davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16

ness The old sentiment of slave own
ing has disappeared before natural COM
mon sense and selfishness. am salts
fed that by some such process as this
utilizing of the old master and the new
freedom we will be better able to cult
vate our lands than by buying up their
estates, and setting them adrift with a
little money in their pockets as an idle,
discontented class to revive old political
dogmas, and foment new issues, or per-
haps set up a dangerous position to us. :"
You don't mean to say that those
internal niggers would give the pref
erence to their old oppressors?"
"Dollar for dollar in wages-yes!
And why shouldn't they2 Their old
masters understand them better and
treat them generally better. They
know our interest in them is only an
abstract sentiment, not a real liking.
We show it at every turn. But we are
nearing Redlands, and Maj. Reed will,
have no doubt, corroborate my i'm
pressions. He insists upon our staying
at his house, although the poor old fel-
low, imagine, can i'll afford to enter
tain company. But he will be offended
if we refuse"
He is friend of yours, then?'' asked
Drummond.
81 fought against his division at
Stony creek" said CORTLAND, grimly.
HE never tires of talking of it to me.
so I suppose am"
A few moments later the train glided
beside the Redlands platform. AS the
two travellers descended a hand was
laid 'on Courtland's shoulder, and a
stout figure in the blackest and shiniest
of alpaca jackets and the whitest and
broadest of Panama hats welcomed
him. "GEad to sec go, cOn'neL reck-
oned I'd waltz over and bring along the
boy" pointing to a grizzled negro serv-
ant of sixty who was bowling before
them, ''to tote yo'r things over instead
of using hack. haven't run much
on horse flesh since the wah-ha! ha!
what didn't use for remounts reckon
yo'r commissary gobbled up with the
other live stock, eh?" He laughed
heartily as if the recollections were
purely humorous, and again clapped
CORTLAND on the back.
'Let me introduce my friend, Mr..
Drummond, Maj. Reed" said Court
land, smiling.
"Yo' were in the wah, sir?"
"No-I-" returned Drummond hesi-
tating, he knew not why, and angry at
his own embarrassment.
''Mr. Drummond, the vice president
of the company" interposed Courtland,
cheerfully, was engaged in furnishing
to US the sinews of war"
Maj Reed bowed a little more for
mally. Most of us heah, sir, were in
the wah some time or other, and if you
gentlemen will honah me by joining in
social glass at the hotel across the
way, I'll introduce you to Capt. Prem
dergast, who left leg at Fair Oaks. y"
Drummond would have declined, but a
significant pressure at his arm from
Courtland changed his determination.
He followed them to the hotel and into
the presence of the one-legged warrior,
(whO turned out to be the landlord and
barkeeper), to whom Courtland was
hilariously introduced by Maj. Reed as
"the man, sir, who had pounded my
division for three hours at Stony Creek"
Mai. Reeds house was but few min
utes walk down the dusty lane, and was
presentlyheralded by the baying of three
or four fox hounds, and foreshadowed
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16
ABSOLUTELY PUpE

self In such favorable conditions for
making her acquaintance. For the
rest-if there was any rest-he would
simply trust to fate. And so, believing
himself cool, sagacious reasoner, but
being actually, as far as Miss Dows was
concerned, as blind, fatuous and un-
reasoning as any of her previous ad-
mirers, he rode complacently forward
until he reached the lane that led to
the Dows plantation
Here a better kept roadway and
fence, whose careful repair would have
delighted Drummond, seemed to augur
well for the new enterprise. Presently
even the old-fashioned local form of the
fence-a slanting zig-zag-gave way to
the more direct line of post and rail, in
the northern fashion Beyond it, pres
emily appeared a long, low frontage Of
modern buildings which to Courtland's
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16

