FIGHTING HER WAY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 973, 17 February 1910, Page 2

FIGHTING HER WAY.

| CHAPTER XX.—Continued. 'ln that case, my dear, there would not be much sunshine in this world, as there are few spots in ir. that have not been drenched with the life tides of contending rivals.' 'And just to think, Fred, we are alraady forgetting that long, fierce strife sufficiently to interchange with ur former foes the courtesies and kindness due between hosts and guests!' 'Well, and why not? The old issues being honestly fought out and decided, what should hinder fraternity of feeling and conduct? But I fear there is in reality too little of it, Jeanie. as perhaps we shall find before the end of our journey. Many Northern tourists back sad tales of their reception at the hands ofjthe ex-rebels.' •Really, Fred, when one comes to think about it calmly, it is not every strange that theae people hold themselves stiffly aloof from the conquerors who go pleasure seeking over their vanquished country.'

'Perhaps not; b"t they stand in their own light by acting so. They need us far more than we do them; and where is their boasted chivalry that they can't forget a grudge that has been disposed ot in a fair fight?' 'Yes, but they lost so much besides their dead soldiers; we must have patience with them.' 'X guess you better not talk that way when you land among them, Jeannie; they'r awfully proud, and pity is the last thing they want from us. Badly off as the war left them, they still consider themselves —the last one of them—as the 'peers of kings,' and bless your heart he won't let any of us wi'hin the charmed circle of their 'aristocracy,' all ruined as it is.'

'Yes, I've heard much of their exclusivenesp, but perhaps they'll make an exception in our favour, as we also are highly connected.'

'Never believe it. The Brahma castes of India are lax compared to your southern patrician. Just wait till you get to Charleston, South Carolina, where we propose to stop for a few days, and see how much consideration we get. That is the head centre of caste.'

! Pondering all those little things in her gentle little head as they journeyed on, Jeanie was moved to say one day, while passing through the barren pine flats of the Carolinas — j than which a more God-forsaken re- ' gion does not exist: J 'Dear me, Fred! Where did these J people raise an army or the means to ! Keep it in the field?'

'That, my dear, is a question that has puzzled wiser brains than yours; but they did it; and the whole world looked ori in wonder, and admiration to see how this ill-provided Confederacy with its rag money, its half naked, half starved army, and its / scanty munitions of war, stood up against the army ever equipped during those feartul iour years.' 'Whatever else they lack, Fred, , they must have courage?' said the girl, with sparkling eyes. | 'Courage! Yes, I should think so; | no end of that—blind, wild, reckless ( courage like the mastiff's, who knows j but one law in a fight—to go ahead. I If their courage had been tempered j with a little wisdom, they'd have been better off to-day.'

'I doubt if wisdom and war ever have much to say to each other, Fred, notwithstanding the goddess of wisdom was also the patroness of war.'

'That is a pretty sharp speech for a litle girl, Jeanie, and 1 daresy you are right. I can't see why the same Jesuits might not h«m* been achieved just a§ SttfGly in a far leas terrible manner. But what is done is done» ar.d we had best let the dead past bury its dead. For my part, I can distinguish between patriotism and sectionalism. We have a great country to love and save, if only our hearts and minds are big enough to take the whole of it in, rather than expend our interests, sympathies and energies on that little spot of it that happens to be our home. But her>we are approaching Columbia, the scene of the Sherman holocaust.'

'Why, I thought Columbia had been 'razed to the ground/ Fred!' exclaimed Jeanie, quite amazed to see from the car window a lovely little city enthroned, queenlike, on its fair, green hills, and crowned with one of the noblest structures on the continent—the unfinished state house. 'We can't believe all the romantic statements we see recorded of war exploits, Jeanie, but Columbia was badly enough damaged by the invading army, and much of its most valuable property destroyed. It was hurd on the people, but perhaps the requistinos of strict justice were fulfilled whfcn fire and sword entered the veiy nest of rebellion. From this capital the fiat of war went forth, and here, also, after a struggle unequalled in all history, that wnr was strangled m the place of its birth. If we believe in God at all. we must find a strange significance in such facts as these. It is a fearful crime t<■ plunge a whole nation into a delude <f hhori, mid th< y who sow ti.e wind u utt leap the whirlwind.'

