The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-11-18
HIS ATONEMENT
tOriglnaLl


was recklessly brave, and this soon
made him an officer.
one day a brother officer OF Bert
was wounded and Bert remained be
hind while the army pushed on. They
were near one of those old plantations
with colonial residence in its center
common in Virginia. Trowbridge car
ried his friend there. The wounded
man was taken in. placed in one Of the
best rooms in the house and given
every attention. Bert left his compan-
ion in charge of the inmates and went
out TO the stable TO see that their
horses were provided with fodder.
When he returned, a young girl was
carrying a salver ON which were dish
of broth and some delicacies.
Ellnor Digby was a typical Virginia
maiden. Her complexion was olive.
her hair and eyes jet black, while her
cheeks were a pair Of roses Trow-
bridge had been campaigning, with
men for his sole companions, and had
scarcely laid eyes ON n woman for
more than year The consequence
was that this apparitiOn Of womanly
loneliness threw him into a sudden
fever. Without stopping TO consider
the enormity Of the offense, the viola
ton Of hospitality. ingratitude for
kindness 10 himself and his wounded
friend. he exclaimed, I'm going TO
have a kiss If die for it, and, taking
the girl at the disadvantage OF having
her hands employed. put his arms
around her neck and kissed her.
The moment he had offended he re-
allied what he had done. The hot
blood rushed into the girls face. and
her eyes cleaned with Indignation,
scorn and. what brought most remorse
TO Trowbridge. the panied expression
OF one who had received an evil return
/ for kindness.
| For shamer' she exclaimed. we
have received you into our home, we
are taking every care Of your friend,
/ am carrying him nourishment with
my own hands instead Of sending il by
one of the women, and you, who look
like gentleman, treat me as II you
were a vandal. Some day L Will make
you pay for thisP'
"And some day l will do penance."
Without taking further notice Of him
the girl went ON upstairs. and he heard
her enter the room OF his wounded
! comrade.
The war ended without Trowbridge
again coming near the Digby planta-
ton or seeing Elinor Digby. He had
not forgotten her-he could never for
/ get her-but the episode seemed thing
OF the past Her threat TO make him
| pay for the indignity he had offered
her and his promise Of atonement
seemed now improbable Of realization.
The south had been Frustrated by
the war and was slowly recovering.
What recovery there was did not per
tain TO the original holders Of land and
slave property. and planters who had
been wealthy since the time OF Wash
ington were penniless and their chill
dren obliged to seek livelihood in the
cities Of the more prosperous north.
Trowbridge belonged TO a wealthy
family in New York. After the war he
found himself In possession OF his IN
heritance and set himself about Its
management. One afternoon while
calling at The house Of one of his
friends. sitting In one Of the dark
drawing rooms OF that brick and stone
city. woman passed through the room
She did not see Trowbridge. but Trow
bridge saw her. and at once knew hei
for Elinor Digby. on inquiry he learn
ed that her ancestral estates were II
ruins. and she was a goyerness In th'
house he was visiting.
Trowbridge did not call again for
year, but the next morning Miss Digb,
. received a box Of cut flowers. Wher
= they came from was a mystery, for n
s card came with them. Soon after thi
/ the lady whose children she taught be
, gan TO invite her TO go with her {
balls and receptions, insisting ON Pre-
viding her with suitable costumes
i Ellnor protested, but the lady insiste'
a and, having yielded once, she wa
Obliged to yield again and again.
q was not long before the governess wa
ON intimate terms with many OF III
best people OF New York. Those WEI
> DAYS when Ito the manner born
a counted for far more than IL does nov
n and the highbOrn mien of Miss Digb
e combined with great sweetness of dl
> position, made her extremely popular.
Ellnor was troubled because 81
could not show her appreciation Of hi
: obligation TO her benefactress. III
J. lady declared that she was entitled
D. no credit whatever-that money WI
rs no object TO her, and there was !
o generosity where there was no sacr
IL fee. At the end Of a year howeve
she confessed that she had been LAWS
ing the kindness of another, she he
self being simply medium. Then 81
W appointed an evening when she won
" Introduce Ellnor to her friend.
v. II did not occur TO Ellnor that tn
r friend could be other than some vi
ginian who knew her family, her n
cessities and her pride. When 81
n entered the drawing room and saw
man whom by the uncertain light 81
did not recognize she was astonishe
or Then she saw that the visitor was h
nv old enemy Trowbridge.
a., "Miss Digby," he said when l IN
IA saw you you vowed revenge, ator
rs ment have come to give you Z
IL revenge dearest TO woman. Since