Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-08-02
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
Mrs. Tazewell's whispered appointment
made Darlington feel that something had
happened that did not appear on the sur
face. On the occasions of General Taze-
wells brief stays at home, Hugh was a
less frequent visitor at the house. There
was little amusement to be found in the
politicians long-winded dissertations.
There had been a brief time when their
relations had been those Of creditor and
debtor; in his youth Hugh had found that
the general owed the Darlington estate
money and showed disposition to treat
it as a gratuitous kindness from his de-
ceased friend, whom he loved as broth
err. They were fairly matched, the one
tenacious to get, the other to keep; but
the younger man had the longer wind.
Darlington was surprised, two days at
ter the wedding, as he and Maude logged
into the stabley yard, to see the generals
gray tied to the rack. They had been
out exercising some hunters over rough
country and were splashed and tired.
WEAKNESS abated not at all Maude's sun
ny humor, but Hugh, in burst Of anger
at his fretting mount, put him at fence
too high for his powers, and horse and
man came down together. Darlington
limped into the sitting room, dirty as he
was, and found the general.
''My dear Hugh, what has happened?'
| the great man cried.
my horse fell with me. If you will
wait a few minutes, I'll put myself to
rights He washed, and changed his
clothes as quickly as he could with mis-
wrenched shoulder, and coming down
found the general pacing the floor with
slow steps.
my dear Hugh" he began, gratitude
| fills my heart for your kindness to me
during my absence and it makes what l
have to say very difficult. But tongues
will wag, my boy, and you and I must
take our turn as targets. You know
how welcome you are to all I have, but
people will talk, and my absence, which
only the cause Of duty could make bear
able, gives them at once the excuse and
the opportunity. My wife and have
agreed that we should lay it before you,
and ask you to join with us in an en-
deavor to silence all disagreeable and Of
fensive gossip. 1t is great sorrow for
me to have to ask you not to continue
your visits. I am tempted to defy pub
lie opinion in my anger at its misrepre-
sensations, but I am too old to have to
learn the impotence of such a defiance"
"You mean that it is your wish that l,
in your absence, should refrain from Wis
iting your wifeY" asked Hugh.
eyes, that is, roughly, my idea. My
wife has horror of gossip, and it Is at
her instance that I am consulting about
it with you. Naturally it was hard for
her to say" And the general smiled
! his benevolent smile. But, Hugh" he
continued, 81 have got something for you.
We poor lawmakers have our little priv
ileges, and can sometimes offer opportu-
mites of fortune to our friends. | have
obtained for you, at some trouble, lucra-
tive post in Cuba. Your able manage
ment and long experience in agriculture
fit you admirably for the post. The du-
| ties of the position are indefinite as yet,
but you are to be closely@associated with
the governor of one Of the military dis
tricts. soon to be formed. Let me have
your acceptance as soon as possible"
Darlington made his best thanks for the
offer; promised to give it his early con-
sideration; and when the general went,
| took leave of him in his most courteous
manner, although he looked at his back
significantly as he paced off on his horse.
Hugh felt chagrin and some anger in his
heart "The general sees fit to be jeal-
ous," he thought. "And the green-eyed
monster has so taken possession that he
not only shuts the door of paradise, but
tries to spirit me off to a country where
pesttlence walketh at noontime." The
employment of Mrs. Tazewell's name had
not deceived Hugh. Il wonder if she
will be able to meet me Friday night? p
he said.
On the appointed night, as Darlington
tied his horse to a swinging limb in the
underbrush, and took his seat on the
wharf, he felt pretty certain that she
would not. Two negroes coming down
the road made his retire into the shadow.
They came and sat on the wharf and
dangled their feet over the water. They
were of opposite sexes, and the girl was
properly coy.
"'How know you love me?" she said,
in response to the mans protestations.
"Quit yo' foolin, Linda; you know l
loves you"
"Yu doan' nuyver give me nuthin'. An
1 done asst you to take me that that yer
circus, an you wouldn't. Yu done work
fob Mr.. Hugh Ca'ington so long you's
just as uedu al SIIuSy DIS he De.
You ain gwine ter marry that yaller
niger at Major TazewelIs, be youi
'Caise if you do Use gwine ter" He
stopped to formulate threat.
What yer gwine do?' the girl asked,
scornfully. EFF you go for to threaten
me I'll tell Miss Mamie, an she'll make
Mr.. Hugh have you put on the chain
gang"
Mr. Hugh ain got no call ter listen
TO no gal. He ain intrust in no gals"
You're fool, niger; but he ain in
trust no greet deal in one mated woman
just at present. His haws ain bein' fed
in the gen'rals stable this yere night.
No, suh.-I'm gwine home. Dunno what
! came for. Wast'n my time lis'nin' ter
such low trash. My daddy use to be
ca'iage driver fer Major Tazewell"
THAT warn't no greet things. My
folks has always been 'ristocrats. New
yer was no free niggers in our family.
We'se belonged to the Carringtons fer
maybe a thousand years"
well, maybe I'll have yer, but ain