The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-10

I
trust. 1 was a gentleman born and
bred. but my clothes sat but rough
" and indiTerentiy on me. partly
through lack of oversight and partly
from that rude tumble / had gotten.
Indeed. my breeches and my coat were
something torn by il.
Then too. / had doubtless n look of
ghastIiness and establishment that
might well have awaked suspicion. and
/ Captain Geoffry Cayendish had never
spoken with me in the short time since
his return. WHO may you be?' he
asked. and his voice hesitated between
hostility and friendliness. and my step
| father answered for me with a slight
forward thrust of his shoulders which
might have indicated shame. or impa-
thence, or both "'Tis Master Harry
Maria Wingfield" answered he: then
in the same breath, How came you
here. sir:''
answered, seeing no reason why I
should not. though I felt my voice
shake, being still unsteady with the
pain, and told the truth. that | had
come thither TO see if perchance l could
get glimpse of some of the black folk.
AT that Captain Cavendish laughed
good humoredly, being used TO the ex~
element his black troop caused and
amused at it, and called out merrily
that was about TO be gratified, and in
deed at that moment came running,
with fat lungeS. as it We're, of tremulouS
speed, a great black woman in pursuit
of the little maid and heaved her high
to her dark wave of bosom with hoarse
chuckles and cooings of love and de-
light and white rollings of terrified
eyes at her master if perchance he
might be wroth at her careleSSneSS.
He only laughed and brushed his
dark beard against the tender roses of
the little maid as he gave her up, but
my stepfather, who, though not ill ma
tured, often conceived the necessity Of
ill nature, was not so easily satisfied.
He stood looking sternly at my white
face and my weak yielding of body at
the bend of the knees, and suddenly he
caught me heavily by my bruised
shoulder What means all this.
sirrah?" he cried out. but then 1 sank
away before him, for the pain was
greater than / could bear.
When 1 came to myself my waist
coat was off, and both men looking at
must have barely grazed, though no
more, or l should have been in worse
plight Still the shoulder was a sorry
sight enough. and the great black wo-
man with the little fair baby in her
arms stood aloof looking at it with
ready tears. and the baby herself made
round eyes like stars, though she knew
not half what it meant. l felt the hot
red of shame go over me at my weak
ness at a little pain, after the first
shock was over, and 1 presumably
steeled to bear it like man, and
struggled to my feet, pulling my waist.
coat together and looking, I will ven
ture, much like a sulky and i'll condi-
toned lad.
What means that hurt on your
shoulder, Harry?' asked my stePfa-
Their, Colonel John Chelmsford, and his
voice was kind enough then. Il would
not have laid such heavy hand on thy
shoulder had l known of it," he added. |
My stepfather had never aught against
me that 1 wot of, having simply naught |
for me, and a man cannot in justice be |
held to account for the limitations of |
his affections, especially toward a ri |
val's son. He spoke with all kindness, |
and his great ruddy face had a heavy |
CLEAN of pity for my hurt, but l an |
swered not one word. How came it |
so, Harry" he asked again, with grow
ing wonder at my silence, but l would |
not reply.
Then Captain Cavendish addressed |
me. "You need have no fear, however |
you came by the hurt, my lad he said,
and 1 verify believe he thought 1 had
somehow caught the hurt while poach-
ing on his preserves. 1 stood before
them quite still, with my knees stiff
enough now, and think the color came
back in my face by reason of the re-
sistance of my spirit.
Harry, how got you that wound on
your shoulder? Answer me, SIR said
Colonel Chelmsford, his voice gathering
wrath anew. But I remained silent.
Then my stepfather's face blazed
high and his mouth Strengthened and
widened and his grasp frightened on a
riding whip which he carried, for he
had left his horse grazing a few yards
away. How came you by it, SIR" he
demanded and his voice was thick.
Then, when would not reply. he raised
the whip and swung it over my Shout
GerS, but L caught 1t with my sound
arm ere it fell and at the same time the
little maid, Mary Cavendish, set up
piteous wall of fear in her nurses
arms.
81 pray you, sir, do not brighten her."
I said, but wait till she be gone.' And
then 1 waved the black woman to carry
her away and with my lame arm. When
she had fed with the child's soft wall
floating back turned to my stepfather,
Colonel John Chelmsford, and he, hold
ing fiercely to the whip which I relin-
Quished, still eyed me with doubt
Harry, why will you not tell?' he
said, but shook my head, waiting for
him to strike me, for I was but boy,
and it had been so before, and perhaps r
more justly.
LET the lad go, Chelmsford" cried
Captain Cavendish. "Ill warrant he
has done no HARM" But my stepfa
Their would not heed him.
answer me, Harry" said he. Then,