Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-19

purties' bride in de two counties! Cod
der-mighty. I mus git somebody ter hep
mel I nebber tell herl She drap daid
right fore my eyes, en- liant me twell
die. I run fetch de preacher, Marse John
Durham he kin tell her"
A few moments later he was knocking
at the door OF the parsonage of the Bap-
fist church.
''NeIsel At lasti knew you'd Gomez
''Yassir, Marse John. Use home. Hits
me"
And your master is dead. was sure OF
Il, but I never dared tell your mistress.
You came for me TO help you. tell her.
People said you had gone over into the
promised land OF freedom and forgotten
your people; but Nelse, / never believed
It OF you and I'm doubly glad to shake
your hand tonight because you've brought
a brave message in your honest black face
OF faith and duty and life and love-"
'sThankee. Marse John, wuz erbleeged
ter come home"
The preacher stepped into the haTl and
called the servant from the kitchen.
Aunt Mary, when your mistress returns
tell her I've received an urgent call and
will not be at home for supper.
III be ready in a minute. Nelse," he
said, as he disappeared into the study.
When he reached his desk, he paused and
looked about the room in helpless way
as though trying to find some half for
gotten volume in the rows OF books that
lined the walls and lay in piles on his desk
and tables He knelt beside the desk and
prayed. When he rose there was soft
light in his eyes that were half filled with
tears.
Standing in the dim light of his study he
was a striking man. He had powerful
figure OF medium. height. deep piercing
eyes and a high. intellectual forehead. His
hair was black and thicA. He was a man
of culture, had graduated at the head OF
his class at Wake Forest College before
the war and was a profound student or
men and books. He was now thirty-ive
years old and the acknowledged leader
Of the Baptist denomination in the state.
He was eloquent, witty and proyerbially
good natured. His voice in the pulpit was
soft and clear, and full of magnetic
quality that gave him hypnotic power
over an audience. He had the prophetic
temperament and was more OF poet than
theologian.
The people Of this village were proud Of
the man as a citizen and loved him pas
sionately as their preacher. Great
churches had called him, but he had
never accepted. There was in his make
UP an element Of the missionary that gave
his personality q peculiar force.
He had been the college mate Of Colonel
Charles CASTOR. whose faithful slave had
come to him for help. and they had al
ways been bosom friends. He had per-
formed the marriage ceremony for the
colonel ten years before when he had led
to the altar the beautiful daughter Of the
richest planter in the adjoining county.
Durham's own heart was profoundly NOV
ed by his friends happiness and he threw
into the brief preliminary address so much
of tenderness and earnest passion that the
trembling bride and groom forgot their
fright and were melted to tears. Thus be-
gan an association Of their family life
that was closer than their college days.
He closed his lips firmly for an instant
softly shut the door and was soon on the
wan with Nelse. On reaching the house,
Nelse went directly to the kitchen, while
the preacher walking along the circular
drive approached the front. His foot had
scarcely touched the step when Mrs. Gas
ton opened the door.
''Oh. Dr. Durham, am so glad you have
comeF' she exclaimed. I've been de-
pressed today, watching the soldiers so
by. All day long the poor foot-sore fell
lows have been passing. I stopped some
OF them to ask about Colonel CASTOR and
I thought one of them knew something
and would not tell me. I brought him in
and gave him dinner, and tried to coax
him. but he only looked wistfully at me,
stammered and said he didn't know. But
somehow feel that he did. Come in, doc
tor and say something TO cheer me. If
only had your faith in God!''
II have need of IL all tonight, madam
he answered with bowed head.
Then you have heard bad news?"
IT have heard news-wonderful news OF
faith and love, OF heroism and knightly
valour that will be a priceless heritage to
you and yours. Nelse has returned"
God have mercy on mel'-she gasped,
covering her face and raising her arm as
though covering from a mortal blow.
Here is Nelse. madam. Hear his story.
He has only told me word or two" Nelse
had slipped quietly in the back door.
'sYassum, missy. Use home at las"
She looked at him strangely for mo-
/ ment ''Nelse, I've dreamed and dreamed
/ OF your coming, but always with himl And
now you come alone to tell me he is dead
Lord have pityl there is nothing leftP'
/ There was a PARKWAY sound in her voice
as though half dreaming.
''Yas, missy. dey is. jes seed him-my
young marster-dem bright eyes, de ve'y
nose de chin. de moufl He walks des like
Marse Charles. he talks like him, he
de ve'y spit er him. en- how be hez grow
ed He'll be er man 70 you knows II. En-
Use got er letter FUN his pa fur him, an
er letter fur you. missy"
At this moment Charlie entered the
room, slipped past Nelse and climbed into
his mothers arms. He was a sturdy fell
i low Of eight years with big brown eyes
I and sensitive mouth.
/ ssYaSsir-Ole Grant wuz er pushin' us
/ dar afo' Richmon'. Pear ter me lax Marse
Robert been er fightin' him ev'y day for
/ six months. But he des keep on pushin
en- pushin' us. Marse Charles say ter me
one night after I been playing de banner
/ fur de boys. Come ter my tent, Nelse
! 70 turnin' in-I wants ter see you He
/ talk so solemn like, cut de banter short
/ en- 20, right er long wild him. He been Ell
/ writin' en- done had two letters writ. He
Il say, Nelse, we gwine ter git outen desc
/ trenches termorrer. 1t twell be my las
charge. / feel II. Eff falls. you take my
swode, en- watch en- desc letters back home
/ TO your mistess and young .marster, eT
i you promise me, boy, TO stan by EN- in life
| ez I stan by you He know I Tub him
bettern anybody in dis worl', en- dat 10
! rudder be his slave dan be free II he's
daidl En- I say. Dat will, MarsS
| Charles
DE mex day we up en- charge ole Grant
/ Pears ter me nebber see so many dead
| Yankees on dis yearth ez we see layin' or
de groun' whar we brake froo dem lines
/ But dey des KEEP fetchin' up annudder ar
my back er de one we breaks. twell byme-
by. dey swing er whole millyon er Yankees
right plum benin US, en- five millyon Ell
fresh uns come er swoopin'- down in front
Den yer otter see-my marsterl He del