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Show ) ROEBUCK. • annonncemcn t of victory had thrilled tho Southern • people "rith joy nnd exultation. Success so decisive in the fir~t great battle of the 'var 'vas generally ncceptecl as c1cei ive of the entire contest. Independence 'vas regarded ns secure. That sentin1ent of security, \\'iih the sub equent inaction of the army, was Yery detritnental to the Confederate cause. The first yenr of the war, 'vhcn the native courage and fresh ent.hnsins1u of the Southern troops n1ade them irresistible on an equal field, "ras ahnost thro·wn :t\vay, and the ti1ne thus lo. t could never be recovered. But after the first cxnltn.nt echo of trinn1ph can1e the wnil of n people for the lovecl ones 'vho hnd purchilsed the victory ·with their blood. There \Vas agony, borno with patriotic fortitude, but it 'vas agouy. The family at ltoebuck 'vere relieved of p:tinfnl anxiety \vhen they learned that Doctor Fairi~tx wn:1 returning hon1c•, only slightly 'vounded. I>reparation~ were 1nn.<1e to receive hirn and his two frient1s who 'vero supposccl to be Confederate sul<.licr~. It ,va' s de-cided that a bache1or·~ c~tabli. ·h n1en t was not :t fit pbce fol' 'vonndeJ patriot, an<l th:tt the co1nforlH of l{oebuck nnd the tctH1cr care of 'vo1nen would be absolutely necoss:1ry. \Vheu the train, ,vhich 'vas expected to bring the doctor and his fl'iends, nrrivecl, Colontl Freel was at the station. Captain Trem:tiuc w:ts burn e 11·01n the train on a cot, preeetlecl by J)o<..:tor ~,~airi~tx, 011 crut(;hCH, au<1 fuilO\\'e<l by Uarnpbcll, limp- Ing- on a cane. ' ·· \V<.•leonw, brother l)ick,'' exclaitned the eoloncl, "welcome home ; are these your fricnd.:3 '? \V cleome, geutlen1en; bring thetn along, Dick; here is the carriage ; here's a spring wagon ,vitlt a Led on it, in case any of you nce<l it; let 1nc help to carry your .. ROEBUCK. 153 friend ;. cotne alo~,~; yon nrc all going to Uocbnck ; the bcltcs nrc 'vat Ling for yon; not a ,vord; thn'o wountlcd gent.lmncn to be laid np in n bach<'lor's barrn k ! prcpostcl'on ! it i. n,l] settled; co1110 on.,, . "But, l~rothor Frctl," repeated the doctor, sc,..reral tu.n es, 'vhtlc th. e co. lonol 'vas dcliverino...-., tlli·o... , .,,. .,pccc 11 w1th gl'en.t atnmatton; "but, brother ].,reel," ancl he p!uckc~ the colonel's sleeve, and atternptec1 to dra'\v hun as1lo, for the prospect of carryin (Y' Can1pbc11 t b? domicilecl 'vith the family at l~,o:buck horrific~ lum; "but, brother ~--,red," he finally exclaimed, ''they !lre Y an kecs." "Yankees, Dick! Good God! Ilave you brou()'ht n brncc of Y an koes hero 7 yon!,, o Now, the colonel 'vas n kind-hearted n1an. lie hncl been opposed to Reccs ·ion and ,var. lie hn.c1 not che.ri he.d that anin1osity again t the Northern people \~Juch Jns bro.thcr proclaimed. llut 'vnr engendered btttcr hatrecl1n the mil de. t tempers. Atrocities wantonly inflicted, as J1e believed \vith tho sanction of the. highest Federal authorities,' provoked in his boson1 an.trpathy that 'vns deep, stern and almost implacable. I.Its gen~ral in~ignation ngainst the North naturally tmged Jns feehng towards all individuals \Vho ,vere kn~wn to hin1 only as abettors of the North in tho war. Of all n1en his brother \vas tho last \vhom he would h~ve expected to find in charitable charg2 of such Jnabgnant enc1nies. The colonel had not been a Roldier, and, therefore, hnd not felt tho charities of the battle-field '\vhon the battle is over. "You!" Doctor Diek, cauO'ht in an inconsistency, reddened and stam1ncred. Jie attornptccl to expla-in. But the col?nol happened to look at the face of Captain Tremaine. That prostrate and helpless gentleman, suf- 7* |