consequences"
He looked at this anonymous letter and
smiled.
mot such failure after all. am To-
he unused.
ct thought that would help you," she
laughed.
Eyes. can eat breakfast on the
strength of that"
He spread this letter out beside his
plate, and read and reread it as he ate,
while his eyes flashed with a strange half
humorous light.
"Really, that's fine, isn't it7'' you SOW
err of sedition and rebellion, hypocrite and
false prophet The day has come to
clean this county of treason and traitors.
If you dare to urge the people to further
resistance to authority, there will be
one traitor less in this county,
THAT sounds like the voice Of Dan
iel come to Judgment, don't it?'
'T think Ezra Perkins might know
something about it,
''I am sure of It,"
"Wer. I'm duly grateful, it's done for
you what your wife couldn't do, cheer
ed you up this morning"
THAT is so, isn't 1t? 1t takes violent
poison sometimes to stimulate the hearts
action"
''Now, If you will work the garden for
me, where I've been watering 1t the past
month"; you will be yourself by dinner
time."S
al WILL That's about all we've got to
eat. I've had no salary in two months,
and I've no prospects for the next two
months"
He was at work in the garden when
Charlie CASTOR suddenly ran through the
gate toward him. His face was red, his
eyes streaming with tears, and his breath
coming in gasps.
Doctor, they've killed Nelse! Mamma
says please come down to our house as
quick as you can"
els he dead, Charlie?'
Hes most dead. 1 found him down
in the woods lying In gully, one leg is
broken, there's a big cash over his eye,
his back is beat to a jelly, and one Of
his arms is broken We put him in the
wagon ana nduleQ 10 the nOuSc III
afraid he's dead now. Oh, mel! The
boy broke down and choked with sobs
''Run, Charlie. for the doctor, and I'll
be there is a minute"
The boy flew through the gate to the
doctors house.
When the preacher reached Mrs. Gas
toms, Aunt Eve was wiping the blood
''De Lawd hab mussy! My po' ole mans
done kilt"
'rWho could have done this, Ever"
Dem Union leaguers. Dey say dey
wuz gwine ter kill him fur not Jinin' 'em.
en- fur tryin' ter vote ergin EN-"
1--WE been afraid of it." sighed the
preacher as he felt Nelse's pulse.
''Yassir. en- now dey's done hit My po'
ole man. 1 wish I'd a been better ter
i'm! Lawd Jesus, help me now!'
Eve knelt by the bed and laid her face
against Nelse's while the tears rained
down her black face.
''Aunt Eve, it may not be so bad" said
the preacher hopefully. His pulse is get
ting stronger. He has an iron constitu-
ton. / believe he will pull through, il
there are no internal injuries
praise God! eff he do git well, tell
yer now, Marse John, fling err spell on
dem niggers bout disl'
I'm afraid you can do nothing with
them, The courts are all in the hands
of these scoundrels, and the governor
of the state is at the head of the
leagues"
81 doan, want no cotes, Marse John,
Use cote ennuf. 1 kin cunjure dem mig
gers widout any cote
The doctor pronounced his injuries dan
gerous1 but not necessarily fatal Charlie
and Dick watched with Eve that night
until nearly midnight. Nelse opened his
eyes. and saw the eager face of the boy,
his eyes yet red from crying.
IT amt dead, honey!" he moaned.
'Oh, Nelse, I'm so glad!"
''Doan you believe gwine die! gwine
ter git chen wild dem niggers fore L
Leah dis worl'."
Nelse spoke feebly, but there was a
way about his saying it that BODIED no
good to his enemies, and Eve was silent.
AS Nelse improved Ewes wrath steadily
rose.
The next day she met in the street one
of the negroes who had threatened Mise.
'How's Aistah CASTOR dis mawnin'.
ma ann" he asked.
Without a word of warning she
sprang on him like a tigress- bore him
to the ground, grasped him by the throat
and pounded his head against a stone.
She would have choked him to death,
had not man who was passing come to
the rescue
''Lemme lone, man, Use doin' de wuk er
God!'
You're committing murder, woman"
When the negro got up he jumped the
a..