The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1895-06-20
The Governors Pardon.
BY L. M. GILMER.

Itwas at the Southern Club, and
it was growing late. The crowd Of
habitues had long since scattered to
their evenings diversion. Only in
the smoking room little group had
gathered, closer and closer about the
open fire, in q comradeship that
seemed to shut out the rest of the
world.
There was Major Overington, with
his long legs stretched out on the
hearth, and young Darlington and
one or two others, while over against
the corner of the mantel sat the col
onel, with his leonine old head
thrown back against the tall, carved
back of his chair. The room was
blue and fragrant with tobacco
smoke, and it was that witching
hour when conventionalty is thing
forgotten and men speak from their
souls with an abandon they vaguely
wonder at the next morning; but not
withstanding all this it had been q
rather silent group about the club
room fire, and after bit someone said
something about going home.
"Oh, don't!" said young Caring
ton, fiippantly, taking his eyes off
the colonel's face, where they had
rested for the last few minutes.
'0h, don'tl It's never late till
morning, and then it's early. Be-
sides, the colonel has something to
tell us. "
The colonel stirred little in his
chair as if he reused himself, and
then he turned to Major Overington.
Major" he said, "I've been home
down South.
II went back to the little town
near which l was raised, and i
walked about feeling every change
in it. They'd got a fine new govern
ment building for postoffice and
lwent and stood on the steps, trying
to locate old landmarks, but it was
all cruelty new-people and places.
BY and by an old colored man. one
Of the polite, old fashioned body
srvants-you know, major--came
up with his hat in his hand and
said; 'Mornin', marster.' 'Howdy
uncle, l said and he asked: Mars
ter, kin you tell me whar bouts | kin
lind de old gin'ral?'
:" General who?' l inquired. ole
Gin'ral Deliv'ry,' he answered. My
son sent me word he writ me u letter,
an for me Jess to come to de pos
Office an AK de ole gin'r for hit. |
unraveled the mystery of the postal
system for him. and when he got his
letter and slowed it away in the lin
ing OF his hat, something in the ex-
Preston or action struck me with a
sudden familiarity, and | said;
Uncle Ike, don't you remember
DICK Buckner?' He looked at me
moment, and then he seized me in an
embrace that lifted me off the pave
ment Marse Dick ! he said. Il clar'
10 gracious i jess didn't known you
lnyo sto' cloes.
took the old man back to tho
aotel with me, and we spent the day
@'king over old times, and-but |
veg your pardon" said the colonel,
u'eaking off abruptly, personal
Nminiscences are always bore.
TO on" said the major; Z" when
people have reached our ages they
"e entitled to their "reminiscences.
ihere was evidently a story in the
sOionel's mind that he needed little
s'glng to tell, but he gave depre-
a'ng little wave of his hand as he
'ontnued.
n ! was just remembering Uncle
/" story about his young master"
sald. 1T was something so fine
sau dramatic in it's way, we should
10y IL was touched up if we saw it in
gint but knew all about it in it's
'eginnings.
lou see, old Ike's young master
aiu Sau We're boys together, plantations
auea' Sau and We were inseperable. We
ssh yn' 70 school together hunted and
a'nea together, were beaten for the
ne ~" juvenile offenscs, and when the
h., came along we fought it out side
siue. cont think" said the
MaS %Snel' slowly, "the good God ever
aue sS iiner man than Billy Bayn-
NJ Handsome, clever, brave, loyal,
,ons Was one of the men who capture
- ianey by their charms and hold