The Guns of Bull Run

y to him. As he came nearer, the place looked greater and greater. He had read much about it in the books in his fathe

Charleston. It was a different world, different alike in appearance and in thought. The contrast made the thrill a

d I would not if I could. Look how the cold North melts away. See the great magnolias, the live oaks, and

and foliage, and the other of the salt sea, reached Harry. He found both good. He felt for the thousandth time of his pocket-book

oad, and he pointed out to Harry a low, white house with gr

id, "and this is Christmas Day.

colonel seemed to him so simple, so honest and, in a way, so unworldly, that he had won his heart almost at o

t accept. "You take your letters to the gentlemen who are going to make the war, and th

arleston before him and in a few hours he would be in the thick of great events. A thrill of keen anticipation ran through al

as he gave the hand a strong clasp. "I shall be in

more crowded than Nashville had been. Its population had increased greatly in a few weeks, and he could feel the quiv

iet and good, and as he went he looked at everything with a keen and eager interest. The deep, mellow chiming of bells, from one point and then from another, came to his ears. He knew that the

. They had done a great deed, and, keyed to a high pitch by their orators and newspapers, they did not fear th

pleasant manners, Madame Josephine Delaunay. She looked at him at first with a little doubt, because it was a time in Ch

together, but since he became a soldier he has gone far from here.

ed from the army, and he is here

me Delaunay. "Ah, that Leon

le to Charleston," said Harry, "an

filled with roses and oranges. Even now, pleasant aromatic odors came to him through the open window. He had been scarcely an hour in Charlest

t do so. He could not present himself in rough guise to a people who had every right to be fastidious. He would also obtain furth

ot the keeper of an inn, doing most of the work with her own hands. He learned later that the two could go together in Charleston, and he learned also, that she was the grand-daught

ung Kentuckian, so tall and powerful for his age

ncey?" asked Harry. "I have letters which I must deli

ony's Hall in Broad street. You will surely find him there, but you

ly: "I've come to join your people, Madame Delaunay. South

r, is a city that has withstood much fire and blood and it can withstand much more. Now I'l

e talk that he had been hearing recently from those older than he passed through his mind. The Southern states did have a right to go if they chose, and they were being attacked because their prominence aroused jealousy. Slavery was a

ry quickly to St. Andrew's hall in Broad street, where five days before, the Legislature

Inside, a young man, a boy, in fact, not more than a year older than himself, met him. He was slender, dark and tall, dressed

"and I'm a sort of improvised secretary

Kentucky, late a colonel in the United States Army, and I've come with import

. Wait a moment and I'll see if

Over the dais hung a large portrait of Queen Victoria as a girl in her coronation robes. A Scotch society had occupied this room, but the people of Charleston had always taken part in their festivities. In those very

k, eager countenance arose when y

enton, the son of Colonel George Kenton, who h

of Georgia, had matched the New England leaders in vehemence and denunciation. Mr. Slidell, an older man, was present and so was Mr. Jamison, of Barnwell, w

read what had been written from Kentucky. Harry was learning to become a good observer, and he watched them clo

n, Senator Culver and others, have no doubt that Kentucky will go out with us. Now you are a boy, but boys sometimes see and

and paused in

Mr. Yancey,

d by Mr. Yancey to do so, "but as far as I have seen, Kentucky is sorely divided. The people on

ce of Yancey, but he quick

need Kentucky badly. We must have the state and we will get it. Did you h

it was his intention to go from there to Frankfort with s

ey s

ut they are great ones, and he foresees a mighty republic for us extending far south of our pr

center of all things. I think my father would wish me to do so. I'

t happens sh

war. Then I shall be one of t

asm we are unconquerable. Now, we'll not keep you longer, Mr. Kenton. This is Christmas Day,

calling by his first name, Arthur. He, too, was sta

pression upon him then, and one yet greater afterward, because he beheld the spirit of the Old South in

came through the windows, opened partly, and brought with it, as Harry thought, an aroma of flowers blooming in the farther south. He sat with young St. Clair-the tw

ders. Her heavy hair, intensely black, was bound with a gold fillet, after a fashion that has returned a half centu

the mellowness of Christmas pervaded his spirit. He drank a toast to Madame Delaunay, and the others drank it with him, standing. Madame Delaunay responded prettily, and, in a few words, she asked protection and good fortune for this South Carolina which they all loved, and which had been a refuge to the ancestors of so many of them. As she sat down she looked up at the wall and Harry's glance followed hers. It was a long di

t sped along the wall. He smiled a litt

re great people in a great island, once the richest colony of France, the richest colony in all the world. All those people whom you see upon the walls were educated in Paris or other cities of France, and they returned to a life upon the magnificent plantat

pathos. Every face flushed, and Harry saw the tears glistening in the eyes of Madame Delaunay who, despite her fifty

y of a South far warmer than the one he had known. Their passions were his passions, and having seen the black and savage Hayti of which Major

pulse. "Kentucky and Virginia and the big states of the

able again, and Harry, blushing, made h

McDonald-Harry had noticed that Scotch names seemed to be as numerous as French in

sly approaching. His interest did not make him neglect the dinner, as he was a strong and hearty youth. There were sweets for which he did not care

was heart and soul with the South Carolinians. Those people in the far north seemed very cold and hard to him.

