HOW I ESCAPED.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 171, 20 July 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

HOW I ESCAPED.

— « A NOVEL By W. H. PARKINS, EDITED BY ARCHIBALD CLAVERING GUNTER, Author of "Mr Barnes of New York," " Mr Potter of Texas," &c. BOOK I. HOW I STAYED FOR HER. CHAPTER 111. LOVE OR DUTY. But during the month which I had supposed would see the political horizon clear ( Mississippi, Florida, and all the Gulf States seceded, and every day made it further and fuither from being 'all right.' The Southern Confederacy was formed, the various branches of its government completed, and company after company and regiment after regiment thronged through Columbia en route for Charleston, to encirclo wibh bristling batteries and frowning guns the only fortification in South Carolina that still Haunted the flag of the United States. This immense transportation of troops and military material made my railroad duties exceedingly arduous ; consequently I had little time to visit the Poy.tons, though every spare moment of mine was devoted fco my sweetheart, and wo passed, even afc fchafc time, many happy hours together. Laura informed me that, upon learning from her father of her contemplated matrimonial union with me, Mr Pierson had left the next day for Savannah, having wished her — rather ironically, she thought — a happy ending to her engagement. During this time, however, two occurrences took place to which I gave bub little heed ab the moment, bub which affected me very seriously afterward. They were these: One day young Caucus cime into my office, and, in his excitable darky manner; said : 'Mas' Bryant, dar am sev'ral officers below dat am anxious for a interview.' I ordered them to be admitted, and found thab bhey wero two members of the staff' of General Beauregard who was then in command of the Confederate forces aboub Charleston. One of them, Stuart Bee, a Georgian and a particular friend of mine, handed me a letter tendering me a stall appointment upon the transportation corps of the Confederate army. He said they had called to ask if I did nobwish to take imine diate charge of the movement of the troops then being pushed forward to reinforce fche Confederate soldiers already about Charleston. I replied that I did not wish to join the Confederate army in any capacity. 'Why not?' asked Bee. 'Do you not now forward to us all the troops that pass here ?' ' Yes,' I roplied, 'as engineer of the South Carolina Railroad, bufc nob as a member of bhe Confederate army.' ' Well,' he replied, ' you do your work in a very satisfactory manner; but I had hopod thab you would accept the appointment because ib would pub an immediate stop to the local prejudice thab is growing up against you. For your own sake, you should make it plain thab you are favourable j to the Confederate cause. The report bhab you have refused this offer will only tend bo make your position here moro uncomfortable with our people who surround you.' f I am very much obliged,? I replied, ' for the honour tendered me, but musb still refuse. lam fully sensible of the inconvenience thai; my declination may bring bo me, bub cannob reconsider the proposition. Do you know, by bhe by, who was ib that recommended me for bhe position ?' ' I believe Mr Amos Pierson, of Savannah, who ha. lately accepted somo large contracts for army supplies for the Confederate Government,' replied my friend. With this the two officers said good-bye, leaving me to reflect thafc Mr Amos Pierson, through his recommendation fco General Beauregard, had succeeded in compelling me to assume a stand that in this exciting time would probably cause my social ostracism by most of my neighbours in Columbia. Evidence of this in the next few days became apparent. My refusal to accept an office upon the staff of General Beauregard was noted by the local papers and commented upon in no flattering terms, and the cold shoulders that had been tamed te me for somo time past during my business »nd social intercourse with the citizens of the town became much more cold. Even Laura remarked this wifch a sigh as she said : ' What a pity, Lawrence, that yon are not one of us—one who loves the South.' 