BY ROSS ASHLEIGH. Author of ''Eleanor's Luck,'' "The Widow's Wager. "Pure Gold," Etc, eto.

The conversation between the two young people was interrupted at this point by a call from Mrs Howard, who lay a little in the rear of them on a couch made but turning the seats together; she had been sleeping, and was much exhausted by her journey. A violent fit of coughing now came on, and for several minutes her condition was truly distressing. 'Can I be uf any service to you, Sir?'

This inqiury came from a gentleman who had got aboard the train a few stations above Columbia, and who now stood behind Docor Alcot, looking concerned, and anxious to render assistance to the poor sufferer.

'No, 1 thank you, sir,' naiu Fred gratefully; 'my friend is much woin by the long travel; I hope the rest in Charleston may strengthen her sufficient to proceed to Florida.' 'You are, then, going to stop in Charh ston?'

'Yes, for a few days, to try the climate, which is said to be much the same as that of Florida. If it should prove too damp, I shall take my friend to Aiken instead.' 'Let me offer you a word of counsel. Go directly to Aitken. I have had much experience with this disease in your people coming South. For such a case as this the Floridian climate is too soft and enervating. Charleston is worse. You want ,dry and bracing air as as you can get it, and you'll get the best of it in Aitken.'

'You are very good, sir, and I'think I shall take your advice. What do you say, Jeanie?'

All this time the wide open blue eyes of the little Yankee maiden had been curiously scanning t»ix feet of Southern manhood, with a dark, handsoma face, softly shaded with black beard, and the gentlest eyes, looking straight at you from under heavy brows—eyas that were honest as sunshine and deep as wells. As Doctor Alcot referred the question to her, the stranger turned his clear glance upon her also. Their looks met, the gentleman lifted his hat, and a gleam of dazzling rows of teeth showed under her drooping mustache when he inclined his head to her. She returned his salute in a pleasant way as she said: 'I think with you, Fred, we had better follow the gentleman's advice. We could try Charleston later, if Aiken fails to suit dear mamma's case."

The strange gentleman bent a sad look on the wan face of the invalid. It was very clear to him that no earthly airs would bring back the bloom of health to those wasted features. 'ln any event, she requires jest,' he said very sympathetically, as he leaned down to raise the pillow ever so little.

And now for the first time, Fred and Jeanie discovered that the gentleman had but one arm. An empty coat sleeve hung pathetically on his left side.

'I do wonder if he was a Confederate soldier?' thought Jeanie, as she fixed her pretty eyes on the empty sleeve.

Her face flushed deply, when, raising her glance from the sleeve, it encountered that of the grave, sweet eyes above it, that evidently had discerned the expression of interrogation in her own.

But there was neither reproof nor annoyance in the man's countenance. Perhaps he had grown used to having his infirmity made the subject of such silent comment. He merely said to her, as if he nad not notitled ;

'Sittee you* have decided to stop at Aitken with your mother, I may be of some assistance to you. 1 am a resident of that place, and on my way to it. May I offer my card?' He handed her a card with the name

ROBERT SMYIHE written with pencil in a bold band. Doctor Alcot then introduced Miss Howard and himself by name to Mr Smythe, who continued to converse with them during the remainder of the day's journey, which terminated at Aitken late in the afternoon. By the time they arrived Mr Stuythe had established himself so charmingly in the acquaintance of his new companions that they felt almost attaclieri to one who had contributed so materially to lightening a weary journey. Mrs Howard was utterly prostrated by the time thev reached Aitken; and, seeing how little strength ahe hau for the endurance of further fatigue or discomfort, th< j gentleman of the one arm said to Doctor Ait Ken: To BE CONTINUED