“Yes,” said Col. Bush; “his material, however, was all lost, and he had a warning against trying the same thing again. There was no great secret in his material to be lost; but there was in the others', and the gain to mankind was in the loss of their diabolical secret.”
“Uncle Daniel, what became of this vile conspirator, Dr. Blackman?” asked Dr. Adams.
“Well, Doctor, I am sorry to be compelled, with shame, to state the fact, but nevertheless it is a fact, that this same man, Dr. Blackman, has been made Governor of one of the States since the war, and at the same time his record was known by his constituents. But it did not seem to lose him any friends with his party, but, on the contrary, seemed to help him. Yes, yes, my friends, this is the sad phase of the whole matter. It matters not what a man did if he was a rebel; but if a Union man, and he did the slightest wrong, he was disgraced forever. None of the great and inhuman wrongs are remembered against the individual rebels who violated every instinct of humanity.”
Here the old gentleman became silent, and placing his hands over his face, wept like a child. At length he continued:
“I, with all my sacrifices, even here at home would be thrust aside in order that the citizens might pay homage to the men who would have afflicted their own household with loathsome disease, and at the same time mocked at their calamity. If God wills, let it be so. I do not believe, however, that He is doing more than trying the Nation, to see if our people are worthy of such a Government as ours.”
CHAPTER XVI.
A HAPPY WEDDING.—MARRIAGE OF SERAINE WHITCOMB AND HENRY
LYON.—FIRE AND PLAGUE.—THE PLOTTING IN CANADA TO BURN
CITIES AND SPREAD DISEASE.
“I did not fall in love—I rose in love.”—Bulwer.
“After Jacob Thomlinson and C. C. Carey had recovered somewhat from their alarm and demoralization, they spoke freely to their friends in Montreal (and they had many there) about the burning of the Will-o'-the-Wisp, saying it was a great loss to their interests, without specifying in what way. In a few days Jackson, (after finding that they had invited Valamburg, of Ohio, Strider, Bowen, and Bryan, of Indiana, for consultation,) could remain no longer, as he would be known by Valamburg at once. He bade his friends good-by, saying he would travel through the West and would return if it became important to do so. He left for Toronto, remained there a day or so, and then came to Windsor, where he remained for several days. Finally he met Henry, who had just returned from Montreal to Windsor, where he was known as Henry Davis. He was introduced by Henry to one Samuel Wintergreen, who was in the employ of the Confederacy, or, in other words, of the rebels, getting everything ready for raids on the cities and villages in Ohio and Illinois. This man was very shy of Jackson, but spoke freely on all subjects save what he was himself doing. Henry and he were chums and seemed to understand each other perfectly.