Brother Against Brother; or, The Tompkins Mystery. Read online

  CHAPTER VIII.

  MR. DIGGS IN A NEW FIELD.

  Mr. Diggs was defeated for the office of county attorney by a largemajority, but he was young and buoyant, and after a few days of repiningbegan to revive.

  A new excitement took possession of him. Strange talk came to his ears,and his little round eyes glistened with delight from behind hisglasses, and his little round lips parted with smiles of pleasure. Waron a gigantic scale--a new Nation, with new men at its head--was theall-absorbing topic. The Union was shattered, and a new Nation wasrising out of the ruins and fragments of the old.

  Mr. Diggs concluded to espouse the cause of the new Nation. He wouldraise a company of volunteers to fight its battles; he would be captain.From captain he would be promoted for his bravery to colonel, fromcolonel to brigadier-general, or commander-in-chief. Mr. Diggs' fertileimagination planned a glorious future for himself. Other men had risenfrom obscurity to renown, and why not he?

  He strutted about with his hands thrust deep into his pockets, revelingalready in his future greatness. The new and powerful Nation was hisall-absorbing theme. When he met any one he would say:

  "Well, what's the news, and what's the prospect of war?"

  The prospect was very good, every one thought.

  One day, talking with a young man about his own age, but cooler and lessblood-thirsty, Mr. Diggs said they were too slow about fighting. Sincethe surrender of Twiggs in Texas no other event had transpired, and suchindifference was monstrous.

  "Don't be in a hurry, Diggs," said his friend. "Let them have time forconsideration."

  "There's no need of consideration. I am ready now. I will go, likeMarion, to avenge my country's wrongs," said Diggs.

  "This is war against our own countrymen," said his friend, "and I don'tthink there is any place in either rank for me."

  "There is a place for me," said Diggs, strutting about with his hands inhis pockets and expectorating profusely. "My country needs me, and Ireckon there's a place for me."

  "Will you take a colonelcy to commence with?" his friend asked, with asmile.

  "I don't expect a colonelcy at first," said Diggs. "I want to start atthe foot of the ladder, as captain, and gradually rise until I amcommander-in-chief."

  "You would make such a noble-looking general!" said a bystander,surveying the fat little fellow.

  "You can talk, Howard Jones, but I--hem! hem!--have always had a tastefor military life."

  "You would make such a fine-looking commander," said Jones. "Mounted ona tall charger you would yourself strike terror to the enemy."

  "I can prove that all generals were small men," said Diggs, struttingabout.

  "Of course they were; but you--you would kill all your enemies. Theywould die with laughter when they saw a general on a horse seventeenhands high, looking like a bug on a log."

  "Oh, talk sense, Jones."

  "On a big war-horse you would look very much like a bug on a log," saidJones. "But wouldn't it be grand for Crazy Joe's mud man to turn out ageneral?"

  "Can't you talk sense, or are you a fool?" roared the exasperated Diggs;and, unable longer to endure the ridicule of his companions, he turnedabruptly around and left the crowd gathered about him.

  The Winter of 1860-61 passed away; but little had been done in Snagtownsave mustering and speech-making. Those in favor of open rebellion werein the minority in the neighborhood, but those in favor of neutrality inthe majority; but those in favor of standing for the Stars and Stripesthe smallest class of all.

  Patrick Henry Diggs was in a dilemma. His ambition pointed him to thebattle-field, that his great abilities, which no one seemed toappreciate, might be shown to the world. The idea of a new Nationdazzled him and showed a path as splendor for his willing feet tofollow. But he felt reluctant to draw his sword against the flag ofWashington and Marion. He was sure, however, that these turbulent timesmeant something great for himself. He never lost an opportunity tomuster in the ranks of the Home Guards or to make a speech.

  The eastern part of Virginia seceded on April 17, 1861, but thenorthwestern portion, about Snagtown, was at peace, save from themustering of Home Guards to protect home and families from theincursions of either army.

  Oleah Tompkins was an avowed secessionist, attended the Meetings of theKnights of the Golden Circle, and was already sworn to support theSouthern cause. Secret meetings were taking place all over the country,and night meetings held three or four times a week.

  Mr. Diggs joined one of these secret organizations, and met with themone night in an old school-house which stood on the side of an abandonedroad, about four miles from Snagtown in the direction of the TwinMountains. About forty in all had assembled there, among them HowardJones and Seth Williams, two men who seemed, Mr. Diggs thought, to liveonly to annoy him.

  Mr. Diggs had come to the meeting with the intention of making one ofhis most patriotic speeches; but when he discovered his old enemies,their eyes sparkling with mischief, his heart sank within him.