were in bright gray harmony with both;
that the frock of Indian muslin, albeit
homemade, fitted Miss Sally's figure
perfectly-from the azure bows on her
shoulders to the ribbon around her
waist-and that the hem of its billowy
skirt showed a foot which everybody
knew was the smallest foot south Of
Mason and Dixon's line. But it was
something more intangible that this
which kept CORTLAND breathless and
silent
''rm not Miss Miranda Dows," said
the vision, with franzness that was
half childlike and half practical, as she
extended little hand, but can talk
'fahm' with yo' about as well as aunty,
and reckon from what Maj. Reed says
heah," holding up the letter between
her fingers, ''as long as yo' get per
simums yo' don't mind what kind O
pole yo' knock 'em down with"
The voice that carried this speech
was so fresh, so clear and sweet that
am afraid CORTLAND thought little OF
its oddity or It's dialectical transgres-
sions. But it brought him his own
tongue quite Internationally and quiet
ly. ''I don't know what was in that
note, Miss Dows, but / can hardly be-
heve that Maj. Reed ever put my pres
emit good fortune quite in that way"
Miss Sally laughed. Then with 9
charming exaggeration she waved her
little hand toward the sofa: There!
Yo' naturally wanted little room for
that, connie, but now that yo've got It
off-and mighty pooty it was, togo
can sit down" And with that she sank
down at one end of the sofa, prettily
arranged white billow of skirt so as
to leave ample room for CORTLAND, and,
locking her fingers over her knees.
looked demurely expectant.
But let me hope that / am not dis
turbing you unseasonably," said Court
land, catching sight of the fateful little
slipper beneath her skirt and remem-
bering the window. 81 was so preoccu-
pied in thinking of your aunt as the
business manager of these estates that
quite forgot that she might have 3
lady's hours for receiving"
I'VE haven't got any company hours, !"
said Miss Sally, land we haven't just
now any servants for company man
ners, for we're shorthanded in the fields
and barns When yo' came / was nail
guests smartly-ftting froek coat, ''yo'l
spoil yo'r pooty clothes, surel Take of
yo' coat-don't mind me-and work in
yo'r shirt sleeves"
Courtland obediently flung aside his
coat and followed his active hostess
through the French window to the plat
form outside. Above them wooden
ledge or corniee, projecting several
inches, ran the whole length of the
building. II was on this that Miss Sally
had evidently found a foothold while
she was mailing up trellis work OF laths
between it and the windows of the sec
ond floor. Courtland found the ladder,
mounted to the ledge, followed by the
young girl, who smilingly waved his
1 proffered hand to help herup, and the two
gravely set to work. But in the inter
walls OF hammering and tving no the
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16

She received it with still greater SC
cess of dignity and marked deliberation.
''It's clean gone outer my mind. sab, ef
Miss Sally is in de resumption of visi-
tab, at dis houah. In fac, sah," she con-
tinued with intensified gravity and an
exaggeration of thoughtfulness as the
sounds of Miss Sally's hammering came
shamelessly from the wall, 81 doahn
know exac'ly eff she's engaged playin'
de harp, practisin' de languages or
paintin' in oil and watah colors, O. Civ
in audiences to offishals from the court
house. Itmight be de houah for de one
or de odder. But I'll communicate wild
her, sab, in de budwoh on the uppah
fo'." She backed dexterously, so as to
keep the slipper behind her, but with
no diminution of dignity, out of side
door. In another moment the hammer
ing ceased, followed by the sound Of
rapid whispering without; a few tiny
twigs and leaves slowly rustled to the
ground, and then there was complete
silence. He ventured to walk 10 the
fateful window again.
Presently he heard faint rustic at
the other end of the room and he
turned. A sudden tremulousness swept
along his pulses, and then they seemed
to pause. He drew deep breath that
was almost sigh, and remained mo-
tionless-
He had no preconceived fancy Of fall
ing in love with Miss Sally at first sight,
nor had he dreamed such thing possi-
BILE. Even the girlish face that he had
seen In the locket, although it had
stirred him with a singular emotion,
had not suggested that, and the idea
he had evolved from it was never
a potent presence. But the ex-
quisitely pretty face and figure before
him, although it might have been
painted from his own fancy of her, was
still something more and something un-
expected. All that had gone before
had never prepared him for the beauti-
full girl that now stood there. It was q
poor explanation to say that Miss Sally
was four or five years older than her
picture, and that later experiences, en-
larged capacity, different life and new
ambition had impressed her youthful
face with a refined nobility; it was a
weird fancy to imagine that the blood
of those who had died for her had in
some vague, mysterious way impaired
an actual fascination to her, yet it was
a fact that even a familiar spectator
like Sophy, saw in her young mistress
very pretty young lady with the softest
pink complexion, the silkest hair-that
looked as the floss of the Indian corn
might look if curled, or golden spider
threads, if materialized-and eyes that
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16

