Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-05-23

"My country, right OF WRONG, puI
TIL my country" murmured Eleanor
Wright with great satisfaction as she
,azed through the open window at the
lpplc trees laden with gorgeous BIOS
;oms. She loved the place and every
tick and stone on 1t. 1t was hers by
Ugh. of inheritance, and she would
ca, e 1t for no man.
True, her old nurse. RoXanna, had
-orsaken her to become the bride of
ABRAHAM, the head gardener on the
adjoining estate, and 1t seemed as II
andmark had been torn up by the very
roots. One must learn to part with
landmarks, so Eleanor had promised
TO 90 to Roxanna's wedding.
She Jumped into the little runabout
which was waiting for her ut the door.
No groom attended her, for all the.
darkies on the place had been given
n holiday that they, too, might attend
the wedding. She drove down the IA
miliar lane to the cabin In the WOODS
where hundreds OF darkies had con
Qregated. Only one other white per-
son was in sight, a tall, 1.-THE youth
astride a roam horse.
Most Of the colored men wore white
linen suits, Immediately clean, ana
carried canes OF crooked old birch ana
hickory. The women were arrayed to
shame Solomon In all his glory. They
drew aside rs the two white persons
came into their midst. Eleanor drove
I'D at the side of the house and de-
scended with the aid Of many black
hands. The tall youth stayed on his
horse and took up q stand near the
front door. Arm in arm the bride and
groom came from the house, and under
the old apple tree at the side OF the
cabin the most famous colored preach
er In the south made them man and
wife. Eleanor shook the groom by the
hand and told him to guard well his
precious helpmate. She kissed the
black face Of .Roxanna, who had been
her constant attendant since babyhood.
Then, blinded by tears, she jumped
into her little runabout and started
for home.
Cheers and hallelullahs rang upon
the air. Bright bandannas were flung
high, and hickory sticks wavered in
circles. After twenty years Of persist
ent courtship Roxanna and Abraham
were married! Eleanor turned to look
bacR at the happy throng, and heI
horse SHE'D.
She was good little horsewomar
and took firm grip on the reins, but
too latel The lorse had the bit In his
teeth and was running at terrific speed
The lftlt wagon rocked from one side
of the road to another Eleanor sway
ing with It. Down the road, past pink
orchards and green fields, swaying
swayIng-and then black nothing.
She opened her eyes to gaze int
those of the youth who had attended
the wedding.
"Pm Dick Ewing, your next dool
neighbor," he explained as he made
her a bit more comfortable by proppint
her up. abraham is our gardener, yo'
know" he continued, "and | saw yo'
at the wedding. You seem to have for
gotten me. How's your head, chr
Eleanor had known Dick Ewin'
when she was a child. The last TIM
they had met he had called "tomboy
at her as she climbed over the fenc
which divided the Ewing place iron
the Wright plantation. Then he ha'
been sent to Germany at the behest o
a wealthy uncle.
He seemed to divine her thoughts.
'T got back the other day-just 1
time for the wedding" and he laughe
an infectious laugh. "But this line o
conversation Is not getting you home
I don't know just how to do 1t. | don
suppose there's n sober darky this sid
Of the Mason and Dixon line-all q
the wedding drinking Wright eide
Your wagon is smashed. Oh, L sa!
couldn't you sit my horse, and III wal
alongside? We're most there 70
| know"
He inspired confidence. Eleanor gait
cred up her torn skirt and with DICK
assistance mounted the horse. On ID
way home the time was spent IN e.
nlnnatlons. He had much to tell
student life In Germany. Now a III
dedged doctor, he had come home
nractIce in the south. Her tale wa
more simple, an uneventful lie
home with Roxanna always guardin
her.
w lust don't know how I'll ever g
along without her. Do you know,
seldom even put a hairpln in my hair
said Eleanor, with a helpless, appef
ing expression that touched DICK
heart as II some tragedy had overtak'
her.
Don't you talk. I expect the 1
nous gardens of the Ewing estate CT
now 20 to rack and ruin, for ADrana
| Will De 0Olue uldhihS wv
welding the hoe" said Dick IN ma
culIne attempt at sympathy.
Eleanor was safely deposited on L
front perch, with her mother ammo
hysterlcal In gratitude to their neig
Dor.
"I may come again, please" he sa
as he extended his hand to Elean'
provided. of course, that don't ha
to take a hand at the garden" he ad
ed, with some sarcasm.
"Oh. do come over." cordially asset
ed Eleanor. II shall probably be
pinned up the back and wearing I
hair in a pIgtall, because without RC
anna-well, come over and see for yo'
self"
Dick was very busy the next day o
ing to the promotion Of the second N
as overseer during Abraham's hone
moon. The underservants resented
authority, and Dick was at his WI
end to moIlify them, assuring tnen u
Abraham would be back In Il