The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-03-08
THE FARMER: MARCH 8, 1912

BuC your 1dtuer COlu NE ulIHSciI
you two were to be marriedr' broke
out, surprise, wonder dread, rebellion,
now in every fiber of my body and
soul.
"My father loves me dearly" she re-
piled slowly. ''But he cannot marry
me until / wish. No. I am not mar
ried, and never will be. Goodbye
l did not see Colonel Meriwether.
He passed on through to his seat in
Albemarle without stopping in our val
ley l6hger than overnight. Part Of
the next morning / spent in writing
letter to my agents at Huntington,
with the request that they should in
form Colonel Meriwether at once on
the business situation, since now he
was In touch by mail. The alternative
was offered him of taking over my ia
theirs interests through these creditors,
accepting them as partners or purchas-
ing their rights or of doing what my
father had planned to do for him,
which was to care individually for the
Joint account, and then to allot each
mariner a dividend interest, carrying
q clear title.
All these matters explained to my
mother Then I told her fully what
had occurred at the village the night
previous between Ellen Meriwether and
nv fiancee. She sat silent.
.In any case" Concluded. sit would
suit me better if you and could leave
this place forever and begin again
somewhere else"
She turned to me slowly, with a
smile upon her face. whatever thee
says" was her answer. II shall not
ask thee. to try to mend what cannot
beemended. Thee. is like thy father"
she said. II shall not try to change
thee. Go, then, thy own way. Only
hear me. thee cannot mend the I'M
menGable by such a wrongful mar
riage.''
But i went, and under my arm I
bore G certain roll Of crinkled, hairy
parchment.
This was on the morning Of Wednes-
day, in November. the day following
the nationa, election in the year 1860.
News travelled more slowly then. but
we in our yalley might expect word
from Washington by noon of that day.
If Lincoln won. then the south would
secede. Two nations would inevitably
be formed. and. If necessary, issue
would be Joined between them as soon
es the leaders could formulate their
plans for var. Our state was divided.
our valley especially so, peace senti.
nent there being strong. Few Of US
there, whether Unionists or not, had
much better than contempt for the un-
eouth man from the west, Lincoln, that
most pathetic figure of our history,
later loved by north and south alike
not know him in our valley. All of US
there, Unionists or secessionists, for
peace or for war, dreaded to hear Of
his election.
Colonel Sheraton met me at the door,
his face flushed, his brow frowning.
He was all politics. Have you, any
news" he demanded. ''Have you
heard from Leesburg, Washington"
"Not as yet" answered, but there
should be messages from Leesburg
! within the next few hours" We had
no telegraph in our valley at that time.
II have arranged with the postmas-
ter to let us all know up here the. in
slant he gets word" said Sheraton.
'If that black abolitionist, Lincoln,
wins, they're going to fire one anvil
shot in the street, and we can hear it
up this valleN this far If the south
wins, then two anvils, as fast as they
can load. So, Mr.. Cowles, If we hear
a single shot it is war-war, I tell
! you!
But come in,' he added hastily. 81
keep you waiting. an glad to see
you this morning, sir. From my
daughter learn that you have return
ed from somewhat successful jour
ney-that matters seem to mend for
you. We are all pleased to learn it.
! offer ~ my hand, sir. My daugh-
ter has advised me of her decision and
your own. Your conduct throughout
Mr.. Cowles, has been most manly,
quite above reproach. I could want
no better son to join my family"
Colonel Sheraton" / said to him
my conduct has not been in the least
above reproach, and your daughter has
not told you all that she ought to have
told.'
A door opened at the side Of the
room, where narrow stairway ran
down from the second floor, and there
appeared the short, stocky figure, the
iron gray name Of our friend, Dr. Sam
uel Bond, physician for two counties
thereabout, bachelor, benefactor, man
of charity, despite his lancet, his qui
nine and his calomel
"Ah, DOCTOR" began Colonel Sher
atom, "here Is our young friend back
from his travels again. I'm going tt
tell you now, as / think may withou,
much risk. that there is every hope the
Cowles family will win in this lega
tangle which has threatened them late
Twin handsomely too. You see, Mr.
Cowles," he added to me, "Dr. Bono
has stopped in as he passed by for 6
look at my daughter. Miss Grace
seems just triae indisposed this morn
ing. Nothing in the least serious. Of
course"
We all turned again as the front dool
opened. Harry Sheraton entered.
"Come, son." exclaimed his father
"draw up, draw up with US. Pour u!
drink around, son, for the success o.
our two families. You. doctor, arr
| glad as am-that I know"