surprise were entirely new In structure
and design. There was no reminiscence
of the usual southern porticoed gable
or columns and veranda. Yet it was not
northern either. The factory-like OUT
lines of facade were partly hidden in
Cherokee rose and jessamine. A long,
rooted gallery connected the buildings
and became a veranda to one. A broad,
well-rolled gravel drive led from the
open gate to the newest building which
seemed to be an edifice; a smaller path
diverged from it to the corner house,
which, despite it's severe simplicity, had
a more residential appearance. Unlike
Reeds house there were no lounging
servants or field hands to be seen; they
were evidently attending to their re-
spective duties. Dismounting, Court
land tied his horse to post at the Office
door and took the smaller path to the
corner house.
The door was open to the fragrant
afternoon breeze waited through the
rose and jessamine. So was side-door
opening from the hall into long par
lor or sitting-room that ran the whole
| width of the house. Courtland entered
it 1t was prettily furnished, but every
| thing had the air of freshness and Of
| being uncharacteristically new. Itwas
| empty, but a faint hammering was
audible on the rear wall of the house,
through the two open French windows
at the back, curtained with trailing
vines which gazed upon a sunht court
ward CORTLAND walked to the window.
Just before it, on the ground, stood a
small light ladder which he gently put
| aside to gain better view of the court
yard. as he stood at the open window.
In this attitude he suddenly felt his
| hat tipped from his head, followed al
most instantaneously by falling slip
per. and the distinct impression Of a
very small foot on the crown of his
head. An indescribable sensation
passed over him. He hurriedly stepped
back in the room, just as small striped
stockinged foot was as hastily drawn up
above the top of the window with the
feminine exclamation: Good gracious
me!''
Lingering for an instant, only to as
sure himself that the fair speaker had
secured her foothold and was in no dan
ger of falling. Courtland snatched up
his hat, which had providentially fallen
inside the room, and retreated inglori-
ously to the other end of the parlor.
The voice came again from the window
1t struck him as being singularly sweet
and clear.
"Sophy, is that yo'?"
Courtland discreetly retired TO the
hall To his great relief a voice from
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16
u UllJLJLJI IJuyLILunuIr

plain, since have taken up this matter
for the company, | have satisfied my
self from personal observation that the
negro-even more than his master-can-
not handle his new condition. He is
accustomed to his old traditional task
master, and doubt If he viii work fairly
for any other particularly for those
who don't understand him. Don't mis-
take me: don't propose to go back to the
whip, TO that brutal institution, the ir-
responsible overseer, to the buying and
selling, the separation of the family,
nor any of the old wrongs, but | pro-
pose to make the old master our over
seer and responsible to us. He is not >
fool and has already learned that 1t il
moro profitable to pay wages TO his old
slaves and have the power of dismissal,
like any other employer. than be obliged.
under the old system of enforced labor
and life seryitude, TO undergo the cost
.at maintaining incompstea@e and idles
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16
CHAPTER L