'As well as I do one of its"maidens,' laughed I, but the laugh had a rather forced and unpleasant ring in it. The second event was the departure of Young Arthur Peyton with his company to join the forces about Charleston. The lad went off in high spirits, laughing and happy as if he wero going to a picnic or a frolic, but after that a little of the coming gloom of the war descended upon bis family. His father sighed more often, and Miss Laura and Miss Belle seemed fco be even more Southprn than before in their Bentiments, the latter young lady saying to me one day: 'If I don't soon make a true South Carolinian of you by coaxing and by being your friend in your suit for Laura, I shall begin to try sterner measures, Mr Lawrence Bryant.' She said this with a very sweet sixteen-year-old laugh, but I felt, notwithstanding, that there was an unpleasant tone of truth in her remark. So things drifted on and on, always for the worse, until one day Columbia became a ferment of <»xcibemenb under the news of the bombard.nenb and capture of Fort Sumter by the Confederate forces. From that time on 1 knew that there was Bp hope of any peaceful solution of the difficulty that had begun by the secession of South Carolina four months before. I felt that my duty called me to the ftorth, that my love bound me to the South, »nd so.I lingered, despite the warning of *'r Tom Baxter, who arrived the day afterWard from Georgia. 'Are you going with me, Lawrence V he asked. 1 Gding where ?' 'North, of course, while you have the chance.' ]Nob at present,' I replied. Aob at present?' he echoed. 'If you °£n tgo now, you will never go. When Wo armies face each obher in Virginia and J-ennessee, ib will nofc bo so easy "a matter w pass through their contending lines as it » to buy a through ticket for Washington an a get north in less than two days, as I sm about to do.' ' Still,' I replied, «I shall remain here for «W present.' J,, A j J! I suppose it is the young lady who ■oil detains you ? .Marry her, and take her north with you !' i .A* su ch a time she would not leave her "tther and her sister. I fear that I will *_?i * U . l leave her ' and * love h er too weutogiveherup.' Tnn!r-r my boy,> rofcurned th e sententious vn,, ' -~ you sfca y here fcwo months longer, Sv?.,?? b be , able t0 leave Peaceably lose the girl anyway.' _W , makes y° u think that?— Laura

——————————an———aa—{i»Ma—g-»i__aMa——_—M a—t——andid—_bfl-fie—a_^—_adta ' Laura Peyton loves you now : but wait till the fighting begins-, and your sweetheart will very soon grow cold to a man who is not willing to risk his life for the cause she loves. You will not be able to stand against hef prayers and entreaties; and if you do not, you and I, my dear old chum, will perhaps meet in combat upon the battle-field. Take your last and only chanCe to do your duty. There'll be no half measures in this ooofiict. Go north and be a northern man,' or remain in the South and you, nolens vokns, will have to fight for the Confederacy.' With thi3 Mr Baxter proceeded on his way, bub though out of my view, his remarks lingered in my mind, and had it not been for tho beautiful eyes, welcoming arms, and beguiling smiles of the gin I loved, I should soon have followed Mr Baxter north. Thus, undecided, struggling between love and duty, I remained until thejirsi day 0} July, 1861, drew near. From that day the Confederate Government had decreed thab all people remaining under its jurisdiction should be considered subjects of the Confederacy and. nob permitted to leave its borders without its permission. Such permission ib was considered a military necessity nob to grant, save to women, children and persons not subject bo military duty. I was now compelled to take some definite action.' After a night spent in alternate wavering between my love for my country and my love for Laura Peyton, I decided to return to the North, if possible taking her with me as my wife, —if not, hoping that she would be true to me through the few months which I thought it would probably take to settle the contest now beginning between the North and South. ■ Actuated by this idea, I rode out through bhe pretty streets of Columbia -to the home of my sweetheart. It was a very'culm beautiful summer evening, bub I hardly noticed ib, so engrossed was I in the misery and anxiety which ray resolution had brought to mo. As I rode up the avenue, a horseman rapidly passed me, apparently coming from Judge Peyton's house. He was muttering |to himself in some trouble apparently greater than mine. His features wero nob so distorted by misery, however, that I failed to recognise in the uncertain light the face of Harry Walton. He was dressed in the uniform of a captain of the Hampton Legion, and rode by me so rapidly that I did nofc think he saw me, for lie uttered no word of greeting, and gave me no salutation. This was not altogether surprising, though we had boon great friends a few months before, and chums at college in '55, attd ib was partly owing to his friendship that I had obtained my railroad position. Still, ever since tho bright face of Laura Peyton had come between us, he had grown colder and colder, and his hearty shake of bhe hand had gradually changed to a bow, the bow to a nod,'and the nod had become colder and- colder, and we were now almost strangers. This was partly due to our different political sentiments, but more from his suspicion that 1 had found favour in the sight of the woman he loved, though as Laura's engagement to me had never been formally announced, he had by no means given up all hope of winning her hand, and his visits to her homo in the lasb few months had been almost as frequent as my own. On entering the house, I was greeted by Miss Belle, who rather cavalierly informed mo that her sister would nob bo visible for a few minutes, but if I could waste a little of my time on her, she would tell me something that would perhaps prove to mo that, notwithstanding my lukewarm southern sentiments, she was still my friend—'thought am not going to be co much longer,' she said, rather savagely. ' Well, whab have you done for me?'