Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-27

~ ALTHOUGH dinner was served
IL ~ at Annandale House little
sz%s5sN after 3 o'clock In the after
ES2B noon, in accordance with the
invariable southern custom. the shut
tiers were closed, the blinds were drawn
beneath the heavy lambrequins, and
the darkened dining room was lighted
by numbers of wax candles in old fash
Toned gilt candelabra, from whose
branching arms depended many glass
priems, which tinkled softly In the VI
bration caused by the serving OF the
dinner.
The table was loaded with massive
plate which had come down from
colonial days and even antecedent
years In older countries, and 1t groaned
with that profusion of viands charac-
teristic of southern hospitality.
On the right hand of her father, as
being the guest OF honor, to celebrate
whose birthday the dinner was given,
sat his daughter. Her slender neck and
shoulders rose from perfect billow OF
hounces OF exquisite point lace, which
covered the airy tulle fabric Of her
corsage, the ivory tints Of her skin
making sweet contrast with the dead
whiteness of her dress. She had
striven to control her rebellious curls,
and an attempt had been made to part
her hair In the middle and draw 1t
down smoothly around her brows and
over her ears, gathering 1t at the back
In handful of curls In which she had
thrust single belated red rose But
the wave that was In her hair would
show itself, and the thick brown locks,
resisting control, rippled softly across
her temples. She wore no Jewels, al
though her mothers casket In the
chamber above was filed with beautie
ful gems.
Opposite Mary was her friend and
companion, Pinkie Peyton Next to
Mary, Boyd Peyton was lucky enough
TO ind himself, and opposite him, next
bis sister, sat barrow. On either side
OF Mrs. Peyton, at the other end,
sat the Hon. Andrew Barry Moore,
governor of Alabama, and Colonel
Jones Withers, the mayor of Mobile
The governor, who was an old friend
of Judge Amman, had come especially
from Montgomery, the state capital, to
honor his daughter. The rest of the
company which included Colonel Pey-
ton, the Rev. DR.. George Bampney, the
rector Of Grace church; DR.. Lucien
Venosste, a retired physician who
owned large cotton plantations up the
state, although he lived most of his
time in Mobile; Senior Francisco Men
diota, shipowner, an exporter Of to-
bacco and cotton; Mr.. Owen Hudson,
q leading lawyer of the city and state,
and various other friends of consider
alton. together with their wives-wer
suitably placed about the table.
Though they were gathered together
in festal guise and to do honor to the
daughter of the house, the one subject
that would obtrude itself was the one
paramount In every heart. BY univer-
sal consent the discussion, which
waxed warm and persistent as the
meal was dlspat ched irresistfbly
turned upon the predominant question
DE secession and Its concomitant, slav-
cry.
sGentlenaen,'' said the governor, a
large. stout well built, rubicund, blue
eyed man, you know my sentiments,
ct course. telegraphed to the governor
of south Carolina when the ordinance
WAS being considered, on my own ae-
count. III my own behalf, of course.
tell the Carolina convention to listen
mo compromise or delay. z
KVa inaorse everything that you