The Washington times., 1911-06-07


Southern women, to sewing
or knitting for the soldiers
was on the shady side-porch one morn.
Ing, sewiro at a flannel shirt, when
Lymus happened to carry an empty ash
barrel around the house. She beckoned
to him, for the sight of the stout negro
had given her an idea.
''Yas. missy said Lymus. setting
down the barrel and removing his cap.
DO you remember, Lymus." she
asked, the night stopped at Old Cold
Harbor on my way to town?'
"Yas, missy
Did you see a crippled soldier around
there that night?"
Lymus scratched his wool and flick
cred mis- eyelids as though making a
great effort TO remember. At the same
time he was slyly watching his little
mistress.
'Peahs like 1 recIeck a one-legSed
soJuh somewhahs," he ventured at last.
He was young. a little over middle
helght, don't you remember-a noun
man. with sandy-red hair. and bright
eyes that seemed to pierce right through
"Yas'm?"
'Since we've been in town, have you
ever noticed him on the streets?'
Lymus pondered a while, his face
stolid. He was a person of more than
ordinary gravity of department, was
Lymus. very deliberate and oracular in
conversation. 1t was well known, for
he took care TO impress it upon every
one, that he had long ago got - 'ligion. "
He spent hours in prayer and solemn
musing; at colored Baptist meetings his
serious head rising amid the duskv
congregation, and his melodouS, reso-
nant voice telling of his "'sperience. "
were always conspicuous. Seldom. in
h. 4
drollery of his race to break the sober
front which added so much to his dig
nifty and standing. But now, when he
looked up sidelong, there was a sly grin
fringed his mouth
Was missy wantin' to see dat sojuh
pa'tic'lah?" he asked, evading a direct
answer.
oh. so much; He might be of the
greatest service
Bout Mawse Floyd?"
Yes"
Reckon If I was to hunt TO- him I
denly.
Do" she cried. delighted. You can
go about the poorer quarters of the city.
where | can't. And, Lymus, I'll give
yoU-I'll give you those striped trousers
of my uncles that you admired so
'Thankee. missy" chuckled Lymus,
and. winking rapidly over some scheme
llIdN llciA w Nu ~ L'IIAI' ~ Sl ~ AiAV
Delia's promise of such a moderate
reward las due, not to lack of desire TO
speed Lymus' search but to lack oc
means She had fed from her own
home almost destitute, and now poverty
was beginning TO make visible appear
ance in the Vaughan household.
Philip NaUghan's income was derived
from long-term leases of several dwell
ing houses in Richmond. and OF a small
farm on Gravelly Run, south of Peters
burg. 1t could not, therefore, expand
with the rapid depreciation of the cur
rency: and now that the cost of every
thing had enormously increased, the
dreamy recIuse had much ado to make
both ends meet.
No admission from the old gentleman
himself would ever have informed Della
of the specter in the house. Mr..
Vaughan was a proud and sensitive
soul, full of impra Cicable sentiments.
and withal as helpless as child in
money matters. If the accommodating
bills caused him any anxiety, 1t was re-
vealed only in his disposition to retire
somewhat earlier than usual to his
room. where he would lock the world
out and SCTbble verse or indulge in
rhapsodies on his violin. The thought
Of confessing his difficulty TO his niece
he would have spurned as not only a
gross breach of hospitality, but an abne-
cation Of his manhood.
One morning. however. when Della
had gone into the yard before breakfast
10 gather few deWy sprays OF arO-
rratlc fraxinella for the table, a grocer
came in at the gate and presented to
her long, itemized bill for unpaid gro
Ceries'
MY uncle is not up yet" said she,
quite alarmed by the amount; but am
sure there is some mistake. He always
pays his household bills at the end Of
the week"
the grocer, that he'd keep it un, then!
That bills for four weeks provisions"
Possibly he forgot. Uncle Philip is
very absent-minded."
"'Tain't my fault II he forgot! I've
sent him three already. How's a trades
man to make a living these hard times
II people don't pay their honest debts?"
81 am sure said Della, provoked at
owes this he will attend to.it at once"
They happened to be standing, as she
spoke, under the omen windows Of her
uncle's room, and moment later Philip
Vaughan emerged upon the side-porch
looking. in the fresh morning light, un-
yontediy sallow and thin.
Fetch that bill to me, SIR he said
sternly to the grocer, who hastened 10
In spite Of the rumpled dressing gown
Of faded silk and it's bulging pocketful
OF rolled manuscripts: there was a fine,
erect gentility about the feeble old gen
quite wfthered the irate grocer, and
caused him to become profuse CT
"H-m-ha," said Philip Vaughan, run
ming his eve carelessly down the for
midable list of items. "Henceforth be
pleased to present your bills to me, sir.
and not to annoy the ladies Of my
house, sir You will be paid IN full to-
morrow. Good day, sir
iron the grocer's discounted depart
ure, Della expressed a hope that there
would be no difficulty in paying so large
a bill
waving his thin, white hand. 81 have
been engrossed of late upon my heroic
ode which the lamentable death of
Stonewall Jackson inspired There
upon. for her benefit, he began to de-
claim:
He who midst tn embattled legions
strode,
Scanning the serried ranks with eagle
eye"
Il fear that my coming to live with
you," she faltered, ''and bringing my
two servants, has greatly increased
your expenses"
mo lady's company" declared Philip
Vaughan with another stately gesture,
mo lady's company can ever be eX-
pensive to a gentleman. Yours, my
dear. is a priceless boon. Let us go in
10 breakfast. Henry" he called to his
body servant, who had apDeared at the
omen window, lis breakfast ready?"
So splendid was the old gentleman in
his dismissal of the subject that none
would have suspected that the matter
discuss nothing but poetry, and repeated
several stanzas of his ode in a rolling
sonorous voice. waving his fork. Yet
opca he interrllpted himself with a