Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-02
Gales and Sketehts.
THE MARQUIS.
BY CHAJNCEY HICKOX

Creek. Crawfish Greek ran near Thomp-
son City. Thompson City was in a West
ern State, but now in Middle one. 1t
was always in the midst of a great coun-
try-aceepting local testimony and a rank
growth of corn and politician rs the tests
of greatness. The earth there was mono
tonously parchcd in summer. and monoto-
ously muddy at all other times. The
forests were gigantic. the air carbonic, and
when the citizens wished to give Thomp-
son City the highest commendation, they
did so by saying that 'ievernagua'' was
worse in some other places.
In the parlor of Mrs Ruggles, which
was also her kitchen and dining hall,
hung frame containing seven-by-nine
mirror, which was the frames excuse for
being, although a compartment above and
one below held squares of glass covered
with paint instead of fmercury. The lower
was colored like the contents of Il wash
tub after liberal use of indigo, and in the
centre was Il horizontal stroke of red. sur.
mounted by Il perpendicular dish oil
white, intersected by an oblique line ol
black-all of which represented red
boat, with q white sail and black spar,
making an endless voyage across the lake
of indigo The black crosses in the sky
were birds. The black lines on the left
were bulrushes. And among those bull
rushes a certain gloomy little object was
either q Hebrew prophet or muskart.
Above the mirror was painted a long
tailed coat, from behind which extended a
hand holding bell-crowned hat, to whose
scarlet lining the holder seemed inviting
the spectators, particular attention. There
were also a pair Of legs and boots, n
heavy stock of hair. a labyrinth Of neck
cloth and u fiorid human face. Under
the boots were the words
MARQUIS DE Ia FAYETTE.
And the bcholder was ever in doubt
whether the marquis was trying to stand
exclusively upon this title or was uncOn-
sciously trampling it into the ground,
Mrs Ruggles admired this picture. Her
knowledge of French was not great, but
her ear was delicate; and thinking the
words sounded" she had deliberately
conferred them in full on her iirst-born.
When in good-humor, she was content
with calling him ''Marquis-dee.n In fact
it was only when chasing him into the
street with a lilac bush in her hand that
she insisted on addressing him by his full
name. At such times, between each
flourish of the lilac bush and each yell of
the young nobleman, she pronounced
with significant fullness, with fearful
exactness, the handsome sounding name
of Marquis de Ia Fayette Ruggles. His
playmates, however, had not the delicate
ear of the mother, and rs the son had
brown specks on his face, he was popu-
larly known as "Frecky Rug"
Mrs Ruggles and her late husband were
pioneers in the Crawish Valley. Suisse
quent settlers knew little, and apparently
cared less, about her. They knew, how
ever, that she had been Peables, and
that Peables blood was still doing its duty
in her veins. And from her independence
and reserve they argued that the Pea
bleses were ''high up'-at least in the es-
tinlation of Mrs. Ruggles. After Mr..
Ruggles had been overcome by malaria
in clearing the creek bottoms, the pride
of the Peables blood had sustained her in
a long, brave fight with circumstances.
1t was while he lay one night upon his
deathbed, mistaking watching neighbor
for his wife, that he started up, saying,
'Becky, if could yrove it TO you aioro
died."
''Out of his head" was the quiet remark
Of Mrs. Ruggles to the watching neighbor
by the bedside. There was no further
sign of delirium. That exclamation of
the dyiny Mr.. Ruggles was a mystery to
the woman OF Crawtsh Creek, and re-
mains SO to this day.
1t may be that the pride OF Mrs. Ruggles
was in excess of her wisdom. 1t may be
ifthat pride had been little more re-
spected,by the irreverent Crawtish settlers,
they would not have had occasion to Won
der, as they did wonder, how heart so
true, an honesty so stoical, u discrimina-
ton so acute, could exist with an indepcn-
dence so absurd u mind SO uncultured. a
sense of dignity SO ridiculous, as were
found united in her character. 1t may be
that the Peables blood was worthy of re-
ceiving honor as great as the ridiculc it
did receive. 1t may be if the world had
known the Peableses it would have been
as1Toud of them as she was.
She was a person of scrupulous neatness,
careful never to be seen by strangers eX-
cept in a tidy dress, and with her hair in
a Grecian knot, gracefully secured to a
leathern string and wooden peg.
"Weak creepings'' were her main reliance
in the way of disease. She was also
troubled, at times, with Il "fullness of the
head" In addition there were other
times when her right side ''felt separate"
But she seldom complained of anything
belonging to herself Even her maladies.
she took pleasure in knowing, were very
different from those enjoyed by certain
other women. Unwilling to be too IA
milar with any one baser than a Ruggles,
she usually dined, as she lived. alone with
her noble son.
On certain summer evening she stir
red her tea a long time in silence. She
stirred it vigorously, creating maels-
from inside her cup, where, very like a
whale in the story-books, u little crust OF
bread disappeared and reappeared, and
sailed round and round as ii very much
perplexed. Then she unconsciously re-
versed the current of the maelstrom,
sending the baked and buttered whale to
the bottom.
Il never see that air Miller, no odds
how well l be-" she remarked to the tea
pot, z" but when | feel weak creepins
Ia ,t,,H