The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-06

ouiC' why, uoACyJ SOh
think there is story to tell.''
because it is covered" I answered,
"and have so often seen you standing
before it looking so sad Come, now, I'm
Gle lord, please do.''
We were sitting by Il roaring log fire in
the dining room-Uncle Jord i'll what
had been my grandfather's .arm chair,
and l on a stool close to his knee. Uncle
Jord had been my grandfather's body SER
want before the war, but had refused to
accept freedom that had meant separation
from his beloved "Marse." My grand
mother had died when my father was
born, and grandfather had survived her
only few months, leaving his little son
to old Jord's care, and no parent could
have done his duty more faithfully than
did that good old man.
The family had all gone to their rooms,
but Uncle Jord and sat up late on win
ter nights, always by the dining room fire,
he telling me stories, while popped corn
or roasted apples or chestnuts as was
pleasing to my fancy. Uncle Jord was
not as ignorant as the common class of
his race, for he had been taught to read
and write by my grandfather, and during
his long life had conned lasting lessons
from human nature and from experiences
numerous and varied. A devout Chris
tian, with a faith trusting and childlike,
n strong Baptist, he often said that to be
fully cleansed Il sinner had to be "wet
all over" that little "sprinkling ON the
head" would not do. can see him now
as he sat in the old arm chair that night
so long ago. His. thick wool and griz-
zled beard, white as snow, presented
striking contrast t. his black skin; his
eyes looking far into the fire, one knot
ted, .wrinkled hand resting gently on
mine and the other supporting his chin.
My request had sent his memory back
through the INST of years TO the sunny
days of youth, and though l grew rest
less l was 10th to disturb him, bu. at last
when l could stand the silence in the
shadowy fire-lit room no longer l softly
patted his hand. That was enough
With long, deep sigh he Strengthened
up and said:
"Well, honey, I'll tell you, but come
sit in my lap, for it'll take long time
and you might get tired.
So, sitting in the old mans lap, his
arms close around me, his beard just
touching my forehead, and his voice
trembling with emotion, he told me the
story of the covered picture.
"When your grandfather got married
it was Jord who brushed his clothes.
When he brought his bride mere it was
'Jord' who drove the carriage, and after
awhile when Miss Helen came it was
'Jord' who galloped through the rain for
the doctor. Fact, child, Uncle Jord' was
everywhere, and is here still, though the
rest are all gone How Old Marse did
love that baby. He just worshipped her.
Nothing was good enough in his eyes for
her, and no wonder, for she grew up to
be the prettiest girl in the neighborhood.
She had the whitest skin, hair as soft as
corn silk, and great big gray eyes, and
just as sweet and good. All the darkies
loved her. Well, when she was eighteen
Old Marse sent Miss Rachel away and
declared that Miss Helen knew enough.
'Those were happy times, child, and
she was the light of the place. always so
happy and gay: but some way Old Marse
took up the notion that Miss Helen
ought to get married and settle down,
and though she had plenty of admirers
none of them suited Old Marse
"Well, by and by there come to the
country Mr. Dame, an Englshman,
whom Old Marse thought was just the
man. He wasn't so young, to be sure,
but he was rich and good-too religious,
l thought, but of course my thoughts
didn't matter. Old Marse wasn't long
in calling on Mr.. Dame and asking him
to dine Well, he came honey, and did
the very thing we expected him to do
fall in love with Miss Helen. She was
sweet and kind to him, just as she was
to everybody but love him l knew she
never would. After that hardly day
passed without Mr.. Dame calling here
They were together often. She was very
fond of horseback riding and could ride
the widest Ones, too, and he used to come
over and ride with her sometimes but
she soon complained that the exercise
foo lola .,l.- l..
cort Old Marse used to always send me
along to guard against accidents, as her
riding horse, Katie Bell, was high
spirited.
Zone day Old Marse got letter from
his old college chum, Dr. Galbraith, in
Louisiana, saying that his son, Edward,
had been studying too hard and was COM
ing North for his health, and if Old Marse
had no objection he would stop and pay
him Il visit.
"Old Marse welcomed him warmly
when he came, and let me tell you, honey,
he was handsome: he had a way of MAX
ing friends with everybody and that pleas
ant smile of his went straight to my
heart Well when he and Miss Helen
met it was Il case of love at first sight
Everything went all right for awhile,
when Mr.. Dame got anxious and asked
Old Marse for Miss Helen, and when he
sent for her to come into the parlor and
told her, She very politely refused.
Then Mr.. Dame got mad and said
that he had done her an honor, and her
refusal of his hand almost took his
breath
"Old .Marse ragged and tore around
dreadfully when he found that she was
determined not to have him, but it did
no good. She had his own blood in her
veins and he. could neither coax nor scare
hnr MT L.,