- I asked, trying to turn the conversation. ' Done for you ! I have this evening, with consummate tact for a girl of my years, prevented your sweethearfc'3 being proposed to in full form with all the romantic advantages of military uniform, broken hearb, and instant departure for war and bloodshed by one Harry Walton, once afctorney-afc-law, but now captain in Wade Hempton's gallant legion. He looked so handsome in his regimentals, that I would not have given much for your chances had he ever asked Laura,' remarked Miss Belle, rather sarcastically ; ' and if he ever comes back wounded for our glorious cause, I wouldn'b givo much for them any way,' continued the girl, wibh a little laugh, partly of merriment, and perhaps partly of malice. ' He didn't see her, then ?' • Oh, yes, he saw her: but he didn'b have any chance to propose to her, for I took care to make the third at the parting, and didn'b give him a single second for a tete-a-tete. Nevertheless, bheir parbing wa3 very affectionate, and perhaps a little tender. There were tears on both sides as he bade her good-bye. That is bhe reason she won't see you now—red eyes are not becoming.' ' And why have you done this bhing for me—one whom you half dislike ?' ventured I. ' Because, 5 replied the lady, airily, 'I still have hopes of you ; and until I give up in despair, am perfectly willing _o be your friend ; but when I do make up my mind once, definitely and forever, that you will never become one of us, that moment my eood offices will leave yon, and I shall do my best to assist Harry Walton in gaining the love of my sister. You see I'm an artful recruiting officer for the C.S.A.' This conversation was now interrupted by the entrance of Laura.whose white summer dress made her look to me prettier than ever —perhaps because I thoughb I should soon part from her. There was a suspicion of redness in her eyes and a teariness about her smile which indicated thafc her sister had nob exaggerabed the effect of Captain Walton's farewell. After a few moments' conversation, Miss Belle left bhe room, and I began to explain my mobives and my plans to my sweetheart, once or twice interrupted by a gasp of pain and a sob thab carried with ifc no tears. When I had finished she looked at me and faltered : ' Lawrence, I know if you parb from me now, it will be for ever.' ' For ever ! —no, no. I'll come back for you, as sure as I stand by you now. But come with me north—leave all the trouble behind you—' ' Leave my poor old father—my little sister—who have just now given Arthur to their country's cause—leave them ? No, no, Lawrence ; you may love me, but now you do nob honour me.' 'Not when I beg you to be my wife?' ' Yes, but if I accepted—if I let myself be happy—if I deserted the South and my dear father and sisber, I should despise myself. Lawrence, if you wish to retain my love, never ask me to do this mean thing again. This last the girl said in a haughty despair, walking up and down the room, bufc sometimes stopping to kiss and fondle, and at others to flash almost angry glances at me. The scene was becoming cruel. Fortunately ifc was interrupted by a servant bringing in a letter addressed to Miss Laura Peyton and marked 'Immediate.' As she tore ifc open, I recognised that the handwriting was that of Harry Walton. She glanced through ifc, handed it to me and said falteringly: ' Harry Walton asks me to marry him ; and you leave me ab such a moment ?' ' What have you or I to fear from Harry Walton ? He is a gentleman,' I answered. ' But there is one who is nob a gentleman,' she gasped. ' Amos Pierson, through his business hold upon my father, still thinks to win me.' ' Sbill thinka to win you ? A wan whom you despise V '

