Evening star., 1886-12-04
Written for THE EVENING STAR
COL. FEATHERLEY'S SONS.
THE FIRST PRIZE STORY OF THE
WAR.
BY ROB'T. c. v. MEYERS.
[Copyright, 1861


the heart OF the country, the rain pouring down
and the roads riversI There must be shelter
somewhere, despite the houselessneSS of the land
scape. All! here was a long hill; let me as
cend it amid the red foam that flowed down It's
sides.
The wind blew, the rain bit at my face; low.
cred my umbrella further over my eyes. Suddenly
that useful adaptation OF Jonas Hanway was
taken from my hand and an old negreSs con-
fronted me. She pointed to an alley of trees
which was nearing:
"Par'd1se Hall. sah =" she said. "Kunnel Feath'-
leys cOmpelements; he done see you on de hill,
an you'll be pleased ter come long er me twel you
done me up wild him"
She led the way into the green alley where the
rough, Shiny ground was strewn with saplings a
hatehet lying close to basket partly filled with
chips; and all soaked and dripping we came to a
stone arch-way, the iron gate rusted of its hinges
and spread across our path like a huge gridiron.
"A Few steps further and there was sudden view
OF rambling, low-browed house surrounded by
piazZas, and set In among the denseSt trees. On
the topmost OF six steps which led to the wide
Tont entrance gentleman awaited me.
Col. Featherey was about 75 years of age, tall,
though somewhat stopped, thin and yellow. His
coat was years behind the prevailing mode. was
rather threadbare and lacked button here and
there; his linen collar, OF narrowing height and
ngidity, was scaffolded by black satin stock
over which dropped the ends OF his white nous
tache like fringe OF frosted silver. When was
within speaking distance he descended two OF the
steps, only two, and extended his hand keeping IL
so held out until had come up and laid my card
against the palm, when the long wtry fingers
closed over mine, crushing the pasteboard In a
Holding to me- he conducted me into a carpet
less hall whose walls held antlers, fOwling pieces
fishing rods, and the like, over which the light
from shattered stained-g glass window at the fur
ther end or the passage cast poetic haze. We
went into room on the right, the drawfng-room.
The first object to arrest the attention was the
portrait OF two children, up over the mantel-
piece In the center of the room, made ruby by the
blazing fire N the CRATE beneath
'.Mr. Thomas Althrop, welcome to Paradise
Hail." said Col Featherley, glancing at the crum-
pied card In his hand.
'.MOn ami 7" murmured soft voice.
''Ten thousand pardOnS! !" cried the Colonel.
From the dtmneSS OF the long apartment
each side of her face, coquettsh cap OF lace and
br1stling rosy ribbons crOwning the compact head
and falling away in floating tabs that spread over
the front OF brown chintZ frOck.
col Featherley bended his gaunt figure and
the lady whose cap did not reach to his shoulder
touched his fingers with her own and smiled upon
me-
Thomas Althrop, overtaken by the Storm
"Mr. AlthrOp hOnOrS Paradise Hail." she said
She came out into the wider shafts of light. said
some further words OF interested welcome and
then with "Pardonez moi, had once more faded
into the shadow, to the hall, leaving me to re-
count TO her husband the nature of the difficulty
In which he had found me.
He would have waved off explanation, gravely
lncnninS MS head In acknowledgment Of the def
erence paid him.
"a most unpleasant contretemps for you- he
assured me when had finished, ''thoughft affords
US the privilege or Offering you some hospitality
II you Will pardon my absence for one minute,
shall ascertain II your chamber is ready the ser
Want Is unconScionably long about IL, and with a
sweep of the hand, he left me alone In the fire
light, which appeared doubly CHEEKY now that the
evening shadows settle outside. He had no more
than reached the hall when the old negress en-
tered the room with an arm-lOad of wood, which
she threw In the CRATE She looked about her,
1ecked cinder from the Sprawling center-table,
another from the antique piano which had draw
sheet music, and letting her gaze follow mine to
The picture over the mantel-piece
"Mars Hubert n Marse Hamilton when deg was
sahn '
They were beautiful boys; the one slim and up
right as a poplar, dark as Spaniard, with wide
gaze, naughty curve TO the lips, arrogance in
the out-thrust china boy who would be leader or
nothing The other, slighter, Trailer, younger,
70 his brother as though seeking protection, which
was not denied him. / was, perhaps strongly in
ened IN ses e sae @ had
the spectator, which characteriZeS certain por-
traits OF the romantic school, and which mpresses
those OF Us who look for more than accurate anat-
omy and rfe-ike flesh tints in canvasses depicting
humanity.
