The Washington times., 1911-05-27
THE VINTAGE
By JOSEPH STARTS
Copyright. 1911, The Frank A. Munsey Company.

| team. a young woman brushed aside
the tattered curtain and sprang out. Her
flushed cheeks and big, dark eyes flash
ing fire attested her feelings. She waa
beautiful little creature, slender, but
daintilY rounded, as she stood there in
a clumsy. homemade dress OF black
bomhazine: silenCinE their laughter by
her iIuperious chances, scorn pursuing
her scarlet rosebud of a mouth. o
A general mur1nur Of admiration
arose at the abrupt appearance out Of
the rickety old coach. like a Jewel from
an old moth-eaten cuse. Of this allUring
ate ard proud.
At the same moment an aged colored
woman thrust a ycllow-turbaned head
between the curtains and in a voice of
wrath preternaturally deep growled:
Grea-a-ate King! Eff ole Mawse Gin
raj Coombs wuz live, dat ar trash d
soteh UP right smart, now / tells yo'!"
Be still, Binah"' said the girl in a
low tone. Don't lower me by noticing
thcia." Then. addressing the driver
Vas, missy" responded the serious
negro. leaning attentively down from
the box.
Have the team up for the night. Ly-
stop here till morning instead Of trying
10 reach Richmond tonight. Come
NANNY" I,
The colorcd woman had descended
from the carriage with an arnload of
parcels and baskets, and in her bright
print dress and turban as she followed
her little mistress up the steps into the
tavern. she presented majestic Juno
csque figure, six feet tall.
That's General Coombs' daughter"
somebody said softly. after they had
passed. Tyler Coombs, of Hanover
county. you know, that got killed at the
First Manassas"
There was 4 craning Of necks and sud
den attention.
why, isn't 1t her brother then, sir"
a man asked, jerking his thumb toward
Richmond. that all this talk about in
the newspapers"
Before any one else could speak the
threadbarc prcacher put in offiCiously:
Capt. FLOYD COombs-yes, sir. And I
presume it's more than talk; they have
the young man locked up" He looked
gravcly around like one who speaks OF
mysteries. "A most revolving crime-as
was remarked to me IN conversation
Yesterday by the Hon. Mr.. Foote. A
most revolving crime! Behind iron bars,
however, let us be thankful the traitor
waits his righteous doom"
Let US he polite said the Jew TO the
preacher. bland and smiling. but with
a touch of derision. Let us be polite
and leave something for his judges to
do
An elderly farmer, also, who had lis
tened impatieCtly. took the preacher to
task.
where's our proof Mr.. Harris? 1
don't believe them newspapers, nohow.
know that boy. l knowed his father.
What ohje t could here be for such L
boy as FLOYD Coombs to play such Il
low-doWn trick?'
"Ah, that's it, cried the preacher
NV friend has hit the nail Of truth
upon the head. Gold! Gold. The sordid
thrust one hand oratoricallv into the
bosom OF his seedv coat. and waved the
other toward an imaginary audience III
the road. Every cause. however right
euus. must have its Iscariot. 1t was
mans love of money that betrayed our
savior Nuught is sacred to the Istful
EYE. Man will not learn that there are
things far, far better than money!"
Yes, yes, there are some things,
cried the Jew with a cleaning laugh.
But IL takes money to buy them.
In TIE hallway the landlord. meeting
mis- latest guest, beaned uron her -
,ordiaI welcome. sweeping OF his stra"
hat.
d, this is the late gallant Gen. Tyler
COMBS fair daughter. Miss Della
Coombs. of Hanover county"
Yes" she answered. still flushed. II
I'm Miss Coombs.
I'm proud-proud to receive you I'M
y
oil able far around out OF your rnad?'
I'm going to the city, Mr.. Burr ct, |
and the Mechanicsville road Is blocked |
~ a train of carts anu negro gangs. |
4 seems they're throwing up more for
ifications."
To he sure' To be sire! Since the
aid last month"
so I thought I'd travel around this |
way, to get over on the NewbridGe read: |
But now it's so late can't go on till |
morning."
well, now, don't you be put out |
zone, ma'am. I reckon my wife can |
make YOU as conf able"
'Worl' widOut end suddenly doomed |
he aged negress Pits mighty cheap |
rowd yo' got hangin' eroun' yo' front
,o'ch, Mawse Buhnet: Hain't dem folks
rot no respect TO quality"
BE still. Pinah!' sharply said the
,iIl. Bat Binah went on:
How come ives trapesin eroun he
line dat ole mule an dat dog-gone
,ony? Hits cause dem Yanks done run
~ all de fine stock. OATS how! An
low dish trash laf at US: Grea-a-ate
<ingr'
The landlord looked helplessly to Miss
combs for explanation. .,
Those raiders last month"; she said,
stripped orr place of almost every
hing. They drove off or killed about
nd trampled it down; and when they
1T our field-hands follow ed them In
ody. So, as we can't work the place,
We decided to abandon it till better
avs It's too exposed. My aunt and
er husband started Yesterday for Nor
ok. but my Uncle Philip GENT for me to
ONE to him in Richmond"
Too badl Too Internal bad!' ex-
loded kindly Burnet, ushering the
Dung lady into tie private parlor:
What the culture and refinement OF
hanover county have suffered at the
loody hands of those vandals. ma'am,
taggers belief! Yes, sub! I'm tempted
o express my opinion of EN- in Ian
uage that amt suitable for the ears
( beauty"
put Binah there'-the girl laughed
ut suddenly and gleefully-"but my
car, clever old nanny. saved the sill
erware. When she saw the bluecoats
n the lane. she dumped all the sill
crware into her apron and ran out and
r0pued It down the well!'
Rinah, having deposited her package
n the sofa, Strengthened up, put her
rms alIimbo. and swayed with naive
xultation from side to side.
Dis yaw amt no spring chicken" de-
!areG she. us tellin' yo' all p'inted!y.
All amt none on EN- gwine to fool dis
aw ole hen. Show 1t to me-"
Continuation of This story VIII Be