The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-01-12
.NHE scene is laid chiefly in st.

L.
Louis between 1857 and 1865.
stephen Brice, of the Brah-
min class of Boston, after his fathers
business failure and death, came with
his mother to st. Louis, there to study
and practice law in the office of his
fathers friend, Judge Silas Whipple.
Virginia Carvel, the only child of
Colonel Comyn Carvel, was beautiful
and distinguished. The colonel was of
an old Maryland family. He was the
leading dry goods merchant of St.
Louis and veteran of the Mexican
war.
Judge Whipple was taciturn and
abrupt. He concealed generous
heart under a forbidding exterior. He
slept in his office. He was "black"
Republican. He secured clients because
they needed his professional ability.
He took Sunday dinner at Colonel
Carvel's, where the discussion over
slavery in Virginias hearing went on
with a plainness of speech that only
the lifelong friendship of the two men
could have made possible. Colonel
Carvel was the highest type of South
ern gentleman.
Mrs. Brice. Stephens mother. bole
her reduced fortune with dignity and
with high hope in her sons future and
a spirit of sacrifice in his interest.
Eliphalet Hopper was New
Englander, in Colonel Carvels employ.
Industrious and saving, he was unscru-
pulous and mean, valuing only finan-
cial success and cherishing jealousy of
others good fortune.
Clarence Colfax, the son Of a rich
widow, was Virginia's cousin. He ran
race horses, he fought gamecocks. He
had "a commanding Incidence" He
believed society based on slavery was
divinely appointed Masterful, courage
Gus, athletic and handsome, he was
true cavalier. useless except for war.
The events of the story sport with
the natural antagonism, i'm tradition
and convictions, Of the Puritan Steph-
en- Brice and the Lady of the Cava-
Tiers, Virginia Carvel. They met first
at slave market. A beautiful quad
room is put up for sale. With all his
savings of 5000 Brice determines to
buy the girl from life of shame with
an intending bidder and then free her.
Virginia, through Colfax, also bids for
the girl TO use her as maid. Brice,
in sympathy for the pleading mother
of the slave persists In his purpose,
and TO Virginias great disgust. out
bids the other two, and manumits the
girl.
Soon after, on her fathers insist
ence, Virginia prOtestlngly invites
Brice TO her first party. She snubs
him but finally dances with him. They
meet again at fancy dress party in
which she appears in the costume Of
her colonial great-grandmother, and
he in that of his grandfather, a revo-
lutionary colonel. She had only gone
on the assurance he would not be
there. His appearance prevents her
giving way to the wooing of Clarence
Colfax.
They meet again at the country
place of the Carvels, where Judge
Whipple is convalescent and there
measure each other in discussion.
Through Judge Whipple and her girl
friends, news of Brlce is constantly
thrust on her.
Silas Whipple knew and felt Lin
coins greatness and leadership. Whip
pie noted Brice's ability and high
qualities, but regretted his Boston
narrOwness He sought to broaden
him by subjecting him to Llncoln's
personality. Under pretence Of a bust
ness errand, he asked Lincoln To let
the young man hear his debate at
Freeport with Douglas. aBrice was
with Lincoln the night before in a
tavern, where, hatless, coatless. vest
less, he discussed the wisdom of ask
ing Douglas the great question, the
answer to which made Douglas sena-
tor and Lincoln president. Lincoln's
limpId intellectual honesty. his pure
logic, his lucidity of style, and his
power of apt illustration, with his no.
bility OF soul and purpose, impresg
themselves on young Brice and prof.
foundry affect his point of view.
Missouri was saved for the Union by
Frank Blair and Nathaniel Lyon. UNI
der their leadership the Germans od