Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-08-03
Copyright 1909. by ]. B. Lippincott Company.
CHAPTER I.-CoNTINUED.

At length they began their prepa
atoms for departure, but ere they
were ready to set forth the colonel
turned to Jane with real concern. us
it possible. dear lady," he asked,
that you are left alone in this great
house with only these blacks? Surely,
'twere perilous situation, and |
must crave the privilege of leaving
with you "a guard of some of my
faithful fellows until your father and
mother return"
Jane threw back her head and
smiled at him in a bewitching de-
riSion. what a harsh mistress Col.
Bessemer must think me- she re-
marked, that i should needs be
afraid to be left alone with these,
my people. Know you, sir, that every
negro upon this plantation has be-
longed all his life to either my
fathers family or that of my own
mother or my stepmother. Each OF
them is bound to us by ties that have
been weaving through generations.
Every one of them is as dear to me
as though he were my kinsman. and
L dare to believe that i am equally
dear to each of them. Nay, colonel,
you are not half SO safe at the head
of your legion as am here surround
ed by my black servants"
/ She spoke with spirit, the rich color
mantling her cheeks. for it was
matter of pride with the Ellerys that
no family in all the colonies could
more confidently claim or better
merit the devotion of their depend
ents. Strict disciplinarians they
were, knowing well that laxity was
mistaken kindness, but liberal and
just always.
"Ah, madam" Bessemer answered
lit is not necessary to tell me that
your people love you. No one could
be associated with you an hour with
out doing that, much less years.
She swept him mock courtesy
and then, i'm true southern fashion
accompanied him to the front door:
tits fashion that even yet southern
hostesses find it hard to wean them
selves from. Stepping out upon the
portico, she saw that the sky, so
smiling when they arrived. was over
cast, while banks of ominous black
clouds had gathered in the east.
"Methinks, colonel" she said. there
is storm brewing / beg that you
tarry until we see how much of ii
one it is to be. for our South Carolina
tempests are not often mild. even at
this mild season of the year"
Il thank you, sweet lady" Besse-
mer answered, but / fear we have
infringed too long upon your hospi-
tally as it is, and that the rebels
will have taken advantage of our self
indulgence to be up to mischief.
Duty tells me l must join my Gen.
CORVALLIS as soon as possible, though
inclination fain would chain me
here"
Even as he spoke the wind rose into
gale, and swayed this way and that
the tops of the great elms which
lined the avenue from the carriage
gate to the house. There was a
binding fash of lightning, grow
of thunder, and Il splash of rain.
Then, as though encouraged, the ele,
mentS let loose their fury.
1t would not be the first storm that
Bessemer and his men had breasted
but never had they set out in one
from surroundings so Hospitality in
Niting. Not since they left Charleston
had they seen such lavish display of
luxurious living as here; and, indeed.
few country seats even in rich Vir-
ginia maintained the daily scale OF
munificence exhibited by this South
Carolina plantation.
The storm was augmenting its
force. Bessemer hesitated what to
do. As rain began to descend in
sheets, he gave the command for his
men to break ranks and pitch their
Shelter-tents.
"You see, dear lady" Bessemer said
to her, as she stood watching the
soldiers deft work. that the very
elements are leaguing for my happi
ness to-day in offering me so good
an excuse for indulging longer in
your sweet society,"
Perhaps" Jane answered, at is
my pleasure they are considering.
.and could he who six months age