The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-01

all well up . tn Pinesr
Likely. sab, likely"
"Kyern1 all well. Ephef"
"Fitten, sab, otter"
"oP Missis all Well?'
Fright peart, sab; right peart' fur
her years"
Miss Kate's fren, from TIL moth, all
we'll. Uncle EpheT'
"I'so waitin' fur de kyern'rs letters,
sahn
"But, Uncle Ephe," urged the agent
as we went forward TO the vehicle to-
gether, there's your letters, an here's Q
man, q officer o til comp'ny, as will
clear up tn hull cussed rumpus!
II required three or four distinct
jerky movements Of Uncle Eph's head
70 bring his doubling face toward US;
and even then it was perked sidewise
toleratiyely, as he carefully placed the
letters In his quaint and age-shining hat.
"M.m-phw
There was no compromising intona.
ton In the half.guttural. half bird-like
sound which issued slowly through
Uncle Eph's quivering nostrils.
Hes goIn' out { tn kyern'Ps fur
few days, t. clar up matters; goin' with
you. Hain't lost your breedin', has ye.
Uncle Ephe"
The little old black man instantly be-
came a quiyering bundle of apologize
smiles and tremulous attentiveness. He
| futteriugly made for me comfortable
seat beside him, and after had hidden
the agent measuring goodbye, We drove
jerkily away toward Converly Pines.
From Uncle Ephe gathered that
young Master 'Rastus, who had brought
the package TO Converly Pines from the
station, had been something oil sad
rake. Only within the year had his
course warranted his friends in hoping
that the heir 10 Converly Pines you'd
prove fitting successor to his proud
and chiyalrous father From the mo-
ment it was known that the package
had been ritied, sadness such 40 mad
never been seen at Conyerly Pines, had
come into tie owners kindly face.
From that moment, too, the son, recog-
nizing this silent distrust, had scarcely
spoken to an inmate OF the mansion.
Another matter revealed by Uncle
Eph6 worried me unacountably. The
young woman, Clara Brathwaite. now q
guest at Conyerly Pines, while great
favorite with the whites, had secured
the deepest enmity OF all the house
servants and the hundreds OF other
blacks on the plantation.
Uncle Ephe's account OF the matter
was brief, explicit aud bitter with in
dignation. Ill luck had come 10 Con-
verify Pines from the moment Cara
Brathwaite had arrived. Some Of the
hounds had sckened and died. The
Young tobacco crop was giving them all
more trouble than in any previous year.
A favorite FLY had broken its leg, when
taking wall that any picaninny on the
plantation could have leaped. Then
the robbery OF the money package had
come to light And, finally, as Uncle
Ephe related with almost vengetul in
dignation:
los 'er sleeve-buttons, an ups an ,cuzes
US colored folk wiz takin' 'em. Hoo!
cackled Uncle Ephe with inofsble
scorn, "ef dat particular no'count
white gal want Miss Hates frien', lore
de Lawd, she'd git inter collusion wiz
my OIL woman, lore she'd gwine on diser
way long Why, sence dater hoodoo
New Yawk gal come, de birds done quit
sincin' at Converly PinesW
After what had learned from Uncle
Ephe, am sure my own must have
been the saddcst heart at Converly
Pines. a., after being welcomed by Col
ouel Conyerly, l was brought to the
supper table and presented to the dill
ferent members OF the family and to
their fair guest.
saw in Kate Converly that poetic
type OF southern woman which no poet
has yet titly sung; which no painter has
go far truly revealed; which no novelist
has ever been able to fully interpret; q
woman brave and strong as good man,
exquisite as Greek model in symmetry
Of form, innocent and lovingas a happy
child, and yet, aiming through and
from it all, was that indefnable. mex.
pressible glory OF frank, free, SELF
poised womanhood.
Her friend and companion was pro- |
duct OF tenser moods and ways; supple
and 1.-THE and all alight from the glow
ing friction OF the schools, the cities,
and the travelled routes Of seeing and
thinking; gay. brilliant and fine; but
toned and mellowed by inherent good.
ness, 1t seemed to me, which had left a
good woman's soul shining out OF clear
and flashing windows; or. still, TEN.
pered by the sweetness and innocence
Of her present environment to the
graces and tones which strangely thrill.
We were at last lingering over our |
coffee in a most genial mood, and was
determined that no reference to my |
mission should mar the tender spell;
when casual reference bv Miss Kate
to some clever prank OF Henry Brlce.
impulsivey brought his note to her
from my pocket.
She read it quickly, broke into merry
laughter, gave the sheet an itnpetuous
little kiss, and tossed the note to her |
father with, "Just like Harry, dear tel.
loww
"Yes," said the colonel with Sigh,
"Harry telegraphed US when the pack
age left Atlanta, and when it would ar
rive at South Converly" Then after a
slight pause: ave thought it best not
to leave it there over night; and my
son, here, rode over and found It there
but few hours after 1t arrived. Sup
pose we let you now know all that we
know about the matter, Mr.. Euston r.
| felt myself the cnlprit OF this fine
old southern home; but answered him
that I would be glad to have the facts,
il It were their pleasure.
"My son, will you begin?" asked the
father after painful silence.
eyes, sir" was the firm response.
"Ir. Euston, my father, directed me to
20 to the station and get this miserable
money; this miserable money" he re-
neated. emphaticaIly. ~ went on horse.