'would you go ter yo' chamber, sah?" asked
the negreSs.
My chamber was eozy bedroom where great
chlntz,covered chair was drawn up 10 a newly
soes were upturned TO the heat. Going to the
window looked down upon deserted barns and
stables, wistful- waiting alderney cow, the one
hEing creature In that dripping landscape.
While stood at the window wondering il Akers
and my law business could get ON without me for
tonight, gong sounded in the lower hall
The Colonel and his wife awaited me there
Madame was resplendant; over the soft curls lay
barb OF point, caught at the top by quaint
brooch OF diamonds set in silver; the calico frOck
had given place TO robe Of rattling brocade
BEAUTIFUL lace gathered at the throat by brooch
IKE that In the hair; while clustered brilliants
Your arm TO supper, Mr.. Althrop," said mad
anne
And the supper was no maudlin tea no hyster-
ical make-belief dinner; chickens fried TO golden
brown, waffeS nUtty and melting, sweet cakes of
several Kinds variety OF preserves, cream and
butter Tor which blessed the wet cow under my
window, and coffee with an amber rosary In every
cup.
a chair. napkin in silver ring heavy cut-glass
tumoler and knife and fork beside the Colonel
was another chair, in front OF which was another
napkin, tumbler and knife and fork
was assigned 10 place in solitary state at the
Side, my vis-a-yis fiower-f1lled epergne which
enectually barrtcaded me- from the two vacant
meal. 'A-
CHEEKY madame pourei out, and Col. Feather.
ley served the chicken upon faded old china
defiance" spoke he, when justice had been
done tbs luscious yiands, "a bottle OF the 80
Ny look may have remarked upon the name of
our servltor, FOR madame slipping drop OF the
heavy old wine which at once laid a tender bloom
upon her cheek, SAID, '.HeT name Is Deflance-Of-
all-EUL The finest cook in the country Defi-
ance Is the NANNY OF my son. the Rev Hubert
featherly. Her father was good Methodist
Baptis, Miss Antaette,r CRIME. Defiance
Baptized in de Ribber Jordan down hyar ter
JimsonS branch
"You are right, Defiance her mistress said.
..you are always right" and making sign to the
Colonel, arose and took my arEa
in The drawing room the fire was not so bright
as IL MAD been, and the candles In the sconces
served rathe- TO disclose than TO dissipate the
shadows
We We're Quiet there madame sinking upon an
q peacock-ie>;tLeE fan between her face and the
Hicker1nS ioG,- He glanced up at the picture over
his head, and theE al me:
"fou DOUBTLESS Will observe the resemblance of
OF the boys He has the eyes, the physique OF his
nance"
'.F1e, Colonei.r and madame tapped the hand
that held the peacock feathers, '.Mr. Althrop viii
consider me vain II i permit you to run on thus
ma fol-"
Her husband bowed:
The Belle OF Louisiana never was guilty OF so
patry quality as vanity"
warmer color than that contributed by the
crop or Port she had taken was In madame's
cheek, as raising her Sill fine eyes TO the picture
or her children, she rejoined:
'Ihen shall inform Mr.. AlthrOp that our elder
sOn has been considered his fathers counterpart
In many brave particulars"
For an instant a smile OF rare sweetness; an
pedred On the Colonel'S face, when he suddenly
dafted into the gloom and threw back the lid
Ol the plano Madame with glance In his dreC-
tlon gilded over TO the piano stool and thin
melody was evoked from the loose keyboard