The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-11-03

~ So
had been the confidence OF the enemy
III their success that It had been used
as the confederate Headquarters on
the morning of the decisive battle.
Jasmine and rose, unstained by the
sulphur of gnnpowder, tysined around
its ruined columns and left hid the
recessed windows; the careless flower
garden was still in its un-
kempt and %unplucked luXurinnce,
the courtyard before the sta
bles alone showed marks of
the late military occupancy and
hoofs of the waiting staff. But the
mingled impressed barbaric prodigal-
ity with patriarchal simplicity was
still there in the domestic arrange
'ments of a race who lived on equal
terms with strangers and their own
servants.
The negro servants still remained
with a certain cat-like fidelity to the
place, and adapted themselves to the
northern invaders with u child-like en-
joyment of the novelty of the change.
Brant, nevertheless, looked them over
with an experienced eye, and satisfied
himself Of their trustworthiness;
there were the usual number of
boys" gray-haircd and grizzled in
body service, and the .'manlmies' and
''auntics" of the kitchen. There were
two or three rooms in the wing which
still contained private articles, pic
lures and souvenirs of the family, and
a young lady's" boudoir which Brant
with characteristic delicacy kept care
fully isolated and intact from the
military household, and accessible
only to the family servants. The room
he had selected for himself was
nearest it-a small, plainly furnished
apartment with an almost %conyentual
simplicity in it's cold, white walls and
draperics and the narrow, nun-like
bed. 1t struck him that it might have
belonged to some elder daughter or
maiden aunt who had acted as house
keeper, as it commanded the wing
and the Servants Offices with easy
access to the central hall.
There followed a week of inactivity,
in which Brant felt a singular resem-
blance in this southern mansion to
the old casa at Robes. The afternoon
shadows of the deep verandas recalled
the old monastic gloom of the Spanish
house, which ven the presence of a
Longing officer or waiting orderly
could not entirely dissipate, and the
scent of the rose and jasmine from his
windows overcame him with sad MEM
cries. He began to chafe under this
inaction, and long again for the ex-
citement of the march and bivouac-
in which for the past four years he
had buried his past.
He was sitting one afternoon alone
before his reports and dispatches
when this influence seemed so strong
that lie half i1npulsively laid them
aside to indulge i'll u long reverie. He
was recalling his last day at Robes,
the early morning duel with Pinckney,
the return to San Francisco, and the
sudden resolution which sent him
that day across the continent to offer
his services to the government. He
remembered his delay in the western
town where Il volunteer regiment was
being recruited, his entrance into it
as a private, his rapid selection,
through the force of his sheer devo-
tion and intelligent concentration, to
the captnincy of his company, his
swift promotion on hard-fouyht fields
to the head of the regiment, aud the
singular success that had followed
his restless energy which left him no
time to think of anything but his
duty. The sudden intrusion of his
wife upon his ~carecr-even in this nc
cidental and perhaps innocent way,
| had seriously unsettled him.
The shadows were growing heavier
and deeper, it lacked only Il few mo-
ments of the sunset bugle when he
WAS recalled to himself by that singu-
lar instructive consciousness COM
mon TO humanity = of being intently
looked at. He turned quickly
door behind him closed softly. He
rose and slipped into the hall. The
tall figure OF a woman was coming
down the passage. She was erect and
graceful, but as she turned toward the
door leading to the Offices, he distinct.
ly saw the gaudily turbnned head and
black silhouette of a negress. Never
theless he halted a moment at the
door of the mex oom.
See who that woman is who Just
passed Mr.. Martin. She doesn't seen
to belong to the house."
The young officer rose, put on his
cap and departed. In II few moments
lie returned.
.Wns she tall, sir-of a good figure
and very straight!
YES
She is a servant of Ii n~eighbors,
the Manlys, who occasionally visits
the servants here. A mulatto, ]
think"
Brant reflected. Many of the mulat.
tos and regresscs were of good figure,
and the habit of CARRYING burdens on
their heads gave them a singnlarly
erect carriage.
The lieutenant looked at his chief.
Have you any orders to give con.
corning her, general"
Nc" said Brant, after u moments
pause, and turned away.
The officer smiled. 1t seemed n good
| story to tell at mess of this human
weakness of his handsome, reserved
and ascetic-looking leader.
\ few moments afterwnrd Brant
was interrupted over his reports by
the almost abrupt entrance of the Off,
Ger of the day. His face was flushed,
and it was evident that only the pres.
el1ce of his superior restrained his cX-
element. He held n paper in his
hand.
"A lady presents this order and pass
from Washington, countersigned BY
the division general"
"a lady?"
Eyes, sir-she is dressed as such
But she has not only declined the
most ordinary civilities and courtesics
we have offered her, but has ~insulted
Mr.. Martin and myself grossly, and
demands to be shown to you alone"
Brant took the paper. 1t was II spe.
cial order from the president, passing
Miss Matilda Faulkner through the
federal lines, to visit her uncle's home,
known as Grey Oaks" now held and
occupied as the headquarters Of
Brnnt's brigade, in order to arrang,
for the preservation and disposal Of
! certain family effects and privatt
property that still remained there, OF
to take or carry away such property
and invoking all necessary aid and as.
sistance from the United States forces
in such occupancy. 1t was counter.
signed by the division commander. II
was perfectly regular and of undoubt.
ed authenticity. He had heard OF
passes of this kind-the terror of the
army-issued in Washington unde,
some strange controlling influence
and against military protest, but lie
I = -..A IL - # L.