Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-07-04

row for more than 80 years and though
10 every one eise The colonels 2aale
was only memory Aunt Charlotte stili
believed thar he would come.
ON The night after Captain Terrill
had stopped at the fence on his way TO
the fields Aunt Charlotte sat by the
hearth ia the old kitchen. IS always.
her thoughts We're in the past. For her
the breeze tlat blew through the open
door. damp and sweet, was heavy With
the fragrance OF the roses that bloom
ed rs tile galleries of the big house 30
years before.
a negro melody broke the stiffness Of
the night TO the old woman the song
came from the quarters where long ago
the negroes sang on summer nights
like this. and the years rolled back
to giye her again master ana mistress
and the old care free, irresponsible,
happy life.
We gwine fix dis heah place up Wen
Marse Cunnel come home" Aunt Char
lotte mused. Miss Den say Marse
Cunnel daid. She say he amt nevah
gwine come back Law. Miss Dell amt
know my ole marstcr. Miss Dell
say, my Marse Cunnel nevah bruk he
wud yit He done low he gwine come
back, an he comm Moughty long
time hit tex i'm Spec he done chase
dem Yankees dat fur norf dat hit TUX
i'm all dis time to cit back But he
sho gwine come. ! spec i'm erlong
emmy time Law, law, 'twouldn't 'sprise
me none to see Marse Cmlnel walk in
dat are do dis berry minnit-
In her eagerncss she turned to the
open door. The words died on her lips.
Her jaw dropped, and her face grew
gray with fear.
A man stood in the doorway Be
hind him tile darkness made a frame
for his figure. anC the fire that tiickered
OH the hearth-k iudled there TO light
the room showed his ragged clothing,
elinted on the tangled White hair that
covered his head ana the White beard
that hung unkempt on his breast. His
eyes looked out hungrily from beneath
shaggy brows.
He took a step into the room. Aunt
Charlotte rose to her feet.
is it you. Charlottey the stranger
said charlotte, where is my wife?
Where is the home? Where is your
little AIarse John? l left them in your
care
The old woman gave one cry Of hap
pincss
'Marse Cunnel" She cried, smy mar
ster, Bress Gawd dat you come home,
Whut dey do 70 You. ole marse, dat you
look dat ole an po'?'
Il want my wife and Child" the man
repeated sharply.
The old woman knelt ut his feet.
"AIarse Cunnel, dey bofe gone desc
many yeahs,' She said her tears be
ginning to fall.
Gone" he said after her-"both
gomez"
Il done de bes' / could. Marse Cum
mel" She begged "Gawd knows dat
keep dat trus' de bes' / could l KEEP
de grades mouchty nice an green. sub"
THE graves this wreck of her old
i master shouted. Dead! Margaret
i dead. Ny God"
i He pushed away Aunt Charlotte's de-
+ tanning hands and rushed ont into the
night
"Lawd," Aunt Charlotte whispered,
kneeling with appraised hands where
her master had LEFT Ter. YOU know dat
/ done filed dat spons'bility dc hes
dat knowed how. O Lawd, you know
how l wuk with dem grabes m cut
/ de grass and fotch dc water an KEEP
nm green Miss Nia'gret. Miss Ma
greet Use ole an lonesome. De 'spons'-
bility is ober AK Gawd 10 femme
come erlong wild you an lPr AIarse
/ John"
I They found the colonel next morning
i lying among the faded roses on his
wifes grave And in the old Kitchen,
i on the bed where Miss Margaret had
+ died, Aunt Charlotte lay. her RESPONSE
/ bility over the years Of her trust full
/ filed
Three days later. when the keepers Of
+ a northern insane asylum came to Riv-
eryiew In search Of an escaped patient
i who had been an inmate Of the institu-
ton for more than 80 years and who
4 had never been able TO tell them where
was his home and who were his
friends. they found two new graves In
tie plat behind the rail fence
Master and mistress and faithful
servant We're united. St Louis Repub-
lie