' Yes j here are .the proofs/ arad sW - handed ins a bundle of letters. 'I had 1 intended to show you these some time j ago, but circumstances compel me to > let you read them at once. This ; man will nob give up hi 3 hopes I of my love, —will not give up his desire for i my band. Can you at such a moment, r even for your political principles, leave me, > the woman who loves you, who has stood i against the advice of the friends of her $ youth aad the entreaties of her relatives, to i bo true to the promise that six months ago she gave to be your wife ? Can you desert i and leave me alone for an indefinite period - in a land that may perhaps become the scene ; of actual warfare ? Can you part from me • and hope to win mo ? Stay here, and I \ will love you for ever; desert me, and I - shall doubt the truth of your affection. Is it my love, our happiness, and your presi enco by my side, —or do you leave me sur- • rounded by enemies to my affection for you to be parted more and more from you each day by the political passions of thia awful • time ? Will you, dare you—dare I let you —take such chances the happiness of our lives ? Do you remain in the South or do you go North ?' Enforced by' pleading eyes, clinging arms and loving kisses from the woman he loved, what man could give an answer other than I did ? ' I remain !' As I left her that evening, I thought there was triumph as well as love in Laura Peyton's eyes. The first of July, 1361, passed. I still stayed in South Carolina, was considered a citizen of the Confederacy, and became subject to Confederate military law. CHAPTER IV. THE EMPTY SLEEVE. The immense transportation now forced upon all railroads in the South, of arms, ammunition and men, to the scene of the war in Virginia now occupied the most of my time. The rest of it I gave to her. In fact, almost all other social intercourse was debarred me, for the rumour had been circulated constantly, and continually gained ground in the community, that my sympathies were northern. Thus shunned by the friends and acquaintances of a few months before, 1 was compelled to live almost entirely by myself, and the only solace that I had was the bright smiles Of my fiiiancec, who seemed at this time to be made even more tender than before by the recollection that for her sake I'had isolated myself in a community so entirely hostile to"me. These reports as to my northern sentiments were so continually and systematically spread, that I knew someone interested in annoying me circulated them. I had a faint suspicion that this was due to the efforts of Mr Amos Pierson, who had become one of the leading army contractors in the South, and was making a large amount of money from his operations with the^Confederate Government. Consequently he had great- weight and influence in its councils. This suspicion was made a certainty by another proffer of a staff appointment from General Pemberton, who had become the local commander of tbe district. I again refused, and also discovered that this oiler was made at Mr Piorson's suggestion. The local papers again published my refusal, and made longer and moro violent comments upon it than before, but the Confederate Government took no action at this time as to forcing mo into their service, probably knowing that my experience as a railroad engineer was of great value tothem in my present location. So the Confederacy drifted along through the varying successes and hopes and feara of the first two years of its existence. It had become tacitly understood between my sweetheart and myself that as soon as the war was over we were to he married. I had at first hoped that this would not mean more than a year's delay, but as time wore on, the end seemed further and further in the distance. The dogged persistence of the North seomed only to become more dogged and more determined by defeat and disaster, until early in December, 1862, the battle of Fredericksburg waa fought and brought great misery to mc. ( Tho news of the success of the Confederate arms had been received by telegraph. The ladies of Columbia, and those of the men who were not in the army, were excited with the joy of {triumph. Two weeks after this battle, on Christmas Day, I had ridden out to Judge Peyton's to enjoy the only hospitality I could then' lind in the community. For I had no friends, though still waited upon by the faithful Caucus, who stuck to me in spite of, as he expressed it, 'do an'moaity ob de Sruth !' Laura had received me as usual, but her sister, Miss Belle, who had by this time gradually given up all hope of making me a southerner in feeling, remarked with some asperity that she thought it was about time I showed myself to be a man, and instead of making love to young ladies, went out and fought, like other men, for them on the battlo-field—' like Major Harry Walton, for instance,' tor by this time death had made promotion rapid in the Confederate army, and Walton was now a major, while Arthur, their brother, but twenty-two years of age, was a captain in one of the South Carolina regiments. Thefamily had receivedno news fromhim, though they knew that he was in the army engaged at Fredericksburg. During the first months of the war the anxiety of the judge's family for the safety of the hope of their house had been something upon which it was fearful to look. The panting eagerness of the two girls as they