The Pride of the South

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Capt. Wendell, sojourning in Fairfax, Va., falls in love with Diana Mosby, the daughter of Col. William Mosby, and after a romantic courtship proposes and is accepted. As the lovers go to get Mosby's consent the old man receives a letter from General Robert. E. Lee, telling him that war with the north is inevitable, and asking him to prepare to recruit a regiment. Mosby offers Capt. Wendell a commission, but Jack remains loyal to his uniform, and old Mosby becomes enraged and orders him away, telling him no union sympathizer can marry his daughter. Jack receives orders from the department of war, and reports to his regiment. Col. Mosby leaves for the front, cheered by the people who line the streets. Some time later Jack's regiment captures Fairfax, Va., after a thrilling battle, in which many lives are lost, and the cannon and bombs create much destruction. News of the capture of his home town reaches Mosby, and he determines lo penetrate the union lines and assure himself of his daughter's safety. Wendell rushes to the home of Diana, and she is so overjoyed in seeing him again that he has little difficulty in persuading her to marry him. Mosby has some daring adventures with union soldiers, but finally reaches home. He attacks Capt. Wendell with drawn pistol, but Diana throws herself in front of Jack, crying, "Don't shoot, dad, he's my husband." The old man is furious, but is forced to depart by the arrival of a squad of soldiers who are on his trail. Wendell saves him by denying having seen him, thus throwing the soldiers off the track. Two weeks later Col. Mosby with a strong force attacks Fairfax, and recaptures the city. The fight is terrific, thrilling cavalry and infantry charges being shown. The bridge across the river is blown up by the union soldiers to check the advance of the confederates, but the cavalry plunges into the water and fights its way across the stream. Capt. Wendell is killed and Col. Mosby is shot through the arm. Covered with blood, and his mangled arm dangling at his side, Mosby dashes into his own home. Diana attempts an affectionate greeting, but the maddened Colonel drives her from the house. Diana goes to the battlefield and finds the body of her husband, and a most affecting scene is shown as she sorrows over the corpse of the dead hero. She is compelled to live with the negroes, as the embittered Colonel, who has had his arm amputated, has sworn never to look upon her face again, and threatened to kill the first negro who mentions her name. Diana gives birth to a beautiful child, who ten years later, is a wild, beautiful girl, whose only playmates are the pickaninnies. One day she wanders on forbidden ground with two little colored children, and makes mud pies on the doorstep of the Colonel's home. When the Colonel tries to chase the children away she throws a handful of mud at him, and runs away. The Colonel is furious, and his old servant, who has been amused by the incident, forgets himself and says, "She sho' does hab the Mosby temperament. Massa William, it's yo' own gran'chile." The Colonel is thunderstruck, and he starts out after the little girl, picking up her shoes, which she has left on his doorstep. He meets her sitting in the road, nursing her injured little foot, and tenderly picks her up and takes her to his home. Thereafter she makes daily visits to him, and he becomes greatly attached to her, buying her beautiful clothes. Mrs. Wendell is taken sick, and, dying, calls for her father. None of the servants dare to ask the Colonel to come to his daughter, but the little girl, in childish innocence, undertakes the mission. She is heartbroken at the anger of the old man when she mentions her mother's name, and with tears streaming down her face she upbraids him and runs out of the rom. The old negro servant, deeply affected by the scene points to the picture of Mosby's dead wife and says, "Old Missus wouldn't have done that, Colonel. I'se ashamed to belong to yo', sah." Left to his reflections, the Colonel's pride breaks down. He has paid dearly for his temper, and paternal love wins in the conflict of emotions, and he goes to his daughter. The face of the dying woman lights up with pleasure as he kneels at her side and kisses her, and her arms are clasped around his neck as the picture is dissolved out.