The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-10-17
but now summoned the courage to

say:
Colonel, there is one little thing l
should like to have settled. Business
Is business, you know" ! said. laugh
ing. for | did not like he look of dig
nifty he suddenly assumed at the men
ton of business. in justice 10 both
OF US ought TO ask you how much
will be my board by the week"
Had General Oglethorpe himself arts
en- TO confront the colonel | do not
think he could have shown more sur
prise han he did at my simple ques-
ton. He drew himself up with a dig
nifty which was truly commanding,
and, speaking in a suppressed voice, he
asked me:
when have the Turpins adopted the
custom of taking money from their
guests, | beg you to tell me. sir? II
you We're not n kinsman of my dear
friends. the Palmers, would ut once
show you the door"
| stood covered with confusion. II
humbly beg your pardon If | have of
tended you. colonel. and | am greatly
mortified to have so deeply wounded
you. but until this moment l thought
you had been kind enough to receive
me rs ii boarder | felt grateful enough
for that. and you should not put me
under obligations which | can never re
pay and which | have no right TO ac-
cept. But you yourself are somewhat
to blame" | added quickly. for | saw
that he was still deeply offended. "lou
told me that ! might get board In one
OF the farmhouses and Immediately
offered me the hospitality of your
roof"
The TurpinS are not farmers, sir.
they are planters. and If We have to
coOk our own meals we serve them
with no less degree of hospitality than
when n niger stood at each door at
the beck and call of everybody in the
room"
Colonel Turpin, | hope you will for
give me my stupid blunder or else let
me leave your house at once"
His face relentcd into IA smile, and.
extending his hand. he grasped mine.
las you say, lad, | am not blamcless
in the matter. But we are getting a
little sensitive down here. And now
forget all about it. and. what is more,
don't ever mention 1t to Ellen or to
Bud. for they would think their old
father had been lacking in dignity, else
a mistake of this kind were impos-
sible.''
When he left me | fell n prey to re
grets over my stupid blunder and, what
seemed worse. my apparent deception
concerning the relationship with the
Kentucky Palmers. AS long as |
thought | was going to go to an inn or
some kind or to pay my board had
not thought it worth while 70 explain
the mistake into which the colonel had
fallen. | felt it to be too late now to
confess that In all likelihood there was
no kinship at all or, if any,, SO remote
as to form no ties Of blood and GER
tainly not to earn for MI any consider
alton on that score. Feeling like a
culprit. | threw myself or the bed, de-
termined to leave the Pines at the first
moment | could do SO without offend
ing my KIM Olu uOSt.
When the pickaninny. Sam, knocked
at my door to tell me that dinner was
served he found me prepared to DO
Justice to anything In the way OF food
which might be placed before me.
had been travelling all day. to all In
tents and purposes without anything
to eat. While anxious to satisfy my
hunger. vet it was with some feeling
of embarrassment hat | started down
stairs to meet the colonel. He met me
at the foot OF the steps and, motion
ing me to follow him. led me to a
room in one of the side wings. There
I saw two silver goblets. frosted on
the outside, with their rims complete
ly hidden by long and graceful punches
of mint. Without sitting down he
handed me one and took the other
himself.
"Of late years, Mr.. Palmer" he said
1--WE have abandoned the time honored
custom Of drinking mint juleps before
our dinner. but in order that you may
feel perfectly at home and rest certain
Of the fact hat I feel no resentment
on account OF your natural mistake
have taken the liberty OF asking you
to Join me in one OF these, sir" hold
ing the goblet as If pledging my
health.
This delicious fluid should be slipped
only while sitting, but as the family is
assembled for dinner | will ask you
to forego the pleasure Of a chat over
our juleps and drink standing.
pledge your health. sir, and that OF
your kinsfolk. the friends Of my younl
manhood"
1t was the first julep ! had evel
tasted. and | shall never forget witt
what delicious force the straw threw
the liquor against the roof OF my
mouth. The goblets were soon emp
tied. and | was ushered into the parlor
where we were evidently expected. fol
the occupants were standing.
Mr.. Palmer, let me present you tt
my wife. Mrs. Turpin; to my daughter