The Hallam Succession

and sought and striv

nts us, beaming ou

hings remember

e things forgot

o say a

to think

there i

hall know

ell her ev

seriously, and the rector's eyes were dim and troubled. "Yes, I would tell her every thing." Then he put his pi

which counseled him "to tell all, and tell it as soon as possible." The opportunity occurred immediately. He found Elizabeth mending, with skillful fingers, some fine old lace, which she was going to make

the soft somber folds of her dress; while Harry was just a bit of brilliant color, from the tawny gold of his long curls

gh to understand, that if he went to Martha for an hour or two, he would not be much missed. They both followed him with admiring eyes as he left the roo

some lad!" s

father's or my place here, he w

to be your

ng Ant

is squire of Hallam alre

hout sign of any kind-O, R

d come no more. She put down her sewing, and Richard drew closer to her side, and comforted her with assurances that he believed, "all was well with the dea

well. I looked and hoped for a little until my h

ity of all earthly ambition, and then he gave him rest.

there may be words and events that seem trivi

xchange, I followed. To my surprise the man seemed to be the proprietor; he went behind the counter into a room, but on my touching a bell reappeared. It was Antony. The moment our eyes met, we recognized each other, and after a slight hesitation, I am sure

nd nearly constant cough, and afterward, as we sat on the piazza, I said, 'Le

ave been made to suffer. Stronger men than I ever was fell and died at my side. You are too po

and whatever touches you for good or for evil touches

would hear from Elizabeth that

she t

it, and it alone,' your brother seemed to be greatly troubled; and asked, angrily, 'And you took her at her word, and left her in her sorrow alone? Richard, I did not think you would

el were I stayed there were a number of Texans coming and going, and I was delighted with their bold, frank ways, and with the air of conquest and freedom and adventure that clung to them. One day I passed you upon Canal Street. You looked so miserable, and were speaking to the man with whom you were in c

man had stolen from me a large sum of money. I w

story. He looked so faint, also, that I pushed a little w

xcitement. The tradesmen were working night and day, shoeing horses, or mending rifles and pistols; and the saddlers' shops were besieged for leathern pouches and saddlery of all kinds. The streets were like a fair. Of course, I caught the enthusiasm. It w

t, and who had pledged us his Masonic faith that if we gave up our arms we should be allowed eight days to trade, and then have them returned, with permission to go back to Austi

each night for food, and a single blanket to cover us in the bitterest cold. Strong men fell down dead at my side, or, being too exhausted to move, were shot and le

tell you all-shall

, "Go on; I must hear all, or how

ips quivered. I did not speak. Every word I could think of seemed so poor and commonplace; but I bent forward and took his h

r, loving life, so daring, and so hopeful; but his strength had been failing for two days ere he came to the desert. His feet were in a pitiable condition. He was sleeping as he walked. Then he became delirious, and talked constantly of his father and mother and sisters. He had been too ill to fill his canteen before starting; his thirst soon became intolerable;

a lazaretto, among lepers, in every stage of their loathsome disease; and afterward removed

not to-night. I knew that there was diplomatic correspondence going on about our relief, and that, soon or later, those who survived their brutal treat

the exchange b

my waist. It was not much, but I have more than doubled it; and as soon as I can,

proud of Antony at last. I freely forgive him every hour of sorrow he has caused me. His picture shall be hung next his father's, and I will have all else forgotten but this one deed. He gave his last drink of water to the boy perishing at his side; he begged for him when

was over. I had remained in Mexico for some weeks entirely on his account, and I now suggested, as he had no business cares, a journey home by way of Texas. I really believed that the rare, fine air of the prairies would do him good; and I was sure if we could reach Phyllis, he would at least die among friends. When I made the proposal he was eager as a child for it. He did not want

settled over all of us. I have often thought and wondered about it since. There was no quarreling, no singing, nor laughing among the men, who were usually ready enough for any of them; and this 'still' feeling, I suppose, was intensified by the weather, and the peculiar atmosphere

