The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-01
GABRIEL TOLLIVER. ANOVEL or RECONSTRUCTION.
CHAPTER xyuI.. ccontnusd.)

CHATTER XVIII. cContinusd)
 He made his way across the valley. and vas soon within earshot of the church. The pulpit was unoccupied. but Gabriel could see that white man was standing in front of 1t. The inference to be drawn from his movements and gestures was that he was delivering an address oo the negroes. HotchlEiss was standing nsar the speaker, leaning in . familiar way on. one aide of the projections of the pulpit. Ga brtel knew Hotchktss. hut the man who was speaking was . stranger. He was 6ushsd as with wine and appeared to have no control of his hands. for hs flung them about wildly.
 Gabriel crept closer. and climbed . omall tree, but listen as he might. no sound of the straneers voice como to Gabriel. The church was full of negroes. and a strange silencs had fallsn on them. The impression made upon the young 6allow was very peculiar. Here was . man hinging his arms about in the heat and ardor of argument or exhortatton. and yet not . sound came through the windows.
 Suddenly. while Gabriel was leaning for- ward trying in vain to hear the words of the speaker. tall. white figure, mounted on & tall white horse. emerged from the copse at the rear of the church. As horse and rider swsrvsd In tho direc- ton of the church, Gabriel saw that both were clad in white and flowing raiment While he was gazing, another figure emerged from the copse, then another, and another, until thirteen white riders had come into view. Following one an- other at intervals. they marched around the church. observing the most profound silence. The hoofs of their horses made ~1 ratl cession marched around the church F1n- nlly they paused. each horseman at Q window. save the leader, who had sta tioned himself at the door.
 He was the first to break the silence. Brothers. is all well with youf' his voice was strong and sonorous.
 "All is not well." replied twelve voices in chorus. fEs
 What do you seer"
 Trouble. misery, bloodf"
 "Blood?" cried the leader.
 "Yes, bloodY' was the reply.
 Then all is well!''
 50 mote 1t bel All is wellr' answered twelve voices in chorus.
 Once more the ghostly procession rode round and round the church. and then suddenly disappeared in the darkness. Gabriel rubbed his eyes,
 It may well be believed that the sudden appearance and disappearance of these apparitions produced consterna1on in the Rev. Jeremiah's congregation. The stranger who had been addressing them was left in a state of collapse. The only person in the building who appeared to be cool was the man Hotchlxiss. The negroes sat paralyzed for an instant af- ter the white riders had disappeared but only for an instant. for, before you could breathe twice. those in the rear seats made a rush for the door. This movement precdpitated q panic The Rev. Jeremiah, umbrella in hand emerged from a window. bringing the upper sash with him. Benches were overturned. and wild slrieks came from the women. The climax came when five pistol shots rang out on the air.
 Gabriel, in his tree. could hear the ne- groes running, their feet sounding on the hard clay like the furious scamper of a drove of wild horses. Years after ward. he could afford to laugh at the events of that night. but, at the mo- ment, the terror of the negroes was con- tagious, and he had a mild attack of 1t.
 The pistol shots were evidently in the nature of a signal. for before the echoes of the reports had died away. the white horsemen came into view again, and rode after the fleeing negroes. They paid lit tie attention to the mob itself. hut Be- leceted the Rev. Jeremiah as the object of their solioitude.
 He had bethought him of his dignity found he was not pursued and instead of taking to the woods. he kept to the pub lie road. Before he knew it, he found himself escorted by the entire band. Six rode on each side and the leader rode behind him. Once he started to run. but the white riders easily kept pace with him. He would have stopped, but when he tried to do so he felt the hot breath of the leaders horse on the back of his neck. and the frightened negro actu- ally thought that a chunk of fire. or as he described it afterward. had been ap- piled to his head, and declared that he had actually seen the flame, as 1t ctrcled around his head.
 He began to walk once more, and as he was a man of great fiuency of speech he made an effort to open conversa- ton with his ghostly escort. He was perspiring at every pore, and this fact called for frequent use of his red pocket handkerchief.
 "Blood." criew the leader, and twelve voices repeated the word.
 "Bosses-Marsters! What is ever done to you?'' To this there was no reply. T ain't never hurted none CT you-all; l ain't never had de idee CT harmin' you. All l been doin' for dis long time is ter try ter fetch sinners ter de mercy-seat. Oats all I been doin', an dats all I wanter dol tell you dat right now" Still there was no response, and the Rev. Jeremiah made bold to take a closer look at the riders. He nearly sank in his tracks when he saw that each one appeared to be car- -rying his head under his arm. "Name CT de Lord!' he cried; 'who is you-an anyhow? an what you gwinter do wid me7"
 Silence was the only answer he received and the silence of the riders was more terrifying than their talk would have been. Eff you wanter know who been tryin' fer ter 'casion trouble, kin tell you. an dat mighty quick" But appar- ently the white riders were not seeking for information. They asked no ques- tions, and the precipitation flowed more freely than ever from the Rev. Jere- miah's pores. Again his red handker- chief came out of his pocket, and again the rider behind him cried out "Bloodi" and the others repeated the word.
 The ghostly cortege continued to escort him along the road The white riders went with him through town and to the .Tomlin Place. Once there. each one filed between him and the gate he was about to enter. and the last word of each was "Beware."
 CHAPTER XVIII.
 Major Tomlin Perdue Arrives.
 Hotchkiss seemed to be undisturbed by the events that had startled and stam-