Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-11-20
UNCLE NED'S STORY.

y
foothills of the Blue Ridge. and
came within sight of some Lom-
hardy poplars off to the right be-
low which was a dense growth of
evergreens.
"Dar marse: dat am de place
bout which / told We. Wait till
we git round de bend, and we'll
see de house." said Uncle Ned,
pointing his whip in the direction
indicated.
/ told him to drive up to the
place, which he did with great
willingness, though l heard tim
sigh and, from the expression of
his venerable face, l knew there
was something in the associa-
tons of the place that made him
sad.
We drove between two stone
posts, from one of which a great
gate at one time swung, but only
crumbling, rusty hinges remained
to tell the purpose for which they
were used, Up weed.covered,
curving drive, and the old man
pulled in his horses before a large
house, or the ruin ola large house,
for the roof. had fallen in, the win
dows were sashless, and the Virgin
ia creepers trailing up the pillars,
failed to hide the rotten capitals
and the red spaces, like wounds,
from which the plaster had scaled
off.
The doors were down, and thro'
the wide hall, before which we
stood, we could see the servants
quarters beyond, and more tum-
bled down and ruined than the
greater and stronger structure.
We hitched the horses and en-
tered, the old man removed his
hat and spoke in whispers, as if in
church, with the dead before
him.
CobWebs and bats hung from
the ceilings of the many stately
rooms, where once hospitality
ruled with open palms and old
time festivities were held. The
chimneys had fallen down on the
hearths and in the parlor we found
the lair of q fox, the sunken floor
covered with the bones of his vic
Tins.
Our entrance started an owl,
that after circling about the room
in a blind fright struck by chance
the open space occupied by a win
dow and flew away.
"Ifyou don't mind, sab, I'll 40
out an STAN by de horses" said
Uucle Ned, as I was about to as
cend the crumbling stairs from
which the banisters had rotted
away.
/ saw the old man was nervous,
as / went up alone, and in imagi-
nation tried to picture the ruin
what it was in the good old days,
but without success. 1t Is hard to
fancy the dead old pauper hap
DIV, handsome youth. What he is,
not what he was, fills the mind.
came down, and found Uncle
Ned sitting at the foot of one OF
the pillars, his face buried in his
hands. AT my approach he look
edup, and L could see there were
tears in his eyes.
He had informed me that he
once lived at this mansion-when
Judge Lagrange was its head and
his master.
Sitting down by the old man, |
drew out this story; but l shall
not attempt to use his language,
while my own is wholly made
quate to depict the old mans SIM
pie pathos.
Judge Lagrange, well known
fifty years before in Virginia for
his wealth, hospitality and cul-
ture built his mansion, and there
entertained right royalty his
friends, or those who were fortu-
nate enough to.bear him letters of
introduction.
His wife was beautiful, accom-
plished woman, and they seemed
to have but one object in life-the
education oI iueir sons, Arthur and
George. The brothers were near
ly of an age, and tough educated
by the same tutor, and under the
same watchful and refining home
influence. they developed into
youths as opposite in appearance
and disposition as if they belong
ed to q different race.
Arthur Lagrange. though strong
and handsome physically, was
gentle, refined and intellectual.
While good horseman, and fond
of the sports in which the youth
of Virginia then-as now-de-
lighted he had no passion for them.
He so far out-stripped his older
brother that he was sent to college
two years before George was
ready; and at college he stood at
the head of all his classes, and
first in the affections of his class
mates.