The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-06-11


Those lines beginning
Behold yon glare that drives the mid
night pale,
Affrighted from her starry throne
my friend. DR.. Garrett, when read
them to him the other day. Yes. will
publish my ode"
Who in the South, except specula-
tors and contractors has money to
spare for poetry now, dear? The gentry
and cultivated persons are all impov-
erished.'
So the dodgers remained.
But Philip Vaughan's sense Of chiv-
airy forbade him to keep both the
library and his bedroom for his exclusive
use while his niece was sleeping in the
garrett He removed many of the books
and papers to his bedroom from the
library, and implored her to occupy the
vacated apartment Instead, she Of
fered 1t for rent.
To earn some pocket money for her
self Della employed her spare moments
in plating hats and bonnets out of
straw or palmetto leaves, as she had
seen the daughters of MI. Jones do
ing, and sold them to a storekeeper on
Main street Moreover, her neighbor
the War Department gave him oppor-
tunity to know, informed her of a way
to earn a little additional money from
the Treasury Department.
The Confederate financial system, as
conducted by the statesman, Memmin-
ger, was very simple matter. 1t con-
sisted in issuing more and more treas
dry notes for all expenditures, regard
NF he al IL, r1N 10
ton. Thanks to the rap!dity of mod
ern printing processes, the supply OF
these notes was only limited by the
difficulty of having them signed as fast
as printed. Accordingly, 1t mattering
little whose signature the notes bore,
the sheets of new notes were given out
to several thousand young ladies OF
Richmond who were willing to accept
employment at their homes. Della in
duced some of her influential relatives
10 get her appointed as one of these
deputies and thus added materially to
her income.
In she had put aside from the proceeds
Of her bonnet braiding and her treas
ury work quite a sum of money, such
as 1t was. She purposed a special use
for it. Her best gown had grown so
shabby that she would have scorned,
before the war. to have been seen in
such a garment; and. like many other
women, she was wearing shoes Of can
vas BACKED with gun backing:
ships to a girl who was by nature and
rearing daintuy neat and even fastidi-
Gus as to her attire. But II was not
for herself and her own needs that she
was planning to use her savings. On
the bleak December nights the Grip
PIE, Potts, would come hobbling in at
the gate to his lessons, looking quite
destitute. the collar of his thin. ragged
jacket turned up against the wind, and
his hare hands blup from cold
Never once had Della been able TO
get the man to divulge anything definite
about his boarding house or his means
of support. She thought his reticence
was due to pride She believed she
could see his face growing more drawn
and haggard, as though he suffered from
lack of proper food. There were anxious
lines deepening about his strong mouth
he laughed, telling her something that
leased and provoked her. was an in
tensity almost fierce.
Sometimes now, too. he seemed to
maintain his cheerfulness only by an
effort: a subdued sarcasm and bitter
ness lurked beneath his jrsts like a ser
pent that had crawled under comic
mask. Nevertheless, he was uncom-
planning. and invariably refused the food
which Della tried to get him to accept
while at his lessons.
These signs of restitution troubled the
girl, and Christmas was at hand. Philip
down at Gravelly Run had sent him up
a chicken for Christmas, and Della in
vited her rough pupil to the dinner.
But he awkwardly declined, stating that
he had some work to do that day.
On Christmas eve, however, Potts
came as usual to his lesson. There was
an open fireplace in the dining room,
and Lynus had built good fire and
cold night even for that season Of the
year. During the lesson Della and her
soldier drew their chairs close to the
cracking flames, and sat in front OF
feet on the old brass f1re-dogs. Cheered
by the pleasant glow, their talk uncon-
sciously fell away from arithmetic and
spelling to more congenial themes. He
began to tell her again of Hog Jaw val
ley, his boyhood home.
was an old niger up toward the north
end" remarked he at last, 'we-uns called
INC Gabe. Belonged to Squire Tawney.
inc Gabe had a right smart Of a name
for stealin' chickens, but nary time
could they ketch him, till one mawnin'
Hank Bronson gifts him red-handed
walkin' off with two chickens under his
arm, and hauls him up afore the squire.
"'Gabe,' says the squire, wizard you
git them chickens" A done raise en-
says Gabe. viii you sw'ar to that,
Gabe" says the squire, and totes out
Bible, cause he knowed Gabe was the
all-firedest. religiousest niger on his
how you raised them chickensT Vas,
suh,' says Unc' Gabe 'thouten a trem-
BILE. And he took that thar oath and
gifts off free.
Next mawnin', squire, who's been
studyin' the thing over, calls up Unc'
Gabe - him and says: 'Gabe, how
come you done raise them chickens and
never seen EN- before| Cause All
done raise EN- fro a hole says Gabe.
All done put ma arm down fro de hole
en- de hen house while dey wuz roostin'
an raise EN- up fro dar!'' -
He stood up, laughing, to so.
Now that you've been discussing
chickens" said Della, determined to
bring him to the topic she had in mind. |
wont you come around tomorrow and
have some of ours?'
Nom, can't. I got to work, like
told you afore."
you've always refused to eat any
thing in our house. Don't you know |
that's an Oriental way of showing en-
nifty"
II amt comm here for no vittles,"
said Potts, with slight frown.
But tomorrow will be Christmas, and |
It hurts me to think you won't even ac-
oept the poor gift Of dinner at my |
hands" |
Your kindness, miss, in rarnin' me |
all this here knowledge is gift enough" |
THAT isn't the same thing. And I'd |
feel deeply injured and insulted If |
thought you refused to come because |
YOU were determined not to accept even |
a Christmas gift at my hands" Al |
though she was smiling all the time, she |
was very much in earnest. She sprang |
an and caught ore of his hands between /