Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-10-10
A TENNESSEE ARIsTo0RAT,
His Scheme to Preserve Rconomy
Without Losing His Reputation
for Hospitality.
BY OPIE P. READ.

house that stood near the road. The
place was in a state of interesting
ruin. The stone walls around the
grounds were covered with vines,
which, seeking security, thrust their
tendrils into the crevices wrought by
destruction. An old gentleman,
dressed in a suit of almost threadbare
black, met me at the gate and cor
daily invited me to enter the house.
/ was not slow in accepting the invi-
tation, especially as black cloud,
with rumbling accompaniment, was
drifting over from the West, but
more especially because was hun
cry. The house was not well furnish
ed. Everything was faded, but l
felt was breathing the air of extreme
refinement.
"Take this seat" said the old man,
offering me an arm chair. "Hettie,"
he added, addressing girl who was
standing in the hallway, "tell your
mother that a gentleman will take
dinner with u.s."
Hettie Immediately departed to
execute the commission, and the host
turning to me, said: "Excuse me,
sir, for not sooner introducing myself.
Ny name is Lockford-Col. George
Lockford."
81 should have first introduced my
SELF" I rejoined, not without con-
fusion. l then told him my name.
"Glad to see you, sir" he said, adj
vancing and cordially shaking my
hand. "Did you belong to the arts
tocracy before the war;"
"No, sir" 1 replied.
"That was unfortunate" he re-
joined. "Gold, sir, could not tempt
me to lay aside my pride. I am
proud, and am proud of it."
Just then / heard a terrible crash.
The old gentleman, with great agita-
ton, sprang to his feet. The next
moment Hettie ran in the room and
exclaimed:
ooh, papa, the safe has fallen over,
and all our pretty dishes are smash
ed"
"Great goodness, girl, you don't
tell me so?"
eyes, sir, everything is broken"
The old gentleman struggled hard
to control. his emotion. my dear
sir" said he, 81 fear we shall be com
PEELED to do without dinner"
ventured to tell him that l could
take piece of bread and meat in my
hand and eat it as travelled, but he
turned upon meand in a severe tone
said:
"No man ever left my house in
that manner. / will send a boy tC
the village for more dishes. The dis
lance is short, only ten miles, and he
will soon be back. You must wal
until he returns"
L could not wait; so, after many
prOtestations on the part Ofmy kline
most, / resumed my journey.
About six months later / agair
travelled the same road, and just be
fore dinner time, / reached the ole
house. / did not care to make my
self known to the old colonel, and al
1 now wore quite heavy growth o
beard, decided in order to avoid {
long conversation, prompted by pre-
vious acquaintance, to enter under al
assumed name. l may be pardOneC
for mentioning strange coincidence
| was again hungry.
"Glad to meet you, Mr.. Singleton,
said the old gentleman, when l haC
given him my assumed name, "DiC
you belong to the aristocracy befor
the war;"
eyes, sir"
"Ah, then 1 am doubly glad to Sc
you. Previous to the great calamit.
you had no business, Of course"
"NO, sir"
"Ah, those were glorious days
Hettie," he continued, turning to
girl who had just appeared at tn
door, "tell your mother that a dis
tinguished gentleman will take din
nerwith U.S."
"Now," l unused, 81 will get
good dinner" Just then there wa
the startling crash. The old ma
sprang to his feet.
ooh, papa" exclaimed Hettie a
she rushed into the room, "the SAT
fell down and broke all our prett
Dishes"
"My gracious, you don't say so?"
eyes, sir, everyone is broken"
VMr SinO1atOn thic nav NOT CpnT