ognized stations and villages, some
times at the apparition of straw-hat-
ted and inen-coated natives in the
solitude of pine woods, where, after a
decent interval of chcery conversation
with the conductor and engineer, it
either took the stranger on board, or
relieved him of his parcel, letter,
basket, or even the vocal message with
which he was charged. Much of the
way lay through pine barren and
swampy woods which had never
been cleared or cultivated; much
through decayed settlements and
ruined villages that had remained
unchanged since the war-whose last
gun had been fred three years before.
There were vestiges of the severity of a
former military occupation, the black
ened timbers of railway bridges, still un-
repaired; and along the line of certain
memorable march, sections of iron rails
taken from the torn up track, roasted
in bonhres and bent while red-hot
around the trunks of trees, were still to
be seen. These mementoes of defeat,
seemed to neither excite revenge, nor
the energy to remove them; the dull
apathy which had succeeded the days
of hysterical passion and convulsion
still fingered; even the slow improve
ment that could be detected was
marked by the languor of GONZALES
cenee. The helplessness of a race,
hitherto dependent upon certain bar
barrie conditions or political place and
power, unskilled in invention and sud
denly confronted with the necessity of
personal labor, was visible everywhere.
Eyes that but three short years before
had turned vindictively to the north
now gazed wistfully to that quarter
for help and direction. They scanned
eagerly the faces of their energetic and
prosperous neighbors-and quondam
foes-upon the verandahs of southern
hotels and the decks of southern steam
boats, and were even now watching
from group in the woods the windows
of the halted train, where the head and
shoulders appeared of two men of man.
ifestly different types, but still alien
TO the country in dress, features and ac-
cent.
Two negroes were slowly loading the
enRlHc DSuOeT lTOiu WOOu pLlS~
The rich brown smoke of turpentine
knots filing the train with its
singing fragrance. The elder of the
two northern passengers, with sharp
eastern angles in his face, impatiently
glanced at his watch.
s'Of all created shiftlessness this beats
eyerythlngi Why couldn't we have
taken In enough wood to last the ten
miles further to the terminus when we
last stopped? And why, in th'lnderl
with all this firing up, can't we go
faster?"
The younger passenger, whose calm,
well-bred face seemed to indicate more
repose of character, smiled quietly
IF you really wish to snow-as
we've only ten miles further to go--I'll
show you why. Come with me. :
He led the way through the car to the
platform and leaped down. Then he
pointed significantly to the rails below
them. His companion started. The
metal was scaling OF IN thin strips
fgcm the rails. and Ii some places is
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16

LEAVES Us.-Wm. Winkelman, OF
Lacey, who for nearly thirty-five years
has been one of the good citizens OF
Mahaska, has bought quarter section
of land mile from Knoxville, and will
remove there with his family at once
having sold his farm here. Mr.. Winkel,
man is the kind of citizen we regret to
lose, but the change means larger pros,
perity, and we can only commend him
and his family warmly to the people
among whom they will abide as estim,
able friends and citizens.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16
CRAzED With ITCHING
And Pain from Eczema. Scratched
until Blood Came. Scales Like
Fish. Cured by
Cuticura.

had very bad case of Eczema on my neck
It was just terrible. At times ii seemed as If il
would drive me crazy with itching and pain.
Through the day 1t would itch, causing me TO
scratch until the blood would come, and during
the night IL would scab over so that would
scratch scales off like those of q hsh. Doc
tored with the family physician for one He
gave me temporary relief, but my trouble would
come back at about the same time each year.
Then / began using CUTIcURA REMEDIES, which
have entirely cured me.
Miss HANNAH NJ. WILLIAMS,
Lawrenceville, Dearborn Co., Ind.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16

Bob Moore was dead ssure that he
and the Democrat would carry OF
tumwa for the Democracy, at the city
election. He said here: Il would rather
carry Ottumwa for our party than be
postmaster of my native village" He
failed, for the voters went the other
way. Burgess is wanting the same job,
and now it looks grievesome for Bob
The fellow that fails on his job like that
will lose the fear of the fellows who
have the cheese and Anheuser in store.
We extend fraternaI sympathy to the
walloped brother. "These things will
come"
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16
Soldiers Tomb Stones.

At the last meeting of Phil Kearney
Post the undersigned were appointed to
look after the matter of securing tomb
stones for the graves of al! deceased sol,
diers buried in Fore, cemetery, ,orin the
county, where such stones have not been
put up. Therefore the committee de,
sire the name, company, and regiment
of all such soldiers buried in the county
the information to be correct in every
way, and they will endeavor to have de,
liVered in this city the stones required
as furnished by the government. AL,
bert w. Swain, Capt. John n. Martin
and b. +. Wright, committee, Phil
Kearney Post.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16
VOL. 43, NO. 81.

Both the method and results when
syrup of Figs is taken; it is pleasant
md refreshing to the taste, and acts
gently yet promptly on the Kidneys,
Liver and Bowels, cleanses the sys.
em efsctually, dispels colds, head
Gches and fevers and cures habitual
'Onstipation. Syrup Of Figs is the
lnly remedy of its kind ever pro-
iuced, pleasing to the taste and ac-
,eptable to the stomach, prompt in
Is action and truly beneficial In its
effects, prepared only from the most
healthy and agreeable substances, its
many excellent qualities commend j.
to all and have MADE it the mos
popular remedy known.
Syrup of Figs is for sale in 5Oc
and 81 bottles by all leading drug
gista ANY reliable druggist who
may not have it on hand will pro
cure it promptly for any one who
wishes to try it Do not accept any
HhStitute.
CALIFORNIA FiG SYRUP co
SAS FRANCISCO cXL.
"H,+fkEtE. Nv. EeH K0RA a.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16

