The National tribune., 1903-12-10


voluntarily declared determination to
surrender what most men demand in sons
in-law-a man TO stabbofniy assert that
he should continue to fight against the
South. and such high principle appealed
powerfully to him. If Junior had come
lurement, the old man would have spurned
the suitor; the Federal had become glori-
Gus i'll his eyes, yet it may be pardoned to
the Southerner that his first thought had
been equality of the Virginian with the
best. He exclaimed:
by God, sir. Dan Morgan wouldn't
touch a cent of your property"
Then Mr. West sat down and said.
Excuse me, but do you believe that one
Of your blood would consent to the sacri-
fee you would make?"
Morgan was puzzled: though he had in
deed thought of this phase of the matter,
not very seriously, however, his difficulty
came from the seeming avoidance OF the
main subject.
what would you do in his piace?"
asked Mr.. West.
II hope. sir, that would act justly
and hoGorably in any case and every
case"
Yet Juniors eyes had kindled with
pleasure in hearing his brothers princi-
pie defended. He continued, ut is n
question Of right and wrong, in which the
right is on his side"
Il don't look at it that way" said Mr..
West. Likely enough, at the first, your
grandfather's attachment to you came
from his belief that you were Daniel Nor
gan; but when he made you bis heir. he
had become attached to you irrespective
of names. To all intents and purposes
you were Daniel Morgan; and if he had
learned before he made his will that you
were the wrong brother. no doubt he still
would have made you his heir"
Was the old man arguing his daughter
into the position of a rich mans wife?
THAT may be possible. Mr.. West; still
it is only theory, and l can not accept it
as against the great reality that the will
names Daniel Morgan as the heir Yet
these questions. Mr.. West. interesting and
important as they are, have not tithe
of importance and interest to my mind
compared with my great wish to enter
into relationship with you which / have al
ready sought at your hands,
Again Mr.. West rose, not as before, but
slowly and with seeming reluctance. He
stood by the Federal officer on whose
head he laid his large rough hand, and
his voice trembled as he spoke.
MY boy" he said, II hate to grieve
you, I'll swear l do: but / must. sir.
can never consent for my daughter to
marry an enemy of her country"
Outside. the world glittered in the
August sunlight South and east the
mountains hid the devastated fields of Vir-
ginia, under whose sod rested thousands
of the sons OF the South. and thousands
Of her invaders. Beyond the end of the
range was an armed host seeking devices
for causing the most successful destruc-
tion, and of this host the lover would soon
be part once more.
But after the war;" Morgan pleaded
Mr.. West again took his seat He shook
his head.
mo, sir; the best you can do for your
self is to quit thinking of it. My answer
has been given. You have spoken to my
daughter"'
Yes, sir, and my weakness is my only
excuse. She was very ministering angel,
and l could not withhold"
"Oh, as for that, don't give yourself
any trouble. l am not the party of the
first part"
derstood now that he was bringing sor-
row on the one he most loved. He looked
at Morgan and saw his face very white,
his hand over his eyes. The silence was
grievOus; both men were suffering.
Morgan was first to speak. "Your will
shall be respected, sir. / have too great
obligations to you to cause You any dis
pleasure. Yet before CO." he added. ris-
ing, Il would ask permission to tell Miss
Jennie your decision
$50 be it," was the answer.
The night came, and Morgan was dis
cussing with Lacy the preparations for
their departure. Mr.. West was alone out
in the porch. thinking with little pleasure
about many things. The farm was almost
a failure: he had been able to get help at
planting time, when the armies were fac
ing each other across the Rappahannock
at Fredericksburg. 30 miles away: but the
Generalization resulting when Lee and
Hooker moved northward in June had
thrown the crop far behind for lack of
labor; still he hoped for enough to sup
ply his own and Jennie's simple needs
The wheat had been good; some had been
lost at the critical moment of harvest
but there was enough. This war. with its
huctnationS-wave after wave rolling for
ward and back over North Virginia
showed no abatement. Lee had gone
back, but would come again. He had no
doubt that Lee would come again;
yet the Yankees showed such determine
ton that he feared the war had just be-
gun. 1t was hard on the women, he knew
and as. hard on Jennie as on any one of
them. harder than on most. He doubted
that he ought to allow her to stay here
His mind went back to his youth and
early manhood; to his love for Jennie's
mOther-his only passion; to her DEATH
and he sighed grievously.
There was step behind him, and then
soft arms were about his neck and Jen-
MES head rested against his own.
"Fatherw
The word was a sigh. tie drew her
around, and she sat ON the arm of his
chair.
Jennie, it breaks me all up. my girl"
mot even after the war. Father?'
oh Jennie. that is long time. This
war may last 10 years. And 1 thought
it was to be Charley"
mo, sir. never cared for him. He
made me tell him so before he left
What? Well, well, how you young
people do deceive us. And so you are
willing to take this YankceT'
Don't call him Yankee, Father. You
know he was born in Virginia"
"Yes, but he fights against Virginia"
"What would you do in his placer she
asked. using what she knew was his own
familiar weapon.
II suppose / should fall in love with
you, Jennie"
But l mean which side would you
| fight for? Does he owe as much to the
South as he does to the North?'
II can't say that he does; but it seems
| to ME there are enough men in the North
| without his help Yet l confess that
every man must be his own judge and .oi,-
science keeper; and the young fellow has
acted very well, can't deny that
"Father!'
what is it. my child?"
HE is getting ready to CO."
"And you want to keep him? Oh. little
girl, you want to leave your old father?'
She broke down for one moment, and
laid her head on his shoulder.