Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-03-25
Playing
Hero
A Story Of . Virginia Manor House
Just Before lie Ruin
BY WORTH WOODBURY.
Copyright by American Press Asso.
.lnainn iaii
BY WORTH WOODBURY.
Copyright by American Press Asso.
citation. 1911.

tlhtiOn. 1911
There has never been and never will
be again any such life as existed on
the southern plantation up TO the pc.
Rod when the system of slavery ceas-
ed to exist. In many respects II was
M ideal life. Its pleasanter features
were more pronounced In Virginia than
In any other state. II having been
the first of the colonies and planted
by the cavaliers OF England. Two
hundred years later their descendants
formed n unique people. The planta-
ton was patriarchal institution. The
planter stood IN the place of the pa
triarch. his children constituted the
next grade. the negro house servants
the next. and lastly came the field
hands
The children OF the planter were ed
ucated In accordance with the some
what lofty ideas of their English an
cestors who lost their cause nj Naseby
some two centuries before. The young
men lived an out OF door life and
mostly In the saddle. The young wo.
mems duties consisted largely In visit
ing the negroes ON the plantation and
ministering 10 their wants There
was no actual work done except by the
negroes. and they were not overwork
cd The plantation supported every
one on II and was administered usual
| ~ with justice TO all.
saw the end of this system not as
a part Of Il. but as participator In
the military struggle by which II fell.
The plantation on which the incidents
narrated in this story occurred Is now
divided into thirty parts. Even the
beautiful grounds In which the manor
house stood and still stands. slowly
rotting away. are covered with potato
vines, and the immense trees that
shaded the roof from the hot southern
sun have been cut down for firewood
One afternoon-it was in 1897 car
ried from u battlefield TO this manor
house brother officer who had been
wounded. II was then as II always had
been. but was not to be In future
Two soldiers carried the wounded man
on stretcher through an avenue OF
trees 10 the front veranda and set
down the streicher. while stalked In.
side A quadroon house servant re.
ceived me. asked for the owner OF
the premises.
"What Is II. Clarice?"
The voice came from person on the
second story and seemed TO roll melo-
diously down the great winding stair.
case. When first heard the opening
strains of annie Laurie" fell In love
with the song. and when heard these
words. what Is IL. Clarice?" ! fell In
love with the unseen voice.
81 have brought young officer" !
said. "from the fight going OH over the
river. He is badly wounded. Can you
not find II In your heart to take him
I'm? lie would die II left on the field"
As spoke girl OF twenty. perhaps.
came down the staircase Alas. she
was the last of n long line OF refined
danes who had passed up and down
that same staircase, built In England a
hundred and fifty years before. Her
complexion was that olive white mixed
with vermiion which was often TO be
found among these highborn women
OF the south. She cast a quick glance
at the linn form. the pale face lying
on the stretcher. and her features were
TRANSPORTED to express profound pity.
"This way" she said and, turning
opened n door that led TO n chamber
on the ground floor. We followed. !
ordered the men TO set down the
stretcher. and one OF them assisted me
TO Iift the wounded man on to the bed
Then. telling the invalid that ] would
be back as soon as possible. left him
We were members of the same stan
and I went nj once TO our general and
reported what had done. He directed
me 10 find surgeon II possible and
take him with me 10 Kirkwood-
wounded comrade--and remain with
him until he was out OF danger or
dead. reminded the general that il
would not do TO ask surgeon 10 20 TO
one from so many who needed him.
anu ne SHfO Tie Wouiu sttiu hue oHe az
soon as he could be spared.
II was week before we could
form any opinion as TO Kirkwood's
recovery. During that time my gen
erals headquarters were not far from
the Rutledge manor house where Kirk
wood lay. and ! was with the Invalid
n good deal OF the time. My presence
there was really unnecessary. for the
women OF the family-the men were
all I'm the Confederate army-could not
have taken better care OF son or a
brother. Lillian Rutledge. who had
thrilled me with her voice before had
even seen her and afterward by her
personnel. was unconsciously leading
me to fraudulently let the general be-
lieve that Kirkwood needed me. !
fear wished my friend might lie
there hanging between life and death
till the war was over. but unfortu.
nately for me the surgeon NJ last said