blinds and opened the window a little. Once more the easy wind brought him that odor of the far south, whether reality or fancy he could not say. But he turned to another window and looked toward the no

pen, and, when he turned, he caught a glimpse of a face that he knew. It was young Shepard, wh

in St. Louis, members of one of the old French families there, I

said Harry, somewhat doubtfully,

humor. "I'll see you again in the morning and w

and no one could deny his right to come to Charleston if he pleased. And yet Colonel Talbot, a man of a delicate and sensitive mind, which quickly registered true impressions, had distrusted him. He had

had left open. Then, remembering that he intended to avoid Shepard, he jumped out of bed, dress

arry. Both greeted him pleasantly and hoped that he had slept well. Their courtesy, although Harry had no doubt of its warmth, was slightly

eggs, bread and coffee. There was no meat. But he fared very well, nevertheless. St. Clair, he now learn

id to Harry. "I can get you a place

t he could not take up his new duties for a few days.

"Take your time. I don't thin

ttested. Not knowing what the future held, and inspired perhaps by some counsel of caution, he drew half of it in gold, intending to keep it about his person, riski

e whole population of the city was going with him toward the harbor. St. Clair, who had departed for

, Arthur?"

enjoying our Christmas dinner and talking of the things that we would do, Major Anderson, who commanded the United States garrison in Fort Moultrie, quietly moved it over to Sumter, which is far stronger. The wives and children of the soldiers and officer

stood South Carolina and the Union face to face, looking at each other through the muzzles of cannon. Sumter had one hundred and

r somebody to touch fire to the tow. He was not one to sentimentalize, but the sight of the defiant flag, the most beautif

t comes to a crisis we must fire upon it. If we don't, the South will be e

Harry. "But look ho

ought hitherto about the garrison of the forts in Charleston harbor. He recognized for the first time that they might not share the opinions of Charleston, and this name of Anderson was full of si

. Clair. "Some of our people have gone over there to confe

upon the shoulder, and turning quickly he saw Colonel Leonidas Talbot. He

"and I heard only a few minutes ago that Major Ander

e is defiant. He says that he wi

p," said Colonel Talbot. "It migh

motions seemed to Harry more significant than ever of defiance. He understood the melancholy ring in Colonel Talbot's voice. He, too, l

t. Clair, "and I know already

who had been sent to treat with Major Anderson, and his answer was quickly known to all the crowd. Sumter was the property of the United States, not of

a man. Come, boys, we will go back into the city. I am to help in building the fort

em, and white and black labored together at the earthworks. Rich men, who had never soiled their hands with toil before now, wielded pick and spade by the side of their black slaves. And it wa

land, Morris Island, and James Island and were mounting guns upon them all. Circling batteries would s

w by his rigid attitude that he was looking intently at the battery and he knew, moreover, that it was Shepard. He wished to avoid him, and he wished also that his

r batteries!" he exclai

Harry hastily. "We don't

came forward quickly, his hand exten

e too early for me, but we meet, nevertheless, in a place

ed it without giving the appearance of brusqueness. His courtesy, concerning which the South Carolinians of his type

id Shepard. "With the Federal garrison concentrated in Sumter and t

areful examination of all the bat

rom looking at Sumter, the batteries and all the other preparations. We would not be human if we didn't do it, and

id Colonel Talbot,

ard easily. "I have letters which admitted me to the inn of Madame Delaunay

mself, saying that he was going to meet a committee of defense at St. Andrew's Hall, and Har

it will be forgiven at such a time as this. And I must say, Harry, th

, although I don't know

Shepard was always near the batteries and earthworks, but hundreds of others were near them, too. He did not return to Madame

id not have much to say, nor did the South Carolinians warm to him as they had to Harry. A slight air of constraint appeared and Harry was glad when the dinner was over. Then he and St. Clair slipped away and spent the evening roaming about the city, looking at the old h

when Shepard came briskly down the h

aid, "I thought we were to be together here at

has ha

I came here, but Madame Delaunay has recalled the fact and I cannot doubt the word of a Charleston lady. It appears also tha

ever, and he held out his hand. Harry liked this man, although it

e it, the people of Charleston are not taking to

th a laugh as he vanished down the hail. No

n and a woman. They were Colonel Talbot and Madame Delaunay. He closed the blind promptly, feeling that unconsciously he had touched upon something hallowed, the thread of an old

dship of Arthur St. Clair, who apparently was related to everybody. A letter came from his father, to whom he had written at once of his purpose, giving his approval, and sending him more money. Colonel Kenton wrote that he would come

But his spirits rose when he enlisted in the Palmetto Guards, and began to see active service. His quickness and zeal caused him to be used as a messenger,

vegetables, and other provisions. Strict orders kept anyone from offering violence or insult to them. Harry saw Anderson once, b

orthern port with supplies for the garrison in Fort Sumter. He read the brief account, threw down the paper and rushed out for his