The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-05

"How are you, Carringtony' said
the planter.
You are wanted at Belle Plain," be-
gan Darlington, and seemed to hesi-
tate.
"Yes-yes, am going there at once
how" stammered Ware, and gath
cred up his reins with a shaking hand.
You've heard, | take it, said Car
rington slowly
Yes" answered Ware, in a hoarse
whisper. My God, Darlington, I'm
heart sick; she has been like a daugn.
ter to mel" he fell silent, mop
ping his face.
Il think understand your feeling"
laid Darlington, giving him a level
glance.
Then you'll excuse me-" and the
planted clapped spurs to his horse.
Once he looked back over his Shout
der; he saw that Darlington had not
moved from the spot where they had
met.
AT Belle Plain, Ware found his
neighbors In possession of the place.
They greeted him quietly and spoke
In subdued tones of their sympathy.
The planter listened with an air OF
such abject misery that those who had
neither liked nor respected him, were
reused to sudden generous feeling
where he was concerned; they could
not question but that he was deeply
anected. After all the man might
have side to his nature with which
they had never come in contact.
When he could he shut himself in
his room. He had experienced a day
OF maddening anxiety; he had not
slept at all the previous night; in
mind and body he was worn out; and
now he was plunged into the thick OF
this sensation. He must Keep control
OF himself, for every word he said
would be remembered. In the pres
ent there was sympathy for him. but
sooner or later people would return
to their sordid unemotional judg.
ments.
He sought to forecast the happen.
1ngs OF the next few hours. Murrelrs
friends would break jail for him, that
was foregone conclusion but the
lnsurrectiOn he had planned was at
an end. Hues had dealt its death
blow. Moreover, though the law
might be impotent to deal with Muir.
rell, he could Lot hope to escape the
vengeance of the powerful class he
had plotted to destroy; he would have
to quit the country. Ware gloated in
this idea of craven fight. Thank
God, he had seen the last of him!
But. as always. his thoughts came
back to Betty. Slosson would wait at
Hicks place for the man Murrell had
promised him, and, failing the mes
senger, for the signal fire, but there
would be neither; and Slosson would
be left to determine his own course of
action. Ware felt certain that he
would wait through the night, but as
sure as the morning broke, If no word
had reached him, he would send one
OF his men across the bayou, who must
learn OF MurrelPs arrest, escape, flight
for In Wares mind these three
events We're indissolubly associated
The planters teeth knocked together
He was having terrible acquaint
ance with fear, its very depths had
swallowed him up; 1t was a black pit
IN which he sank from horror to hor
ror. He had lost all faith in the Clan
which had terrorized half a dozen
states. which had robbed and muir
dered with apparent impunity, which
had marketed its hundreds of stolen
slaves. He had utterly collapsed at
the first blow dealt the organization
but he was still seeing Murrell, pallid
and shaken
A step sounded in the hall and an
instant later Hicks entered the room
without the formality of knocking
Ware recognized his presence with a
glance OF indifference. but did not
speak. Hicks slouched to his employ.
er's side and handed him a note which