The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-08-07

At first the sights and sounds OF the
wards and the gruesome walks in the
shadows of the great buildings de-
! pressed ME, but gradually | became
| accustomed to the life and found much
to interest me in my leisure moments.
Old Covann always met me at the
door Of ward "H' on my last two
morning rounds and walked the length
of the corridor with me, bowling me
out in his lordly way. One morning
he presented me with basket of de-
1icious fruit.
"Scnt me by my daughter, sub, y
said he, "and insist that you sha' it
with me. Finest woman in Virginia
my daughter Let me show you her
picture.
It was thoughtful, patrician face
that seemed to look out from the pic
ture he held.
"Thc face of an earnest woman" l
remarked.
"Right, sub" said Covann; "you
show yo' training, sub. [ have made
up my mind that you shall marry her. .
A few weeks later, as I was making
my last round one morning, [ noticed
Covann seated on bench in the ward
talking to a lady. AS I entered he
rose and led me forward
"N1r. Watkins, allow me to present
you to my daughter. Kate. Daughter,
this is my friend, Mr.. Watkins, of
whom I wrote you.
"It pleases me to meet any friend
of my fathers, she said, with charm
ing frankness, and just as I was wish
ing that photographers would do peo
pie Justice, Covann continued:
eyes, sub, my daughter-and you
shall marry her, sub you
But I waited to hear no more.
Next morning as [ was crossing the
rose garden on my last round l was
embarrassed upon suddenly meeting
Miss Covan there.
"Good morning, Mr.. Watkins. Do
you reckon I can have some slips from
these roses 1 want to place them in
my garden at home
1 assured her that she might have
them all.
'Mr. Watkins" said she, 'I Icouldn' t
leave here without thanking you for
your kindness to my father. Had you
known, as 1 do, how. noble he was be-
fore this terrible aff1iction came you
would consider it an honor to be his
friend. You will be kind to him al.
ways, won t you ?"
eyes, always" !" !,
kept at the asylum horse and
buggy, saved from the wreck Of my
fathers estate, and each evening took
drive out into the country or along
the bank of the James river. These
drives made up, in Il measure; for the
dreary night watches. The driveway
from the grounds was close to the en-
trance to ward "H;" and Covann was
always standing by the grated door as
drove past. One evening he bcekoncd
me to stop.
"Mr. Watkins said he, ''you are
about to enjoy alone the sunshine and
freedom I so long for. An hour with
you, sub, a breath Of air from the fields,
sight Of the old riter, would be like
| glimpse of paradise to me. You
may tie my hands and bind me fast,
but I beg you to take me if you are
my friend.
Perhaps it was because I was young
and sym pathetic, or that seemed to
| hear a sweet voice say. "Be kind to
my father. Anyway, [ quickly un-
locked the door, aud for the first in
years Covann heard from without the
walls the elang of the iron gate.
The superintendent was in Richmond
that day, and would not return until
60 clock in the evening. would take
short drive and return Covann before
anyone discovered his absence. We
drove down the Kings mill road, past
old Fort Mag .uder, its red clay battle
ments still formidable, past old silent
mansions whose ancient grandeur had
departed with the advent Of devas-
tatlng army; then ON to the river,
which at that point broadens out like
an inland sea. The bluff where
we stood commanded an extended view
of land and water. Covann drew deep
breaths of the salt air, and barred his
head to the cool breeze that came up
from the ocean.
"Mr. Watkins" said he, "are you
aware, sub, that we stand upon the
battle ground Of Ame'ca's history ?
Where else on this conti lent can one
see from single point so many va d
Reminders of the remote and recent
past? Yonder green island, with its
crumbling ruins, marks the first site
of the first English colony; at this
spot in 1920 was landed the first cargo
Of African slaves; yonder line of
earthworks is a grim reminder of the
great contest for State 5 rights while
| Just beyond at. Yorktown ere the grass
grown intrenc1mcnts that mark the
scene of CORVALLIS downfall, and the
great victory for national liberty that
old mansion to the left is where Lord
Berkeley held sway in those stormy
days of British rule; yonder ancient
city, whose spires we see, was ablaze
with pomp and grandeur then now it
is but silent witness Of the past. 1t
stands today much as it stood then,
but the Indian and the colonist, the
Briton and the patriot, the blue and
the gray are all gone. Only the silence
of desolation and poverty hangs over
this region. And yet, sub, it is a
very great thing just to stand here and
say, This is Virginia-my home "
On the ride home Covann astonish-
ed me by his iovial companionship,
and the time passed quickly. AS we
approached town ] heard the whistle
Of the Richmond train, and just as we
reached the asylum gate the superin-
tendent's carriage rolled in ahead, and
MY heart sank as DR.. Dupree returned
my salute.
AS I locked the door on Covann |
began to realize what [ had done L
would without doubt be dishonorably
dismissed, so I packed my trunk in
anticipation. No summons came,
however, and I went on duty as usual.
| On NV 10 o'clock round | noticed a