The Crisis, Volume 3

had come straight from the ferry, without going home. And he had visions of a quiet dinner with Richter unde

-and his face was more serious than usual, although

ur time, my friend," said h

, Lincoln's message?" as

shrugged hi

tor and Colonel Carvel tried to get him to go to Glencoe. But he would not budge until Miss Carvel herself comes all the way from the country yesterd

ou say?" Stephen repeate

chter, disgusted,

hed, in spit

red. And becoming grave

nt. Have you heard fr

ters. He must be feeling better. I-I pray that he is better," s

Mr. Whipple was better, so Mr. Hopper said, and added that he "presumed likely the Colonel would not be in for a week." It was then Saturday. Eliphalet was actually in the Colonel's sanctum behind the partit

old him that the "Jedge was wuss, suh." On Wednesday, there being little change, Mrs. Brice ventured to despatch a jelly by Ephum. On Friday afternoon

one commence wrastlin' 'bout a man name o' Li

er papers or letters the Judge might wish to see. And since there was no convenient train in the evening, Colonel Carve

airies of Illinois. As Stephen alighted at the little station at Glencoe and was driven away

ay road. At last they came to a white gate in the picket fence, in sight of a rambling wooden house with a veranda in front

gh grass which led toward the house, Colonel C

tle argument this morning, and my daughter tells me it will be well not to excite him again to-day. Jinny is reading

le. After he had sat awhile staring at these, and at the wet flower-garden from between the slats of his shutters, he removed the signs of the railroad upon him, and descended. The Colonel was still on th

me here, sir. Jackson will bring you anything you desire, and shou

nt of a penniless young Yankee. The Colonel did not talk politics-such was not his notion of hospitality to a strange

rs ten years ago. Yes sir, we used to be at Lexington one week, and Louisville the next, an

ad, from Mr. J

nel's fa

t, Mr. Brice? He was the best jockey ever strode a horse on the Elleardsville track here. He wore my yellow and green, sir, until

down!" sai

bored in the seat. Then we lighted a spirit lamp under him. Many a time I

ice his guest

ced these damned trotting races; trottin

P

e lawn dress. A tea-tray was in her hand, and her head was tilted back, as women are apt to do when they carry a burden. It was so that these S

tter a word. But Virginia turned t

hundred and a quarter?" (A laugh.) "Has he given you the points of Water Witch and Netty Boone?" (More laughter, increasing embar

ion of the way in which Vir

er cigar asked, "My dear," h

ammy Easter is with him, trying to make out what he

ing?" demanded the

set down

Government cannot endure permanently, half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to dissolve-I do not ex

y, stroking the white goatee on his chin, "cuss me if that ain't from the speech that count

y near it, for he loved the Colonel. That gentleman sud

u have the same political sentiments as the Judge. B

t offended, sir," he sai

uick glance upon him. Bu

oking at

olone

y absence for a wh

r will ente

were growing long, and a rich country was giving up its scent to the evening air. From a cabin behind the house was wafted the melody of a plantation song. To the young man, after the bu

e dared not think that the expression he caugh

kind, Mr. Brice," said she; "I

en la

re not," said he, "When they are

a garrulous one

d enough, but a noisy Yankee not

irect reply to this, save

whether it is strength of mind or a l

said Mr. Brice. "Pruden

d. Usually she h

said, with an innocence which in w

greatly to know whether she referred to his hasty purchase of Hester,

thankful for," he answered. "W

said Virginia, desperately. Thi

aid he, "as the repressed

tered, because, as a woman, Stephen had conceded her a mind. Many of the young men she knew had minds, but deemed that these were wasted on women, whose language was generally supposed to be a kind of childish twaddle. Even Jack

of gear by local magnetic influences,-by beauty, for instance. He did not lose his head, as did some others she knew, at the approach of feminine charms. Here was a grand subject, then, to

poken to you since the night of my p

he, "and I called, b

cal

Virg

tell you!" c

el was compla

," said she, "and very often I do

nity to tell you how much I enjoyed myself. I have

opposed his coning. But honesty as well as something els

eal the shock his v

re good enough t

ly refuse a gue

d up h

en you annoyance," he said quiet

ack of good manners," said

ould not comprehend her cruelty. But, just then, the bell rang

olonel Carvel reached for his broad-brimmed felt bat, and sat smoking, with his feet against the mantle. Virginia, who ha

To him it was inconceivable that a young woman of such qualities as she appeared to have, should assail him so persistently for freeing a negress, and so depriving her of a maid she had set her heart upon. There were other New England young men in soci

n there came a knock at the door. It was Mammy Easter, in brig

you need, suh?

