Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1891 — RENA MENTON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RENA MENTON.

T was Thanksgiving morning in the little Massachusetts v i 1 - luge of Granby, und within the groat hail of one of its quaint old mansions sits tho present owner of the house,

Col. Richard VVarresby, a direct descendant in the female line from its builder. Tho old wainscoted walls arc hung with ■ family portraits, to which tho Colonel, i who sits gating into theiog fire blazing on tho andirons, bears a most striking resemblance. He is a tali, well-proportioned man of some forty years, whose face, though kindly, indicates strong resolution and coura~e His title of Colonel was won by the most daring bravery on the field of battle, and as he sits gazing into the tire, this Thanksgiving morning, visions of soldier life rise vividly I efore him. He lives again that day at Ucksbuig, ten [years ago, when he encouraged his men ;to repel a sally of the besieged upon ‘those working in the trenches. Once [more he stands face to face and fights '.hand to hand with that brave Confudjerate officer so gallant and handsome, i [whose face is indelibly Imprinted upon ! his memory. Again lie scei hat officer! ffall b neath his sword and again he ! ' shudders as he feels tin so large, dark j eyes, fast glazing in death, fixed upon with a look of unutterable hatred to the last “* ardon me for disturbing you, dear, but i want to introduce our new goveru.ess, Miss Bena Menton, of Mississippi ” It was his wife who spoke, arousing him ‘from tho trance like condition into which he had fallen. He rose hastily to woljeoiue the young lady whom his temporary absence front home had hitherto prevented- him from meeting. Great ihea.ven9i There before him stood the very o seer whom he had killed at \ ickstourg! The face was youuger and handisomer than it had been ten years ago, ;and its features were of a more delicate and feminine cast, but there was no ;mistaking those large dark eyes. Though that dying look of hatred had passed [from ihera, and they now wore a cheerful, kind y expression, they were the very same. The Colonel tried to speak. He tried to grasp the small white hand so frankly extended to him. Impossible. His tongue clove to the roof of his mouth. He staggered, the room reeled, and he knew no more * ***** Reya Menton was the only ehi'd of a wealthy planter, who had inherited from bis father one of the finest estates in Mississippi. Reared as the idol of both parents, the heiress of a great plantation, and the pet ana darling of 300 or 40J« aves, herlife was one uninterrupted day of sunshine until the completion of her sixth year. Then the guns at Fort Sumter summoned her fa her to ! the war. At his departure he gave her a miniature of himself inclosed in a diamond Jocket, saying: “My darling, keep this always for papa’s sake, and if I am killed you wi 1 not forget me. ’’ ; Captain Menton never came back. His [name was printed in a list of those killed at Vicksburg, and his young wife, completely crushed by grier, died before the close of the war, which had swept away all her husband's property, leaving her • ten-year old daughter penniless. For a jtime little Rena was cared for by her aunt, but she, too, died, aud at sixteen the girl, who had developed intp a magoifi ent Southern beauty, was thrown completely upon her own resource's. Making her way to New York, she found employment as a governess, and it was A in*that capac.ty that she had beea engaged by Mrs. Warreaby And had accompanied heT to her Now Eng and

When dinner was announced on that Thanksgiving Day. Colonel Warresby bad entirelf recovered his composure, and greeted the rural guests who had been bidden to his hospitable beard with bis acrusfc >ed courtesy. To Alias Meu<prt he was particularly kind, explaining bis strap e conduct of thg morning by •* >ng that he had been overcome by a sudden di rlne s. He assured her that she sho Id be in all respects a daughter of the household, and said that nothing should be left undone to make her happy la her new ta,me. Aal he nm e.than kept his word. The Bmthero girl often marvelled at erly interest and kindness i would find him gazing at her ain i.is eyes and when he spoke 8 manner seemed more gentle n he addressed his own dairzhsave Bena herse f know the of his. affe( tion for her. t.e seemed to keep a certain secrecy in it an 4. to board It in his heart. He delighted to anticipate her ever wish; he <ouid not bear to .gee a slpud upon her far*, Ht iuu d not Uar s t

locket to which she had clung through all her misfortunes. When she showed him the picture it contained, telling him it portrayed her father, his whole frame shook with, emotion and he hurried from the room without a word. Rena's life was thus a very happy on ri . Mrs. Warresby was as kind as the Colonel, treating her as a cherished

daughter, while between herself and the children of the household—her little charges—there sprang up a strong mutual affection. * * * At length a year had passed away. Another Thanksgiving Day had dawned and Colonel Warresby lay dying. An Insidious disease, against which his iron constitution had struggled long, was about to prove the victor. When the doctors told him that he had but a few more hours—perhaps only a few more minutes —of life, he desired that Miss Menton might be summoned to his bedsido. As she approached tears foil from his eyes, and in a broken voice he said: “My poor child, can you forgive the murderer of your father? Can you clasp the hand that slew him in tho prtdo and vigor of his noble manhood? YVe fought hand to hand at -Vicksburg, and he foil. Can you forgive me as I trust God has done, for having made a widow and an orphan? You are silent. Oh, if you will but say, ‘I forgive you,’ this will, indeed, be a Thanksgiving Day to me, for your words will lift a dreadful burden from my heart. I shall feel more than ever the love and goodness of God, and my soul will go out in Thanksgiving to him for having answered the prayer which has been hourly upon my lips since youfi rst crossed my threshold.” As Rena listened her heart went out in love and pity to the man who had been to her a second father. She forgave him freely in the name of him who was the divine forgiver of injuries. “I havo nothing to forgive,” she said, when she could trust herself to speak, her whole soul glowing In her magnificent eyes and throbbing in her sweet, low voice. “You wore not a murderer, but a bravo soldier, doing your duty as my father was doing his. If you have deprived me of him you have filled his place, and you are" as dear to me as is his memory. ” A smile of unutterable thanksgiving and joy illuminated tho countenance of tho dying man. “God bless you. This is indeed a Thanksgiving Day,” he said, turning to his wife, who al9o stood beside him. Then, with one last, convulsive effort he joined the hands of the two women he loved best in all the world, and the sunlight, which just then streamed in through ihe casement, foil upon the face of the dead. When Colonel Warresby’s will was read it was found to contain a bequest of *30,000 to Rena Menton, accompanied by a direct'on that she always make her home with his wife aus chiidred as a beloved daughter.

AS SHE APPROACHED TEARS FELL FROM HIS EYES.