A Daughter of Maryland — page 149: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

+ anal - 4 ‘eb * : ‘ FE Le Ss a. F Py Fig astg * = tN Gant or Ale: % * ‘ - AL ‘ : : j ea £ Syh> = Psy rat fo Ae ers ee, Se or — Le >| oy a os ba “hi >" tee f $5. Jean st ta. j ¥ a. d ’ RPT eee ‘ ; ° > ae GS r ; aes ts , 128 A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. merit in their schooldays even up when they become men by gaining the actual prizes of success in life. Look at Est Berners! won everything he will ever possess that is worth carrying home when he got his little tickets for naming a stray river out in Turkestan that none of the rest of us could think of. But this isn’t what [ have locked you in here to hear! I had no idea it was going to be so hard for me to say what hangs to my tongue by so frail a hold. You won’t let me offend you by anything I may say, Aurian, when I tell you it is spoken in the best of faith? Nor you won’t betray me, will you?’’ ‘*No, to both of your questions, Robert. But we are not to say ‘good-by’ until to-morrow. ’’ 3 ‘fOrry, I have thought.of something that I know you have not,’’ he said, starting on a new track. ‘‘ You are going up North among those abolitionists, and the chances are you will come back a rank anti-slavery ——’’ ‘*Robert Lancier, what put that idea into your head?’’ ‘‘I don’t know. It must have been the same reasoning powers that opened to my eyes the great mistake of the South. Do not start, sister; I felt it my duty to let you know how I feel before you went away, as it may be the last opportunity I shall have. Orry, I am going to stand by the old flag in the struggle to come. I know it will be a hard blow for the major, but I wanted you to understand just how I came to do as I am going to do. I am almost certain you do not blame me; I am almost certain that you will think as I do before it is over. It is natural your father should think as#he does, but he is in the wrong. Old Maryland is going to be true to the Union, and I am sorry that your father—my father, too, for I have known no other parent—is in the minority and the wrong. I have tried to be a faithful son to him, and I appreciate all that he has done for me. I would lay my life at his feet to-day if by so doing I could add to his well-being, but the honor of my country, never! Remember I have come to this - —_