Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-21
|S0UTHERNE=RSl
\: cop,rsOht, 1909, bv Gurus ro,Onsend Brady
By Cyrus Tos0nSend Brady
Author of ''WOven With the Ship" "HohenzoIern."
....... THE Ouiberon Touch" Etc. ..:....

In the early spring of the year, after
the winter in Boston, his ship had gone
on a cruise to the north African coast,
whence it had just returned and been
put out of commission the week be-
fore. Peyton had escaped the great
debate and discussion of the spring
and summer the breaking up of the
old Democratic party into two or three
new ones, the forcing of sternly re-
pressed and long avoided issues to the
front, the strife and bitterness, the
threat and the counter threat. What
little Peyton knew of the situation had
filtered to him through incomplete
sources. Being removed from personal
contact, he had not realized the situa-
ton at all. The matter had only been
touched upon last night at his welcom-
ing, and he was yet to learn the feel
ing of his father, his friends, his peo-
pie, his love, upon the subject.
On this morning Peyton had given
no thought to. the election or its conse-
quences. At that moment, If he re-
fected upon itaat all, he cared neither
what the north might do nor what the
south might do. He thought nothing as
to what might be demanded OF him, or
what his course Of action should be
in any possible contingency-unless 1t
concerned Mary Amman and his love
for her. h5a
Well, the world about him might do
what it would 1t mattered nothing to
him in that bright morning of hope.
In an hour or two at most he would
see her. He could look upon her in her
proper person and see her as he had
imagined her in his dreams through
the long night watches of the cruise.
In his letters to his sister he had
taken care that news Of his homecom-
ing on two months leave OF absence
should reach Mary. He had SO confrlyed
that the very day and hour OF his ar
rival had been made known to her. In
deed, had it not been that the train had
been so delayed last night he would
have gone to see her in the evening,
but it was too late, and he had been
forced to content himself with antict-
pating this meeting in the morning.
No avowal of affection had yet pass
ed between the young people. That
certain timidity, that unwillingness to
take the initiative, which was const1tu-
tional with him and which he had not
vet overcome, but more especially a
certain chivalry which made him loath
to take advantage of their frank COM
radeship in that strange Yankee land
| where premium might have been put
upon him, he feared, merely because
he happened to be fellow southerner,
an Alabamian, kept him from declar-
ing in outspoken words his heart. New
ertheless, he was thoroughly sure that
Mary Amman knew he loved her.
| His assurance all ended there, how
ever. With airy mockery, with youth
full audacity, with deliberate yet de-
| lightful elusiveness she had met his
| advances. The most presumptuOus
wish could not delude him into the be-
lief that she loved him. How could
she? he had often thought in detection.
| There was a strange mingling, there
fore, of foreboding and hope, anxiety
and assurance, in his meditations on
| this morning.
| There was no wayering in his desire
and determination, however. He was
| resolved to win her. He would count
no sacrifice too great for that end. AS
the resolution took shape in his fertile
brain a keen observer-a woman who
loved him, for instance might have
noticed Tightening Of his lips, which
4 now, under the influence Of some COM
polling internal force, seemed to lose
something of their sensitiveness. His
gracefully rounded chin protruded
slightly. There was an unnot1ced
bluntness in it, after all, perhaps, The
softness in his eyes, gave place to a
harder expression. The brows straight
ened and drew together in lines. His
face grew suddenly strong. His whole
appearance was that of resolution.