  Nearly all present were armed with shot-guns, rifles and pistols, and aguard was placed about the school-house. Preliminary matters settled,Howard Jones rose and addressed the chairman of the meeting, statingthat, as they had with them the distinguished attorney, Patrick HenryDiggs, who was in sympathy with the cause, he would like to hear fromhim.

  Despite the stirring times, everybody present was eagerly expectant offun. Cries for Diggs were heard all over the house. Mr. Diggs' opinionof Jones rose rapidly.

  "Mr. Speaker," began Mr. Diggs, rising and gazing about through hisglasses, "in the language of one of old

  "'I come not here to talk. You know too well The story of our thralldom.--'"

  Here he made a gesture with both hands, which Jones declared looked likea turtle trying to crawl up hill.

  "'We are slaves.'"

  A solemn pause.

  "'The bright sun rises to his course, and lights A race of slaves; he sets, and his last beam Falls on a slave. Friends, Romans, countrymen--'"

  "I say," interrupted Seth Williams, in an audible whisper, nudging theorator, "s'pose you leave Rome, and come down to our present age. Giveus something about the new Confederacy."

  "That's just what I am coming to," said Mr. Diggs, "and I hope you willnot interrupt me again." After a short pause he resumed:

  "It is no common cause which brings us here to-night. Tyrants andtraitors are abroad in the land. A gigantic foe is invading the fairsoil of Virginia, and we are here to protect our firesides. All lawwriters, from Blackstone down, agree that all men should protect theirhomes. Now, fellow-citizens, remember our forefathers all fought, andbled, and died for this glorious Union." [Applause.]

  "Touch lightly on that," whispered Jones.

  "I repeat" said Mr. Diggs, "that Washington was the greatest man thatever lived." And now, grown eloquent and excited, he mounted a bench andwhipped his left hand under the tails of his coat, while he waved hisright in vehement gesture.

  All the efforts of Seth Williams and Howard Jones to keep him on thetrack were unavailing. He commenced to speak about the Stars andStripes.

  "Oh, thunder! go back to Rome if you can't make a better secessionspeech," said Jones.

  The truth was that Mr. Diggs, like a great many others at this time,hardly knew which side he was on. When he swore to preserve the Union atall hazards, his astonished friends pulled him down.

  A call was made for volunteers, and Mr. Diggs was the first to enrollhis name. Though calling themselves a Home Guard, these volunteers werereally enrolled in the army of the Southern Confederacy. Oleah Tompkinswas among the first to thus espouse the Southern cause.

  The clouds of war grew darker and darker every hour. At any moment thestorm might burst in all its fury. Snagtown was in a constant state ofexcitement as the crisis approached. Her more timid citizens trembledwith dread.

  Henry Smith, a farmer's son, a young man of limited education, but ofstrong common sense, s
tood in the street one bright morning, engaged inconversation with Seth Williams.

  "Come, now, Harry," said Williams, persuasively, "you had better come inwith us. The time has come, or will soon come, when our homes will haveto be defended. We shall be overrun with soldierly hirelings, who willrob and burn and murder as they go. Our families will need protection,and this duty devolves on us."

  "But, Seth, some say the Home Guard will be marched South into theConfederate army."

  "Oh, nothing of the kind," said Williams. "Our only object is to protectour homes from the soldiers of both sides, and to meddle with neitherunless they invade our State."

  "I think we are justified in protecting our own interests; but, though Idespise Abraham Lincoln, I cannot raise my hand against the old Starsand Stripes."

  "Oh, there is no danger that you will be forced into the Confederatearmy. We are only organizing a Home Guard now; if we raise troops forthe South, that will be another thing."

  "When do you meet again?" asked Harry.

  "To-morrow night; we go into camp next week in real earnest."

  "Where?"

  "On Wolf Creek, about three or four miles away, between here and theTwin Mountains."

  "Where do you meet to-morrow night?"

  "At the school-house on the road between here and Twin Mountains."

  "I will be there," said Harry.

  As Williams walked away, a young man who had been observing the two withkeen interest, approached Harry and said:

  "I can tell what you and Seth Williams were talking about."

  "I will give you three guesses, Abner," said Harry, laughing.

  "He was trying to persuade you to enlist in the Home Guards."

  "That was just it," replied Harry.

  "Don't do it, Harry, or you will repent it. I tell you the name HomeGuard is only a cover, and every one who enlists will be in theConfederate army in three months. Unless you mean to take up armsagainst your country, keep clear of the Home Guard."

  "I don't want to fight in Lincoln's army, nor do I want to enter theconfederate ranks, so I thought the Home Guards would be the place forme."

  "Don't you enlist," said Abner Tompkins, "or you will repent it."

  As Harry walked away, Mr. Diggs came along, his short legs, in rapidmotion, resembling the thick spokes of a wheelbarrow, and his headinclined backward at an angle of forty-five degrees, and his glasses, asusual, on his nose, and his little fat hands thrust deep into hispockets.

