Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-07
THE C'LANSMAN:
An Historical Romance of the
Ku Klux Klan.
BY THOMAS DIXON, JR.
Book THE Assassination.
CHAPTER 1.
THE BRUISED REED.

THE BRUISED REED.
The fair girl who was playing g
banjo and singing to the wounded SOL
diers suddenly stopped, and, turning
to the surgeon, whispered:
What's that?"
1T sounds like a mob"
With a common impulse they moved
to the open window Of the hospital ano
listened.
On the soft spring air came the roar
Of excited thousands sweeping down
the avenue from the Capitol toward
the White House. Above all rang the
cries of struggling newsboys scream
ing an Extra" One of them darted
around the corner, his shrill voice
quivering with excitement:
"Extroi Extra! Peace! victory
Windows were suddenly raised, wo-
men thrust their heads out, and others
rushed into the street and crowded
around the boy, struggling to get his
papers. He threw them right and left
and snatching the money-no one ask
ed for change. Without ceasing rose
his cry: .,
Extra! Extra! Peace! victory"
surrendered"
At last the end had come.
The great north, with its millions OF
sturdy people and their exhaustless re-
sources, ndu BTcSlcu oASS VA
Sumter with contempt and incredulity.
A few regiments went forward for
months outing to. settle the trouble.
The Thirteenth Brooklyn marched
gayly southwark on thirty day s
jaunt, with pieces of rope conspicuous
ly tied to their muskets with which to
bring back each man a southern prls-
oner to be led in moose through the
streets on their early triumphant re-
turn! It would be unkind to tell what
became of those ropes when they sud-
denly started back home ahead Of the
scheduled time from the first battle or
Bull Run.
People from the south, equally wise,
marched gayly north, to whip hve
Yankees each before breakfast, and
encountered unforeseen difficulties.
Both sides had things to learn, and
learned them in school whose logic
Is final-a four years course In the
University Of Hell-the scream Of ca
giles, the howl Of wolves, the bay OF
tigers, the roar Of lions-all locked in
Deaths embrace, and each mad scene
lit by the glare of volcanoes of savage
passions!
But the long agony was over.
The city bells began to ring. The
guns Of the forts Joined the chorus,
and their deep steel throats roared un-
til the earth trembled
Just across the street mother who
was reading the fateful news turned
and suddenly clasped q boy to her
heart, crying for JOY. The last draft
of half a million had called for him.
The Capital Of the Nation was shak-
ing off the long nightmare OF horror
and suspense. More than once the city
had shivered at the mercy Of those
daring men In gray, and the revellle
of their drums had startled even the
president at his desk.
Again and-sgain had the destiny of
the Republic hung on the turning Of
a hair, and in every crisis, Luck, Fate,
God. had tipped the scale for the
Union.
A procession of more than five hum
dred Confederate deserters. who had
crossed the lines in groups, swung into
view, marching past the hospital, In
different to the tumult. Only nom
inal guard flanked them as they shuf-
fed along, tired, ragged and dirty.
The gray in their uniforms was now
the colour of clay. Some had on blue
pantaloons, some blue vests, others
blue coats captured on the field of
blood. Some had pieces of carpet, and
others old bags around their shoulders.
They had been passing thus for weeks.
Nobody paid any attention to them.
"One Of the secrets Of the surren-
der!" exclaimed Doctor Barnes. Mr..
Lincoln has been at the front for the
past week with offers Of peace and
mercy, If they would lay down their
arms. The great soul Of the president,
even the genius Of Lee could not re-
sist. His smile began to melt those
gray ranks as the sun Is warming the
earth today"
You are a great admirer Of the
president" said the girl, with curious
smile.
Yes. Miss Elsie, and so are all who
know him."
She turned from the window with
out reply. A shadow crossed her face
as she looked past the long rows OF
cots, on which rested the men in blue
until her eyes found one on which lay
alone among his enemies, young
Confederate officer.
The surgeon turned with her toward
the man.
"Will he live?" she asked.
Yes, only to be hung"
For what?" she cried.
Sentenced by court t-martial as
guerilla. It's a lie, but there's some
powerful hand back of it-some mys-
erious influence in high authority The
boy wasn't fully conscious at the trial
I'VE must appeal to Mr. Stanton"
AS well appeal to the devil. They
say the order came from his office"
"A boy Of nineteen!" she exclaimed
It's a shame. I'm looking for his
mother. You told me to telegraph to
Richmond for her"
Yes, I'll never forget his cries that
night. so utterly pitiful and childlike
I've heard many a cry of pain, but
in all my life nothing so heart-break-
ing as that boy in fevered delirium
talking to his mother. His voice Is
one of peculiar tenderness, penetrat-
ing and musical. 1t goes quivering in
to your soul, and compels you to listen
until you swear it's your brother OF
sweetheart or sister or mother calling
you. You should have seen him the
day he fell. God of mercies, the pity
and the glory Of it,"
Phil wrote me that he was hero
and asked me to look after him. Were
you there?"
Yes. with the battery your brother
was supporting. He was the colonel OF
a shattered rebel regiment lying jus'
In front of US before Petersburg
Richmond was doomed, resistance wa:
madness. but there they were, ragged
and half starved, a handful of mer
not more than four hundred, but theil
bayonets gleaped and flashed In the
fire, he charged and actually drove oul
men out of an entrenchment. We con
centrated our guns on him as M
crouched behind this earthwork. GU
own men lay outside in scores, dead
dying, and wounded. When the f1r'
Stacked, we could hear their cries To-
water.
Suddenly this boy sprang on tn
breastwork. He was dressed in new
gray coloners uniform that mother o
his, in the pride of her soul, had sen
him.
He was a handsome figure-tall
slender. straight. gorgeous yellow
sash tasselled with gold around hi
waist his sword flashing in the sun
his SLOUGH hat cooked on one side ant
an eagles feather in 1t.
I'VE thought he was going to lea(
another charge. but just as the batter!
was making ready to fire, he deliber
ately walked down the embankment Ii
a hail Of musketry and began 10 CIV
water to our wounded men.
Every gun ceased firing, ana w
watched him. He walked back to tn
trench, his naked sword flashed sud
denly above that eagles feather, ant
his grizzled ragamuffins sprang for
ward and charged us like so man.