Talk about getting ahead of the
women in the Worlds Fair business ?
The last appropriation by Congress of
$4,000, for the pay of jurors, judges
and also their appointments is placed
wholly in the hands of the women.
1t was all done by an error that was
put in the enrolled bill, which puts all
the stuff" in the charge of the dear
girls. Nothing short of an extra ses-
sion can change the law-but the ladies
will not be ungenerous in the matter.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16
Prevent Decay of the Teeth

With their sure st preservative, aromatic
SOZODONT. Whiteness of the dental
row, healthful TOsineSs and hardness OF
the gums, sweet breath, an agreeable
taste in the mOuth,-all these are con-
ferred by OZODONT. Does not such an
we'll as effective, deserve th@ popularity
it enjoys? Most assuredly. 1t has no
rival worthy of the name. The ordinary
powders and pastes are nothing to it, and
since its appearance have rapidly lost
ground. Sold by druggists.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16
The Hoosiers. Want the Best.

"TEe people of this vicinity insists on
having Chamberlain's Cough Remedy and
do not want any Other" says John V
Bishop, of Portland Mills, Indiana. That
is right. They know tito be superior to
any other for colds, and as a preventive
and cure for Group, and why should they
not insist upon having it? so cent bottles
for sale by j. II. Pickett and Green s.
Bentley. druggists
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16

Gov. Boies. after making two can
vases on a free coinage platform for
governor, now takes therepublican and
sound position on the silver question.
He thus challenges the free silver dem
ocrats to a round fight to the finish, Mar
quis of Carlisle's sruleS-and Iowa awaits
the onset. The gentleman from Harri-
son, Mr.. Butler, is expected to shy his
castor in the ring.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16
OSRALOOSA

The only remnant of the real, bloody
barbarian in power is the president of
San Domingo, who has been simply an
assassin in power, killing men, women
and children who differed with the brute
in human form on governmental policy.
In the name of humanity the nations
should interfere and save the people
from their own assassin in chief.
The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1893-03-16

by a dilapidated condition of picket
fence and succeed gate front. Beyond
it stretched the wooden doric columns
of the usual southern mansion, dimly
seen through the broad leaves of the
horse chestnut trees that shaded it.
There was the usual listless, black shad-
ows haunting the veranda and outer
offices-former slaves and still attached
house servants-arrested like lizards in
breathleSs attitudes at the approach of
strange footsteps, and still holding the
brush, broom, ,duster or home implements
they had been lazily using, in their fixed
hands. From the doorway of the de-
tached kitchen connected by gallery
to the wing of the mansion, Aunt
Martha" the cook, gazed also with a
saucepan clasped to her bosom and her
revolving hand with the scrubbing
cloth in it apparently stopped on a
dead center"
Drummond, whose gorge had risen at
these evidences of hopeless incapacity
and utter shiftlessness, was not relieved
by the presence of Mrs. Reed-a soured,
disappointed woman of forty, who still
carried in her small dark eyes and thin
handsome lips something of the bitter
ness and antagonism of the typical
southern rights woman-nor of her two
daughters, Octavia and Augusta-whose
languid atrabiliousness seemed a part
of the mourning they still wore. The
optimistic gallantry and good fellow
ship of the major appeared the more re
markable by contrast with his cypress
shadowed family, and their venomous
possibilities. Perhaps there might have
been q vein of southern insincerity in
| his good humor.
Paw" said Miss Octavia with gloomy
confidence to Courtland but with {
pretty curl of the hereditary lip, sis about
the only reconstructed one of the en-
tire family. We don't make 'em mucf
about yer. But I'd advise yo' friend
Mr. Drummond-if he's COMING herr
carpet bagglng, not to trust too mucf
to paws reconstruction. 1t won
wash" But when CORTLAND hasteneC
to assure her that Drummond was no
a carpet bagger, not only free
from any of the political intrigue i'm
piled under that baleful title, but was {
xuaal+hu norfharp nanitaliSf Sino11