nd of my mother. She is waiting for me. I will sleep no more in this world. It is a beautiful world!' During the day I never left him, and we talked a great deal about the future, whose mystery he was so soon to enter. Soon after sunset he whispered to me the wrong he had done, and which he was quite sure you

world,' he passed away. We were quite alone. The men were sleeping around, unconscious of 'Him that waited.' The moon flooded the prairie with a soft, hazy light, and all was so still that I could hear the cattle in the distance cropping the grass. I awoke no one. The last offices I could do for

the valley

is stand

and awful the

nd has a dee

oss uplif

with voic

hearts to brea

ied and ma

turned awa

hat were he

is look who wa

eping safe

you bury hi

ed it at his head, and, rude and ignorant as they all were, I believe every one said a prayer for his repose. Then I took the little gold he had, divided it among them, paid them their wages, and let them return home. I w

r, Elizabeth could almost rejoice for the dead; for Antony's life had been set to extremes-great ambitions and great failures-and few, indeed, are the spirits so finely touched

ha brought in Elizabe

dead. Master Harry is

this is understo

t' light o' his counten

r. Antony, you may say

ere Mrs. Mi

th women were weary with weeping. The next morning they hung Antony's picture between that of his father and mother. It had been taken just after his return from college, in the very first glo

vinced a disposition to take, with consideration, their claim, as the estate could pay it; and some willingness to allow at last, "thet Miss Hallam hed done t' right thing." The fact of the Whaley Brothers turning her defenders rather confounded them. They had a profound re

ght. "He might be a Hallam to start wi'," said Peter Crag, "but he's been that way mixed up wi' French and such, thet t' Hallam in him is varry hard to find." All the tenants, upon the advent of Richard, had

things to arrange, in view of the long-continued absences which would be almost certain. The Whaleys, urged by a lover, certainly hurried their work to a degree which astonished all their subordinates; but yet February had passed before all the claims against Antony Hallam had been collected. The debt, as debt always is, wa

expenses incidental to this duty, they were to divide, in fair proportions, the balance every three years among Antony's creditors. This arrangement gave perf

lizabeth insisted that her salary should be on the most liberal basis. In fact, Martha's position made her a person of imp

alley, went with her to the altar; and Richard had for his attendant the handsome little squire. The rector took the place of Elizabeth's father, and a neighboring clergyman performed the ceremony. Most of the surrounding families were present in the churc

It was Phyllis who had brought the kindred souls together, and made pleasant places for them to walk and talk in. Phyllis had desired very much to meet Elizabeth, on her advent into her American life, but the time had been most unc

ard came hom

ustin. Suppose you and Harry go with

s don't like sur

aving, but I doubt if the let

il was not gone for with any regularity. Besides, at this time, John was attending to

ent Richard got a buggy and determined to drive out to the Millard place. Half a mile distant from it they met a

ap, with a laugh. "I generally st

! What is

rd Millard. What'

ine; and I shouldn't wond

Wont ma be glad? Say, wont you hurry up? I was going into the city

should like

hat is Sam Houston in her arms. My pony is called 'San Jacinto.' Say! Who is that

Hallam-a rela

t. Would he like

wered Harr

s curiously watching their approach. In another moment she had given Sam Houston to a

aw the tip of your hat, Richard! And this is Harry Hal

f an hour! And then, as soon as the sun set, Phyllis said, "Now, if you are not tired, we will go

young Millard. The boys had fraternized at once,-what good boys do not? especially

a very exceptional character. The lobbies were full of lovely, brilliant women; and scattered among them;-chatting, listening, love-making-was many a well-known hero, on whose sun-browned face the history of Texas was wri

relief of the Millard Rangers." She looked eagerly to see who would rise. It was only a prosy old man who

proud light in her face, who it was. He talked as he fought, with all his soul, a very Rupert in debate, as he was in battle. In three minutes all whispering had ceased; women listened with full eyes, men with glowing cheeks; and when

t-a month of complete happiness, of days devoid of care, and filled with perfect love and

ide. Behind it was a grove of the kingly magnolia, in front the vast shadows of the grand pecans. Greenest turf was under them; and there was, besides,