mmy showed no inclination to go, an

e Glencoe, M

charmed

h of a 'stablishment! Young Massa won't have no lawns, no greenhouses, no nothin'. He say he laik it wil' and simple. He on'y come out fo' two months, mebbe. But M

dge came?" ec

and he say he and de young men gwine ober to Mista, Catherwood's. You a'n't never seen Miss Jinny rise up, suh! She des swep' 'em all out" (Mammy emphasized this by rolli

went up to his room. The shutters were thrown open, and the morning sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell on the four-poster w

lonel, taking his hand, "I

y, "if you hadn't left the room, your popular so

tation of a renewal. But at this moment Miss Virgi

here. I was told to keep the peace at any cost. And if you an

ind was on the argument, continued to mutte

send you off with papers for a man, and I get back a piece of yellow p

re I listened to the most remarka

he Judge, "so f

to laugh, until he chanced to look

ch surprised,

ipple, "and what did yo

col

able man that I have e

, with

um

unt this time had in i

the propriety of discu

a's expression bore a tr

eet apart, thoughtfully

eemed to have

. "You must agree with that laudatory estimatio

en fi

ost decidedly

which respects property, to have said that. It might possibly b

hem, sir; I feel

olonel could contai

e that Democrat article a few things, i

Virginia,

fiery red, "I wrote it,

he slapped his knees, broke into a storm of laughter, and went o

olted upright f

glecting your law

e at night," said S

ve been Sunday n

ibly. Being a woman, whose ways are unaccountable, the older man took no n

ght you have to ask

udge, "Virginia, you may strike it from the record

ia dep

ith apprehension that he discerned Mr. Carvel seated under t

rose, and, coming toward him, la

w until Monday you must stay with us unt

as greatl

id. "I should like to v

Colonel. "I won't let

hall have to go by the t

Virginia, who, meanwhi

, "we must contr

off the

Brice would like to see a little of the place before he goes. It i

and walnuts and persimmons spread out in a glade, and the wild grape twisted fantastically around the trunks. All this beauty seemed but a fit setting to the strong girlish figure in the pink frock before him. So absorbed was he in contemplation of this, and in wondering whether indeed she were to marry her cousin, Clarence Colfax, that he did not see the wonders of view unrolling in front of him. S

stream ran indigo and silver. A hawk soared over the,

lood. And when at length he turned,

y beautifu

pon her. And yet she was not offended. This sincerity now was as ne

onest Tom Catherwood in the same situation she would have laughed, Clarence never so much as

air. And with that womanly gesture which has been the same through t

s of the sternness of the Puritan. Stephen's features were sharply marked for his age. The will to conquer was there. Yet justice was in the mouth, and gr

nity was the word that best described him. She saw him trusted of men, honored of women, fe

this afternoon?" s

t the change

tay," he said regretfu

rv

lty had always been to get them to go. It was natural, perhaps, that her vanity was wounded. But it hurt her to think t

erhaps," she added, with a little lau

answered,

hen it is because you cannot miss an

kind," he answered. "I

e to or-or st

er sympathy, nor had he hinted at the luxury in which he was brought up. She would hav

ly think of Mr. Li

est man I ever saw, and

u admir

id Stephe

half slave and half free. Then a day will come, Mr. Bric

tation. 'I do not expect the Union to be dissolved-I do not expect the house t

o me very equivocal," said she.

he rest of that

ever. He has made a conve

"He is not given to discussion with me, and until I went

a sparkle of amusement in her

at you were sent to Sp

mmunication for Mr. L

cation was-your self. There, now

? I don't u

puckered

you are all talking of made a speech before a convention in Illinois. Judge Whipple has been crazy on the subject ever since-he talks of Lincoln in his sleep; he went to Spri

in to laugh at

o go to Springfie

n. He knew that you would o

to come pass within an instant the memory

s more private charities on his list than any man in the city except Mr. Brinsmade. Very few know it. H

" he

at with her fingers. And when she ventured

nner," said Virginia, "if you r

ds, aroused him. He rose, took one lingering l

n to remain. Virginia did not join in this, and her father thought the young man's re

ound his daughter sitt

man, if he is a Y

said Virgin

am surprised at you. One should never show one's feelings toward a gu

not want

e went, my dear,"

said V

im," said

you!" she cried. And then,

ther was alone in to

reading aloud from a scrap-book certain speeches of Mr. Lincoln's which Judge Whipple had cut from newspapers. And the