The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-05-02
HOW A TRADITION
BECAME A CERTAINTY
By DONALD chamberlain
copyright, 1909, by American Press Asso-
ciationl


copyright, 1909 by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
When abouv 1880 In Virginia a little
girl baby came to Colonel and Mrs.
st. Leger the colonel, whose ancestors
had come to Virginia from Georgia, in
sisted on naming his daughter after
the latter state. Little Georgia was
assigned a nurse, a slave named Rose.
There are certain children who seem
to have been transplanted from heav
en-, and Georgia was one of them.
From the time she could toddle she
was adored by her fathers slaves.
first of all by her NANNY" She was
an only child and heir to one Of the
finest estates in the Old Dominion.
When Georgia became Of a marriage
able age she had many suitors. from
among whom she chose Edgar Bedell,
young attorney. Bedelrs ancestors
had lived in the north from the time
they had landed in America in 1890
After being graduated at college he
had gone south to tutor the sens of a
wealthy planter. meanwhile studying
law at the University of Virginia.
Colonel st. Leger made it a condition
of his marriage with Georgia that he
should remain in the south.
In year child was born to them.
1t lived only two days. but the brief
stay of the little stranger in it's pas
sage from the known to the IN
known made a great change for the
young couple-that is. great change
occurred at that time. for before the
mother appeared again to the world
the father had left Virginia for his
former home in the north. never to re-
turn. No one outside the manor house
| saw Mrs. BedeIl for many months aft
| er her confinement. and when she re-
| sumed her position as well woman
| she neither visited nor received any
| except the slaves on the plantation.
| Among these she went as before. but
with a blighted look on her face. No
cause was given for the change in her
or the departure and continued alb
sence of her husband. Whether her
| father and mother were cognizant of it
no one knew. but it was evident that
the blight. whatever it was. had fallen
on them as we'll as on the young cou
pie.
Ten years passed. and a new gen
GRAFTON was growing up. Those hear
ing of the Bedell case, as it was called
naturally assumed that something to
the discredit of one Or the other had
occasioned the separ; ton of the wed
ded pair. But if such were the case
nothing that gave color to this sus
picion ever leaked out. Besides. those
who had known Mrs. Bedell as Georgia
st. Leger would not admit that any
thing discreditable could ever be at
tributed to her. and, as for her bus
: band. planter returning from thu
north reported him as prominent
and much esteemed member Of the
) bar Of New York.
Bedell had spoken in the highes
J terms of his wife. but did not ever
refer to the cause that had separated
them. Mrs. Bedell never mentioned
her husband. but did not give out tn,
slightest hint that she had any caus,
:. to be dissatisfied with him.
:. Colonel st. Leger died and was sool
AOAAO"SN ~ lis VILE, ICdN lug MI
: Bedell a large estate. She left it
management to an overseer who hat
long enjoyed her fathers confidence
This was noted by many who wer
t hungry for her secret. they havin
: been curious after her fathers dealt
to know if Bedell would not return
and manage the estate for her.
Mrs. Bedell died at the opening o
the civil war. Her husband was pres
ent at her funeral. Many hoped tina
be would at last drop some hint as t
the cause Of his having left his wife
5 but he spoke never word and as 500
D as the burial had taken place left TO
:, his home. He was followed the mex
4 day by letter from an attorney stat
Il ing that his wife had left him her er
tire estate.
h Bedell never took possession Of th
property till four or five years late
when it was nearly worthless He b.
came a prominent Federal officer i
the civil war and on one occasion Ell
camped his troops on his own plant,
; ton. When he did take his inhe
itance he cut it up into small home
It for those former slaves who RENAME
upon it. giving. each negro title to b