Outing . art—scores and hundreds trained in arms atWest Point or at the Virginia MilitaryInstitute at Lexington—men who would beloyal to their states and to the South atany cost. Our state was divided, our valley es-pecially so, peace sentiment there beingstrong. The entire country was but amagazine, needing only a spark to causeexplosion. It was conceded that by noonwe should know whether or not this explo-sion was to come. Few of us there,whether Unionists or not, had much betterthan contempt for the uncouth figure ofthe man from the West, Lincoln, that mostpathetic figure of our history, gr
Outing . art—scores and hundreds trained in arms atWest Point or at the Virginia MilitaryInstitute at Lexington—men who would beloyal to their states and to the South atany cost. Our state was divided, our valley es-pecially so, peace sentiment there beingstrong. The entire country was but amagazine, needing only a spark to causeexplosion. It was conceded that by noonwe should know whether or not this explo-sion was to come. Few of us there,whether Unionists or not, had much betterthan contempt for the uncouth figure ofthe man from the West, Lincoln, that mostpathetic figure of our history, greatest ofour great men. All of us, Unionists orSecessionists, dreaded to hear of his elec-tion. Colonel Sheraton met me at the door,his face flushed, his brow frowning. Hewas all politics. Have you any news?he demanded. Have you heard fromLeesburg, Washington? Not as yet, I answered, but thereshould be messages from Leesburg withinthe next few hours. We had no telegraphin our valley at that time. 35°. :As we joined he made a cut to the left. Drawing by George Wright. 352 The Outing Magazine I have arranged with the postmaster tolet us all know up here the instant he getsword, said Sheraton. If that blackabolitionist, Lincoln, wins, theyre goingto fire one anvil shot in the street, and wecan hear it this far. If the South wins,then two anvils, as fast as they can , Mr. Cowles, if we hear a single shot, itis war—war, I tell you. But come in, he added hastily. Ikeep you waiting. I learn that you havereturned from a very successful are all pleased to know it. I offer youmy hand, sir. My daughter has advisedme of her decision and your own. Yourconduct throughout, Mr. Cowles, has beenabove reproach, and I could want no bet-ter son to join my family. His words,spoken in ignorance, cut me unbearably. Colonel Sheraton, I said to him, myconduct has not been in the least abovereproach, and your daughter has not toldyou all that she ought to have told. We had enter
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