The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-15
GABRIEL TOLLIVER.
 ANOVEL or RECONSTRUCTION.
By Joel Chandler Harris. Cnnvrirht 1oos hv Incl Chandler Harrin

 AesNe%N%sNesNs@s<esSs I ton, but they tell me there that he is at Mrs. Lumsden's."
 well, I wouldn't advise you to go there" said Mir. Sanders. bluntly. ''The | lady is in a considerbul state of mind about her grans son."
 Tt Is a miserable piece of business all | the way through" remarked Captain Fall coner. There was a note of sympathy in his voice, which Mir. Sanders could not l fail to catch.
 T called upon my cousin. Mrs. Clai borne. for the first time today, the Cap- | tain went on. ''She has invited me to tea often, but have refused the invita- ton on account of the state of feeling here. know how high 1t Is. It is nat ural, of course, but 1t Is not justifable. Take my case, for instance 1 am Dem OCT at, and come from . family of Dem- ocrats who have never voted anything else but the Democratic ticket. except when Henry Clay was a candidate. and when Lincoln was running for a second 1 term. If you think that I, or any of the men under me, or any of the men who fought at all, intended to bring about such a condition as now exists, you are doing us a great wrong. Don't mistake me! I am not apologizing for the part took. Yet do not believe in negro suf- frage, and I abhor and detest every ex- i action that the politicians in Washington have placed upon the people of the South"
 | Captain Falconer was very good to look upon. He was of the Kentucky type. tall, broadshouidered and handsome. His undress uniform became him well. and he had the distinctive and. pleasing marks that West Point leaves on all young men who graduate there.
 | well. as I told you. called on my cousin today for the first time. and she insisted that I make 1t my business to see you or Mir. Clopton. She told me-" the Captain said. with pleasant smile, that you are the man that kidnapped MT. Lincoln"
 | She's wrong about that" replied MT. Sanders; 'Tm the man that didn't kid nap him. But I want to ask you; ain't you some kin to John Barbour Fal- coner2"
 | "He is my father" the Captain replied. l Well. I've heard Meriwether Ciopton talk about him hundreds of times. They ripped around in Congress together before | the war"
 Now. that is very interesting to me-" said the Captain. his face brightening.
 They walked slowly along. and during this period of silence, Meriwether Clop- ton came up behind them. MT. Sanders | drew his attention.
 MT. Clopton," he said here's a gen. tleman I reckon you'd like to know-Cap- tain Falconer. He's a son of John Bar bour Falconer."
 "ls that sor' exclaimed Meriwether Clopton. a wonderful change passing over his face Well. l am glad to see a son l-R IL A.t@ nv.A aA any time" He shook hands very cordial Iy with the Captain. Let me see--let me see: if am not mistaken, your name Is Garnett."
 That is true. sir," replied the Captain, with a boyish laugh that was pleasing to the ear. But I am surprised that you should remember these things so we'll"
 Why, my dear sir. 1t is not surprising at all. have dandled you on my knee many and many a time: know the very house, yes, the very room. in which you were born. Some of the happiest hours of my manhood were spent with your father and mother in Washington. Your father is dead, believe. We'll. he was a good man; among the best I ever knew. What of your motherT'
 She has broken greatly" responded the Captain. The war was a great bur den to her. She was a Virginian, you know"
 "Yes-yes!" said Meriwether Clopton. The war has been a dreadful nightmare to the people on both sides; and 1t seems to be still going on disguised as politics. Only last night. as you perhaps know, a posse of soldiers arrested and carried of four of our worthiest young men,
 Yes, know of it and regret it," re- sponded Captain Falconer. And have no doubt that a majority of the people here are inoensed at the soldiers forget ting that they are the mere instruments of their superiors, and that their supe- riors themselves take their orders from other superiors who are engaged in the game of politics The army Is at the beck and call of what Is called the Gov ernment. and today the Government hap pens to be the radical contingent of the Republican Party. Can you imagine that my mission here Is pleasant to me? can assure you, sir. 1t Is the most disagreeable duty that ever fell to my lot. I am glad you spoke of these arrests. At your con- venience, I should Ike to have a little conversation with you and MT. Sanders on this subject"
 There Is no time like the present" |" replied Meriwether Clopton. "Will you come with me to my house?"
 Certainly, sir; and with the more pleas l uT0 DcCAubo OdllcQ on my cousin MfS. Claiborne today. I was afraid my visit | today would prove to be embarrassing to her. If visit you at your invitation, the probability is she will have no social pen alty to pay. l know what the feeling is."
 | You may rest assured" declared Mer- iwether Clopton, "that if I had known you were the son of my old friend, 1 would have sought you out. much as detest the motives and purposes of those who inaugurated this era of bayonet rule And you may be sure, too. that in my house you will be welcome guest"
 "I appreciate your kindness, sir, and shall remember it." said Captain Fall l coner.
 That portion of Shady Dale which was moving about the streets with its eyes open was surprised and shocked-nay. well-nigh paralyzed-to see the Yankee Captain on parade, as it were, with Mer- iwether Clopton on one side of him. and MT. Sanders on the other. Surely. here was food for thought Were Meriwether Clopton and Mir. Sanders about to join the radicals? At last one of the loung- CTS. a man of middle age, who had seen service, raised his voice and put an end to comment.
 You can bet your sweet life" he de- clared. that Billy Sanders knows what he's up to. He may not git the game he's after. but he'll fetch back a handful of feathers or hair"
 It turned out that the Captain was able