read the despatches, the suppressed apprehension with which they looked at the long Hsts of killed and wounded that followed every battle, made my heart bleed for them. But as engagement after engagement took place, and their brother's name never appeared in the list of maimed or dead,6uch is the curious effect of habit that even they became accustomed to the suspense and rather thought that their brother enjoyed a charmed life that could not be shortened or endangered by, as they expressed it, 'Yankee bullets.' They had not received any communication from the young man 'since Fredericksburg, and thought it curious that he had not written to assure them of his safety. Thoughknowingthe'exigenciesand demands of military life, it did not create any great anxiety in their minds, as the lists of killed and wounded, as hurriedly telegraphed from the field hospitals, had not contained tho young man's name. The judge had just come out on the verandah to smoke his after-dinner pipe, as good cigars in those days were a very rare article in the South, while corncobs and tobacco could be always obtained. I had accompanied him, and we were sitting down, the old srentleman talking to me about the happy Christmas days of a few years before when his son Arthur was at home — a subject on which he seemed to linger ; for the judge doted more and more upon the boy as his absence became longer. Suddenly I heai'd a subdued cry from Miss Belle, who was looking out of one of the upper windows over our heads, and turning around I saw a light waggon just drawing up at the steps of the house. In it upon the back seat were two Confederate officers, one of them supporting the other, who seemed in an almost fainting condition. As the wheels stopped, he appeared to rouse himself, and said faintly, though in quite a weak voice : « Home again !' The next instant, with a scream, 'It's Arthur's voice !' Miss Belle and the judge had run to the waggon, from which Harry Walton, with bandaged head, was supporting Arthur Peyton.' They were around him in an instant with tears, caresses, and ' cries of ioy,

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■j Then suddenly Mtes Belie shrieked out: ' A.'Jhur, where's your arm ?' The hoy gasped, 'Lost at Fredericksburg/ and fainted away upon his father's breast, ifho groaned ' Great God ! it's his rio-lit arm {' While Laura, looking afc him with a pale face, sobbed, ' Maimed for life 1' In a moment bhey had him upstairs ;• I* calling for my horse bo be saddled, preDai'ed°;o ride into Columbia for a doctor. While this was being done, Harry Walton and I. left alone together, looked at each other on the verandah, ' You,'" I said, ' are wounded also !' ' Yes,' replied he ; ' the fragment of a shell grazed my head at Fredericksburg. My hurt is slight. God knows how Laura's brother's wound will turn out !' We neither of us went in, to interrupt the first agony of grief thafc came upon the Peytons. Both Major Walton and myself considered such a scene a sacred one. A moment after, Miss Laura's voice was heard crying, ' Get a doctor, quick !' and Belle screamed ' Arbhur's dying !' I sprang upon my horse, and as bhe judge came hurriedly upon bhe verandah, I shoubed : ' Don't fear ! I will have a docbor here as soon as horseflesh can do it,' and galloped away down the avenue. An hour afterward I returned, followed by the best physician in Columbia bhab I could obtain,— good docbors being scarce, most of them having volunteered their services in the field. While the physician went up to make his examination, the young ladies came downstairs, and Miss Belle, with feminine logic and philosophy, strode up to me, and wibh flashing eyes whispered: 'Ib was your frionds who have done this to my brother. How can you expect me ever to endure your sight again ? ' Hush !' said Laura, coming between up. ' Belle, you are unjust. Lawrence had no more to do with this than you, and has but this moment proved his friendship and sympathy by doing everything in his power to save our brcther's life.' 'Oh ! you love him !' cried her sister; «you love him yet; but then, if my brother lives, you look at his empty sleeve, you will hate this northern man as 1 do.' With bhat she walked into bhe house. 'Forgive her, Lawrence,' said Laura, apologetically; ' she is bufc a child. Romember her excibemenb, her_ love for her brother, and her misery ab seeing him thus maimed.' 'I have every consideration, I replied, ' for your family in your bereavement; but think, dear Laura, in whab fearful position I am placed when every misfortune of this war is laid upon me—when lam surrounded by enemies, and have nowhere to turn but to the friendship of you and your family.' ' I will remember,' said Laura ; ' I will try to remember—if I can.' As these words, ominous to my future happiness, fell from the lips of the girl 1 loved, the surgeon came down and made his report. With careful' nursing and tender'care, there was every chancellor the young man's life. ■ ~,,.