The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-10-10

ment. no matter where II led me. the
farther into the pine forests and out
OF the reach of managing editors. !
thought. the better. Later in the day
| left the main road and took the mar
row gauge line which | was old fol-
lowed the bed of the Savannah river
and passed through several OF the
most histori" counties Of the state. rich
In memories of the past and peopled
mostly by remnants of the old colonial
aud antebellum families. who had in
the past made them the most intiuen-
tial centers Of the state.
The railroad wendell its way through
a beautiful rolling country studded
with pines and cedars. The wild flow
ers grew up to the very tracks. and
the earth seemed carpeted with soft,
velvcty moss. Through the pines |
caught glimpses occasionally OF state
~ old residences, with their gardens
unkempt and the weeds growing In
wild profuSion. Where the fences had
fallen they had been left to decay. but
the fields were plowed and showed
signs of cultivation at Il cost Of great
labor.
We stopped ut several stations, and
around each there was an air OF happy
Incidence that lent a charm to the di.
l~apidated wooden sheds which stood
for depots. and in front OF these there
was always to be seen some %antiquat-
ed wagon or carryall. These latter
were invariably dUed with half grown
boys and girls laughing and chattering
like a lot of magpies as the train pull
ed up They were there presumably
to get the mail. but as | thought more
likely to exchange bits OF gossip and
to find out what was going on" down
the road. | gave myself up to listen
ing to their chatter. and | found my
self wondering as the train would start
again on its slow journey how many
of these bright and innocent faces
there would be at the mex station to
greet us. 1t would indeed take some
time. | thought, to get n proper esti-
mate of these people. whose clothes
would indicate that they belonged to
the farming and laboring classes. but
whose conversation. accent and gram
NAUTICAL phrasing would lead one to be-
lieve they represented a class better
educated and with more culture than
one Is likely to discover in such out OF
the way counties as those through
which we were now passing.
BY degrees the few passengers VITO
had taken this train got of. and to
ward the end Of the journey there was
no one In the coach out a venerable
looking old gentleman and myself. He
wore u long frock coat and an old
fashioned silk hat. He represented n
type | had begun to know and recog-
nize. He seemed well known along
the road. 1t was "Howdy. Colonel
Turpin?" at every station now. and
some one always asked. "How's Ell
len?' His clean shaver face would
wreath itself in a smile as invariably
he would make nswer:
"Ellen's well, but between the cook.
ing and the music she has little time
left to frolic with you young people"
Its her own fault" said some one
at one of the stations. for all she has
got to do is to cbOOse which farm she
prefers. that Of Squire Hawkins or Jim
Valleys Hollyhurst." At this there
was a burst of merriment from the
young people In the wagons
Don't be putting such notions in
my Ellen's head just now" he would
laugh back. ELLEN and Bud have their
old father and mother to look after for
awhile yet. to say nothing Of the
Pines"
Bud can do that by himself" called
out one youth Then he suddenly turn
ed red and hung his head as he saw
the girls casting their eyes from one
to the other and laughing.
IL dare say there are others OF us
who have used that argument to Ellen
before this and many a time" added
another boy scarce out Of his teens,
80 you need not bother to repeat IT,
colonel"
BY the time our train had started
again had determined to introduce
myself to the colonel. for | saw mate
rial In him for a letter. BY way of
opening operations | asked him the dis
lance to Oglethorpe station. where ]
had expected to cave the train.
About five miles. sir" he said, and,
with a courteous, old fashioned bow
across the aisle. he added, May | ask
IL you are bound therel"
told him that va my destination
He then continued:
III it be not too impertinent, may !
ask you what takes you to such an
out Of the way place? You are not a
lawyer from Atlanta. are you, sir?"
There seemed to me to be a note of
alarm in the question, and he appear
ed greatly relieved and his face bright
ened visibly when ! told him that |
was not a lawyer and was visiting
Georgia for the first time, | soon learn
ed the cause OF his anxiety as to the
matter of ny profession. for in a con-
fdential whisper. which could have