  "Hold on, Diggs!" said Abner. "I want to speak to you."

  "Hem, hem, hem!" began Mr. Diggs. "Good morning, Mr. Tompkins.Well--hem--I am--that is, I am--hem--glad to see you. I was just goingto have my man drive me out to your house. Have a little importantbusiness with--that is with one member of your family, he--he he!"

  "Diggs, I hear that you have enlisted in the Confederate army; is itso?" asked Abner, abruptly.

  "Well, sir, I expect--that is, I apprehend, my dear sir,that--you--perhaps are correctly informed."

  "Why, Diggs, what in the world do you mean?" asked Abner.

  "Oh, our country is too large; should be divided. We intend to build upa vast Southern empire. The North has always trampled on our rights, andit is time for us to resist."

  "But how do you intend to resist? By overthrowing the best governmentthe world has ever known? Build up a Southern empire! Is not the grandold republic established by Washington good enough for you? The North isnot trampling on your rights. Your wrongs are imaginary. And as to ourcountry being too large, can a nation like ours grow too powerful?Think, Diggs, before you act, or, like Calhoun, you may expectWashington to come to you in sleep, and place the black spot on yourhand which Arnold wears in the other world. Think Diggs! Don't raiseyour hand against your country without well considering the matter."

  Diggs, for a few minutes, was silent, and then he said:

  "I think you are right, Abner. I will not prove a traitor to my country.I shall ask to have my name taken off the roll to-morrow night."

  "Do so, or you will surely repent it as you live. If you want militaryhonors, seek them in the ranks of your country. There is a call forseventy-five thousand volunteers."

  "You are right, you are right. I will go and volunteer. Where shall Igo?"

  "We are raising a company at the junction, about twenty miles fromhere."

  "I will go day after to-morrow, but I am in a hurry now. I am going toyour house on business. The fact is--I don't mind telling the facts toyou--I am going on purpose to see Miss Irene. He, he, he! I amdetermined to see how I stand there, he, he, he!"

  Abner started back in amazement, but Mr. Diggs hurried away, withoutobserving his movement.

  "The consummate fool!" muttered Abner. "The idiot! To think of ourIrene!"

  Mr. Diggs hurried off with an air of much importance, and ordered Moseto make ready the carriage, and drive him to the Tompkins mansion.

  Mose was not as quick of movement as he had been fifty years before, buthe managed to have the equipage in readiness by four o'clock in theafternoon.

  At Mr. Tompkins' door Mr. Diggs alighted, to be informed by Miss Irene'smaid that her mistress was calling with Mrs. Tompkins, and would notreturn for an hour.

  "I will wait," said Mr. Diggs. "I must--hem, hem--must see Miss Irene."

  After a few moments of waiting Mr. Diggs became tired of sitting in thehouse and sauntered out to the piazza, and there met the ladies on theirreturn.

  "Miss Irene,--hem, hem, hem," he began advancing. "I am delighted to seeyou, I--hem--that is--hem--I came on purpose to see you, and--and talkwith you, and bid you good-by before I leave for the field of glory. Ihave joined the Confederate army--hem--no, I mean to say I am going tojoin the Union army in a day or two. That is, I don't know exactly whicharmy I shall join yet--and I come to bid you adieu."

  Irene looked a little puzzled and felt not a little annoyed at thisaddress. There was something she did not like about Mr. Diggs' manner.

  "Will you come in?" she said, "and I will see you presently."

  Mr. Diggs accordingly re-entered the house, and Irene went up to herroom to change her dress. She managed to detain herself until tea wasannounced and then invited Mr. Diggs to the dining-room.

  After tea the little fellow followed her back to the parlor, and sheresigned herself to be bored for an hour or more by him, but did not yetsuspect the real cause of his visit.

  "Hem--hem," began Mr. Diggs, "Miss Irene, these are troublous times."

  "They are indeed," answered Irene, from her seat opposite the loquaciousMr. Diggs.

  "We don't know one minute what will happen the next."

  "No, we do not," said Irene, who really did not imagine what was tohappen on this occasion.

  "Hem, hem! two large armies are raising."

  "So I am informed," said Irene.

  "And they mean destruction to each other."

  "I fear some damage will be done."

  "Hem, hem! Sumter has fallen."

  "So I have heard."

  "Deuce take it!" thought Mr. Diggs aside, "she is as cool as aniceberg, and I am getting flurried. What had I better say or do next?"Then a short pause.

  "Some of your friends will doubtless take part in the coming struggle,"he finally said.

  "I fear they will be rash enough to do so," she replied.

  "And some may go to return no more,"--voice and eyes were growingpathetic.

  "Alas! such is too often the fate of war."

  "I have concluded to enter the army."

  "A great many young men are now talking of going into the army."

