Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-08-31
A HUMBLE GENTLEMAN,
ne Was a Useful Member OF a
Proud Family.

a'cek' lazy horse, drawing covered
carriage, entered fashionable citv
cemetery. Two aged sisters. the
widows of John and James Maupant.
sat upon the back scat. The front seat
was occupied by the driver, Thomas
nahion, trusted and beloved attend
anu whose services and society con-
sriouted more to the happiness of the
ola ladies than they realized
Happily the widows Maupant and
the indolent horse were in harmony "a
TO what should be his rate of travelinr
along the short, winding avenue OF tho
,nciosure. That he should walk was
the desire of the three. The widows
mad come to observe the many tomb
stones and stately monuments; to re-
call memories of the dead; and they did
not wish to be hurried. Time was of
no value to them, and they were lavish
IN Its use They sought to prolong
eneir stay, for to visit the cemetery was
cne chief pleasure of their now monot-
onous lives. Every Sunday when the
weather was favorable they came in
the covered carriage, the faithful Han
Ion driving and the slothful horse
walking with an air of contentment
and indifference During six days the
WIDOWS did little more than to exist,
ana their eyes were dull and devoid of
expression, they being like most very
Ola people who are not strongly intel
actual. But on the seventh day,
when they visited the cemetery, they
s oanished their customary apathy.
Their eyes We're alert and sparkled;
their movements were quick as they
raised their hands to point out inter-
esting objects; they INDUCED in much
animated conversation.
All of their intimate friends had
passed away, and their remains lay in
the graves which the widows looked
upon so often. The city of the dead,
although silent, by the magic touch of
It's memories could awaken an interest
III the minds of the old ladies which
they never felt near by in the busting
city of the living, where they passed
the greater part of their time, The
aged sisters already belonged to the
past although their souls fingered In
their frail and shrunken bodies. Not
paradoxical is it, then, to say that
there was the most of life for them
where there was the most Of death.
During the drive the widows Maui
pant were unusually tallsative. There
was scarcely grave lot to which they
did not make some reference MS they
passed it, Not few of the monu-
ments recalled interesting histories of
families with whose members they had
been we'll acquainted in their girlhood
or in their middle life. The sisters
were thorough aristocrats. They took
much pride in the knowledge that
they belonged to one of the old and Sc
lect families of the city, and that they
had never been intimate with any ex-
cept the leading people of the place.
There were many others to whom they
had spoken graciously whenever they
had met them, but they had never al
lowed themselves to be familiar with
the multitude.
Their aristocratic feelings were con-
stantly betrayed in their conversation
with each other and with Thomas Ham
Ion, for he, being the kind and trusted
servant upon whom they In the weak
ness of old age relied for care and ad-
vice, was the only humble person who
had ever been their confidant To him
they unbosomed themselves freely, and
he was worthy of their trust He had
been with them for about ten years,
ever since they had needed some one on
whom to lean.
Hanlon was one of those interesting
persons, called common by the indis-
eliminating, who, on account of their
unpretentious common sense, great
kindness of heart, their readiness in
rendering aid to others at the most OPP
perfume times, and their unfailing good
nature, attract us as many people So
cially and intellectually superior to
them cannot He was uneducated and
unambitious; and not being engrossed
with ideas and great schemes had the
time and inclination to do much for the
welfare of his friends. He belonged to
the very valuable and sensible class
whose intellects are fortunately inca.
pable of entertaining theories of any
kind, so that their lives may abound in
rood works resulting simply from the
action of sympathetic hearts and help
full hands.
As the party drove through the Gem
etery Hanlon acted the part OF a hum
BILE gentleman to perfection. He lis
tened patiently to the garrulous COM
ments of the old ladies, repetitions of
which he had heard hundred times, and
at the right times made brief remarks
and answered questions in just the way
he knew the sisters wished him to. He
understood how to please them and
never failed 20 do 1t.
IT am afraid am talking TO You too
much" said Martha, the older sister, as
she tapped him on the shoulder for the
tenth time within a few minutes in
order TO draw his attention to tomb
stone.
mot at ALL" he answered, good
naturedly. "Talk to me all you wish
IN. | like to hear YOU"
He was sincere. He was not bored,
because he was bent on giving pleasure.
They arrived at the spot that inter
ested them the most. 1t was where the
remains of the parents and husbands OF
the widows Maupant reposed, in an ex-
pensive granite vault built against
knoll M.
Hanlon assisted the sisters to aligh'
trom the carriage. Together the wild.
ovs walked to the tomb. They looked
somber in their black dresses and in
their bonnets. dark except where the
ynehe encircled their foreheads. Old
h.nt and feeble, they moved with slow
stens Hanlon unlocked q paddock
one1,ed the heavy iron door at the en-
trance of the vault ana stepped respect.
s.il.. 20 one side. The others walked