The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-16

= Ok
being supplanted by another. But I
did not know this. I thought him my
whole world and let him engross me
IN his plans and share his passions for
subjects did not even seek to under.
stand.
II was only seventeen, he twenty.
i've. 1t was for him to think, not me,
And he did think, but to my eternal
undoing. The Cause needed a wom-
ans help, woman's enthusiasm.
Without considering my motherles
condition. my helplessness, the imma.
turity Of my mind. he drew me day
by day into the secret meshes of his
great scheme, scheme which, as I
failed to understand till it had absorb.
ed me, meant the unequivocal devo-
ton OF my whole life to the exclusion
OF every other hope or purpose. Fav.
ored, he called it, favored to stand
for liberty, the advancement of men.
the right Of every human being to an
untrammeled existence And favored
/ thought myself, till one awful day
when my brother, coming suddenly
into my room. found me making plans
for an innocent pleasure and told me
such things were no longer for me,
that = great and immortal duty await,
ed me. one that had come sooner
than he expected, but which my youth,
beauty, and spirit eminsntly fitted me
to carry on to triumph.
II was frightened For the FIRST
time in my memory of him he looked
like his italian father, the man W
had all tried to forget Once while
rummaging am0ngst my mothers
treasures had come across q minia.
ture Of Sisncr Toritti. He was .
handsome man but there was some.
thing terrible In his eye; something
to make the ordinary heart stand still.
Alfred's burned with the same mean.
ing at this moment, and as I noted
his manner. which was elevated, al.
most godlike, I realized the difference
In our heredity and how natural to
him were the sacrifices for which nay
mind and temper were as naturally
unprepared. With difficulty asked
him to explain himself, and It was
with terror that listened when he
did. He may have been made to
ask. but was not made to hear such
words. He saw my inner rebellion
and stopped in mid-harangue. He has
never forgiven me the disappointment
OF that moment have never forgiv.
en- him for making me sign away my
independence, my holdings, and my
life to a Cause did not thoroughly
understand"
"Your ufe?" echoed Ransom. reused
to involuntary expression by this
word.
Surely not your life," echoed the
lawyer, with the slow credulity Of the
matter-of-fact man.
Il have said it," she murmured, her
head falling on her breast. At which
token OF weakness, Hazen stirred and
took the words from her mouth.
1.-THE organization" said he, "is a
secret one and it's code is self-sacrifice.
TO the band Of noble men and women,
OF whose integrity and far.reaching
purpose you can judge little from the
winnings of love-sick girl, life and
all personal qualifications are as dust
IN the balance against the preserva-
tion and advancement of universal
happiness and the great Cause.
thought my sister, young as she was,
sufficiently, great-minded to compre-
bend this and sufficiently great-heart-
ed to do the society's bidding with Joy
at the sacrifice. But found her lack.
Ing. and" He stopped and almost
lost himself again, but reused and
cried with sudden fire, Tell what l
did. Georgian"
YOU took my duty on yourself" she
conceded, but coldly. THAT was
brotherly: that was noble, II you had
not exacted vow from me in return,
destined to lay waste my whole life.
Released from this one great duty,
was to hold myself ready to fulfil all
others. At the lift Of a hand-a finger
Il was to leave whatever held me
and 60 after tine one who beckoned in
the name Of the Cause. No circum.
stances were to be considered; no
other human duty or affection. If 1t
were to enter upon a fuller and more
adventurous life. we'll and good; II 1t
were to encounter death and the Co.'S
sation Of all earthly things, that WAS
we'll too. and a good to be embraced
with ardor. Obedience was all, and
obedience at a mere signal! I took
the oath and then"
Yves. then" emphasized Hazen In
wavering but peremptory tones.
HE told me what had led to all
this misery. That as yet this COM
pact was between us two, and us two
only. That he had considered my
youth, and in speaking Of me to the
Chief had held back my name even
while promising my assistance That
he should continue to consider it. by
II