at the fence, and asked undoubtingly for a cup of coffee, or a glass of milk, and Phyllis had a pleasant word and a cheerful meal for every caller; so that John rarely wanted company when he sat in the cool and silence of the evening. It might be a ranger from the Pecos, or a trader from the Rio Grande, or

eriences! What a revelation altogether of a real, fresh, natural life it was! And she saw with her own eyes, and with a kind of wonder, the men who had dared to be free, and to found a republic of free men in the face of nine million Mexicans-men of

ghted at the visit. Such a barking! Such a chorus of welcome! Such exclamations of satisfaction it is impossible to describe. The new-comer was a man of immense stature, evidently more used to riding than to walking. For his gait was slouching, his limbs seemed to dangle about him, and he had a lazy, listless stoop, as he came up the garden with his saddle over his arm listening to a sco

pron, and her best-company manner: "De minister am come, Miss Lizzie-de Rev. Mr. Rollins am 'ri

Mr. Rollin

Rio Grande, and den 'fore you ca

to be a grea

! dey whimper after him for a week; and de little children! he draw

en were crawling up the piazza steps, or peeping through the railings. He was dressed in buckskin and blue flannel, and at first sight had a most unclerical look. But the moment he lifted, his face Elizabeth saw what a clear, noble soul

two weeks ago,"

ey were hanging around Saledo settlement in a way I didn't like, so I watched them until I was about sure of their next dirty trick. It happened to be a thieving one on the

you. You probably

en to tell them of. But they know both my rifle and my words are true, and when I say to them, 'Boys, there's hell and heaven right in your path, and your next step may plunge you into the fi

chard, "you will find plenty of great

from them. In the first place, though the atmosphere of crime is polluting in a large city, it infects nobody here. I tell you, sir, the murderer on a Texas prairie is miserable. There is nothing so terrible to him as this freedom and loneliness, in which he is always in the company of his outraged conscience, which drives him hither and

o one liked. A good soldier, though. I d

me more dead than alive, clung to my arms like a child, begg

ru

t he was a haunted man! He had been a sixfold mur

u account

ears of our spiritual body, either for comfort, or advice, or punishment. This criminal saw things and hear

d Elizabeth, solemnly, "for I

skin of my teeth. And another night, as I rode over the Maverick prairie, when it was knee-deep in grass and flowers, and the stars were gathering one by one with a holy air into the house of God, I could not restrain myself, and I sang aloud for joy! Then, suddenly, there seeme

ob is

believe he

preacher, after a mi

dou

murderer,

ercy? Have you measured the length and breadth of the cross? I brought the cross of Christ to that

at last, then?

his forgiveness came the peace that passeth understanding. What is there for great crimin

an really believed himsel

at he knew he

hen, do not all Christia

aims all our rights! The cross of Christ! There are still Jewish minds to whom it is

doctrine speciall

the Lord? 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.' I do not say but what there are many good men without this assurance; but I do say, that it is the privilege of a

quently she glanced down at the pale, spiritual face with its luminous dark eyes and sweet mouth. For Phyllis had to perfection that lovely,

ang the night breeze, laden with the perfume of bleach

, in an enthusiasm. "What a pity the rabbl

ch thing, as rabble, sir. For the meanest soul Christ paid down his precious

rom King John without the poetic veil of seven hundred years, we should be very apt to call them 'rabble' also. Give the founders of

d fought Indians and Mexicans; and been driven about from pillar to post, living on potatoes and dry corn? Good respectable people suffer a great deal of tyranny ere they put their property in danger. But when Texas, in her desperation, rose, she was glad of the men with a brand on their body and a rope round their neck, and who did not value their lives more than an empty nut-s

edom seems to be a

nce, the noblest men are not satisfied with physical and political freedom; they must also be free men in Christ Jesus; for let me te

me plainly evident. Then Phyllis brought out a dish that looked very like walnut shells, but which all welcomed. They w

eparated, never in all the years of earth to sit together again; for just at daylight, John and Phyllis stood at their g