Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-07-15
HOW A TRADITION
BECAME A CERTAINTY
A. DONALD CHAMBERLAIN.
1903, by American Press Assc
IVY citation I


t~~p ciation.l
when about 1890 In Virginia a little
10, baby came to Colonel and Mrs. |
:. Ueger the colonel. whose ancestors |
soA come to virginia from Georgia, in. |
stsfed on naming his daughter after |
tha latter state. Little Georgia was |
asa,oned a nurse, slave named Rose. |
There are certain children who seem |
- have been transplanted from heay-
on and Georgia was one of them.
rom the time she could toddle she
los adored by her fathers slaves,
asst Of all by her nanny" She was
an only child and heir to one of the
enost estates in the Old Dominion.
when Georgia became of marriage
sble age she had many suitors, from
among whom she chose Edgar Bedell,
Young attorney. BedeIl's ancestors
nod lived in the north from the time
thew had landed in America in 1880
fter being graduated at college be
had gone south to tutor the sons Of a
wealthy planter, meanwhile studying
law at the University Of Virginia.
Colonel st. Leger made 1t condition
On bis marriage with Georgia that he
should remain in the south.
IN a year a child was born to them
II lived only two days. but the brief
stay OF the little stranger in its pas
sage from the known to the IN
nowu 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-
uru. No one outside the manor house
saw Mrs Bedell 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 d bIighted look on her face. No
eause was given for the change in her
br the departure and continued abb
Aeuce OF ner husband. Whether her
ather and mother were cognzaut of it
bO one knew. but it was evident that
he blight. whatever it was. had fallen
Dn them as well as on the young cou-
Die.
Ten years passed. and a new gen.
ration was growing up. Those hear
ng OF the Bedell case, as it was called
naturally assumed that something TO
he discredit of one or the other had
bccasioned the separation of the we'd
led pair But II such were the case
hothing 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 10 her, and. as for her bus
band. planter returning from the
horth reported him as a prominent
and much esteemed member of the
par of New York.
Bedell had spoken in the highest
herms of his wife. but did not even
efer to the cause that had separated
them. Mrs. Bedell never mentioned
Ter husband. but did not give out the
highest hint that she had any cause
o be dissatisfied with him.
Colonel ST. Leger died and was soon
beloved by his wife, leaving Mrs.
Bedell a large estate. She left its
management to an overseer who had
Ong enjoyed her fathers confidence.
his was noted by many who were
hungry for her secret. they having
been curious after her fathers death
know If Bedell would not return
md manage the estate for her.
Mrs. Bedell died at the opening of
he civil war. Her husband was pres
Mt at her funeral Many hoped that
would at last drop some hint as to
he cause of his having left his wife.
mt be spoke never a word and as soon
9 the burial had taken place left for
Is home. He was followed the next
az by letter from an attorney stat
g that his wife had left him her en-
re estate.
Bedell never took possession of the
topery till four or FIVE years later
hen It was nearly worthless. He be-
me a prominent Federal officer in
le civil war and on one occasion en-
mped his troops on his own planta-
on. When he did take his inner
ance he cut it up into small homes
pr those former slaves who remained
pom 1t, giving each negro title to his
md. Bedell died ten years after the
ose OF the war.
1t seemed that with the death OF the
st person interested in the curious
nair the secret would be buried for
FER. The very reverse of this oc-
arred. Martha. Mrs. Bedell's mann
", knew all and had been enjoined
her mistress to make It known
rter the death OF all concerned should
be live so long Martha gave the ex-
ianation Immediately after Bedel's
cath.
When the child OF Mr. and Mrs. Be
Ell was born Rose was astonished TO
ote certain marks upon 1t indicating
lat there was a trace In 1t of negro
iood. She had endeavored to conceal
aese marks from the mother. but fail
Mrs. Bedell discovered them. and