-, « But his arm !' almost sobbed the judge ; ' his arm ! My poor maimed boy !'_and Miss Belle, after echoing her father, cried oub to me, as I rode away from tho hquse : ' This is what your northern brothers have done to ue. Mr Lawrence Bryant!' Under these circumstances could my reflections that evening as I rode into Columbia have been pleasant ones? or my sleep that night have been the sleep of the happy and unconcerned ? The closing catastrophe of my courtship was coming—l knew ib. To reach tho climax would bake but a little time. When I rode out to inquire after Arthur s health, Miss Belle received me, sometimes with ironical remarks, thafc showed me that I could expect nothing from her but- open animosity. . Laura attempted to palliate this and explain ifc, bub even as sho did so her manner was forced and consbrained. She was not bhe open, light-hearted ingenuous girl who first became my affianced bride. There was evidently some secret influence upon her mind which was weaning her heart from me. ~ , In the course of the next two months her brother had recovered sufficiently to lounge upon the verandah, the light spring air every day giving him greater and greater strength, but the empty sleeve in his uniform was a constant reminder to his sisters of what he had lost; and tho helplessness of the young man with his right arm srone stimulated his family's hatred to the North.which fell uoon me as its nearest representative. The old judge's cordiality of manner gradually left him, his answers to my remarks became monosyllables, and Laura herself, as sho looked at that empty sleeve, seemed to grow colder and colder to me, and to show greater cordiality and warmth to _ Major Walton, who every day rode over to inquire how the patient progressed, and to linger all day wibh the young ladies after he had discovered thab the patient was better, apparently charming them by his anecdotes of battle, and of dangers undertaken and endured in the defence of their beloved cause. In such scenes, I, of course, had no part, and Laura seemed to tako rather a pleasure in innuendoes that taunted me for my lack of gallantry in not being a soldier, such as : ' This Columbia of ours cannot interest you much. Major Walton—now that all the men have gone to the war '—or--' Oh ! the stay-at-homes ! Were I a man like you, Mr Bryant, I'd fight for some side !' _ Such remarks she would emphasise with a haughty laugh, dwelling a little on the ' Mr Bryant;,' for she somsfcime3 omitted to call me Lawrence at those times. Had I been a thorough judge of a woman's heart, or not blinded by misery, after such speeches I should have known that the girl's love was still entirely mine, for then she always seemed to apologise for them by her manner and sometimes to become even more affectionate than she had ever been to me. Thus we drifted along, until one day the sword of Damocles, which had hung over our engagement by so fragile a hair, descended' and severed, apparently, fche love that had bound us together. Ifc was a slight incident that brought aboufc fche crisis. I had been talking with Arthur, who was now convalescent, bub of course entirely disabled for active military service. The young man, who had all through this affair been very cordial and friendly to me, was saying that he would like, as soon as he was a little stronger, to obtain employment on the railroad of which I was one of the officers, remarking : ' You, Bryant, know that now I've got to use my brains for a living, not my hands.' As he said this, the young fellow gazed at his empty sleeve, and a little spasm of agony ran over his face ; then, trying to conjure up a grin, he cried : '. Pshaw !If I had only had left the feeling of it when I lost it I—but though it's buried up at Fredericksburg, it ached all night. That cold Virginia ground must have given it the rheumatism.' Feeling for tho boy's helplessness, I remarked : ' You'll soon grow resigned to your loss, Arthur.' ' Perhaps he would,' said Miss Belle, who had been listening to us. clad in a dark homespun dress, for the blockade by this time was beginning to tell upon the ladies' costumes down south, 'if he had another man to take his place.' Then she whispered to me : ' Major Walton goes to the front again to-day. This time I did not interrupt his tete-a-tete with Laura— and the result—see !' ' . She pointed through a vista of shrubbery, and as I looked I gave a start Walton was evidently taking leave of my sweetheart;, and this time he seemed in wreab spirits as he mounted his horse. What man who loves is not jealous sometimes ? Walton left in despair the last t ; me __riow he seemed radiant. Had Laura given him hope ? ' (To be Continued next Saturday.)