  "I feel that my country needs my services."

  "You are patriotic."

  Mr. Diggs felt flattered.

  "You are--hem--hem, very kind, Miss Irene, to attribute patriotism tome. Patriotism, true patriotism is one of man's most noble attributes."

  "I agree with you."

  "But, Miss Irene, it is hard to go, even to our country's aid, and leavebehind friends dear
er to us than life."

  "Mercy!" mentally ejaculated Irene, "does the little fool mean topropose?" Then, still without any encouraging warmth in her tone, sheasked, "When do you expect to leave Snagtown?"

  "In two or three days at most, and I feel--hem--pardon me, Miss Irene."He rose and drew his chair nearer hers.

  "He really means it!" thought Irene, her eyes bright, half withmischief, half with annoyance.

  "I have something--hem, hem, hem!--I wish to say to you. I--I--thatis--hem--I cannot leave for the field of danger until I--have--hem, hem!until I have revealed to you my feelings."

  Mr. Diggs paused, and tried to look sentimental; but a more sheepish,simple-looking specimen of humanity Irene was sure she had never beforebeheld.

  The farce had been carried too far, and she said coldly:

  "Your manner and words are quite incomprehensible, Mr. Diggs."

  "I will make myself plain," said Mr. Diggs, swallowing something in histhroat, and taking hope. "You shall understand me. I say I cannot leavefor the field of battle, cannot face the cannon's mouth, in thissuspense--"

  "Then don't go, Mr. Diggs," interrupted Irene, with difficultyrestraining her merriment, all her pity put to flight by his affectationand conceit.

  "I should almost feel inclined to turn a deaf ear to the 'obstreperoustrump of fame,' and 'only list to love and thine,' should you command meto stay."

  "Sir, you are growing more and more incomprehensible. Let us leave thissubject."

  "Not yet, oh no, not yet! Wait until you have heard all. I love you,Irene, dearest, and--and--ah! come to my arms and say you will be mine!"

  Down he went on one knee, with upturned face and out-stretched arms.Poor Irene felt an almost irresistible impulse to laugh, and for amoment dared not speak.

  He mistook her silence and again began to plead.

  "Speak, O brightest sylph, fairer than the angels, sweeter than--hem,hem!--than the honey in the honey-comb!"

  "For mercy's sake, stand up, Mr. Diggs!" said Irene.

  "Not until you say you will be mine!" and his arms expanded, like anopened double gate.

  "Then Mr. Diggs, I fear you will never reach the field of glory, for thewar will be over before you rise from your knees," said Irene.

  "Oh! ah! Hem, hem! You cannot be so cruel,"--still kneeling, and leaningfurther forward, as though to compel her to his embrace.

  "Mr. Diggs, you can never be to me more than a friend. Pray, do notpursue the subject further."

  "Miss Irene, dear, dear Miss Irene, you utterly wreck my life! I carenot a straw for it now!" whined little Mr. Diggs, turning, still on hisknees, towards Irene who had crossed the room, the most pitiful offaces.

  No answer.

  "You are--hem, hem!--very cruel, Miss Irene," he rose and awkwardly tookhis seat.

  "I regret to have given you pain," said Irene graciously, as, at Mr.Diggs' request, she rang for his carriage, "but I am sure you will soonforget it, and will see that you had mistaken your feelings."

  As Mr. Diggs was in the act of getting into his carriage the sound ofhorse's feet came to his ear, and a moment later Oleah Tompkins gallopedup to the side of the old rockaway.

  "Halloo, Diggs! are you just leaving?" asked Oleah.

  "Yes--hem, hem!--I am going home," said Diggs.

  "Well, be on hand to-morrow night without fail, now. We want everymember of the company there, as we shall go into camp in a day or two."

  "Well,--hem, hem, hem!--Oleah, I have almost concluded not to go. I cannot--hem, hem!--take up arms against the flag of Washington."

  "Oh, that's abolitionist nonsense! What care you for a flag that willnot protect you?"

  "That's so," said Diggs.

  "Then why should we consent to bow our necks to tyrant's heels simplybecause the great and good Washington fought under a rag with certainstripes and certain stars upon it?"

  "That is so. Hem, hem, hem! 'They first have breathed treason.'"

  "Yes, they stole our property. The interests of the North and South aredirectly opposite. They want to ruin us, and we must protect ourselveswhile we can. We can not live in peace with the North; the next bestthing is to separate."

  "That's so,--hem, hem!--that's so," said Mr. Diggs.

  "Then why refuse to enter the Confederate army? The South is yourcountry, and if you want military renown seek it in the ranks of yourcountry. If they call you a rebel be proud of the name. Washington andMarion were rebels."

  Mr. Diggs was completely won back to the Southern cause; and, assuringOleah he would be with them the next night, drove away.