The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-10-17

enough tDlS morning. l ndu, iuuScu'
overlooked that detail or else felt In
different to it. but | handed him my
card. which he read carefully and then
asked:
Il reckon o amt any relation TO
the Palmers of Kentucky. roomed
with two men from that state OF your
name years ago when | was at Prince
ton"
| told the colonel that ! was not
from Kentucky. but thought there was
some kinship. | had intended telling
him that the families had never met
and that in all probability the Ken
lucky Palmers would not know OF me.
but | did not finish my explanation. for
as soon as | mentioned kinship he
grasped my hand warmly and said:
Then, sir. you can make yourself
at home in my house as long as you
care to. for there were never two finer
fellows than those Palmer boys. even
If they did join the Yankee army dur
ing the war. | tell you. sir. ! am
proud and happy to entertain one OF
their blood at the Pines. And now.
Jefferson. drive fast, for we must let
Miss Ellen know we have a guest"
The Pines was n distance OF some
five miles from the town limits. 1t
was appropriately named. for after we
entered the grounds w passed into Il
primeval forest of tall and stately
pine trees. The long needles waved in
the wind. and there was a mournful
cadence in the branches. different from
the song we hear in the northern for
ests. The ground was covered with
pine straw. and it might have been
falling there and unGathered for gen
erations, 50 thickly did it seem to lie.
We crossed a branch over which there
had been built an old stone bridge,
now covered with vines.
THAT. sir, was built as a memorial
to General ~Oglethorpe." said my old
host, seeing my curiosity. for the
bridge was out of all proportion to the
size of the stream. When the gen.
eral paid his memorable visit to this
place 1t was right there. sir. that he
drew from his pocket a small flask
and after Offering my grandfather a
dram took one himself. You must
know. sir, that the great philanthropiSt
was supposed to be a teetotaler and
certainly never took a drink in the
presence Of any Of his colonists for
fear Of setting them a bad example.
That little act shows as nothing else
could the great confidence and esteem
in which he held my worthy progeni-
tor"
| was anxious to hear more of this
episode, but feared to get the colonel
started on what was evidently to him
an important bit of family history and
which | suspected strongly had become
a hobby. Some day Ellen shall walk
here with you" he added, "and show
you the inscriptions OF 1t. You will
find them interesting"
Ellen again. | was beginning to feel
the keenest anxiety to meet this Ellen
and to wonder what she could be
half cook and half lady, | had begun
to think from the little bits | had pick
ed up concerning her during the day.
We passed from the pine trees into q
long venue of cedars. and when we
emerged from this the Pines in all its
solitary and lonely grandeur stood be-
fore US, rich in coloring from the set
ting sun that bathed it in a crimson
glow. AS | looked at it in wonderment
1t might have been a dream out Of the
past that had taken shape and f1oated
now across my vision. It's front and
sides were hanked with colonial col
umns Of the Doric type. and the low
wings running at right angles to the
body of the house were covered with
vines which almost hid the low porch.
This porch was supported by diminu
tive columns of the same graceful
curves. | was so moved by the beauty
Of the whole at first that ] failed 10
note that some Of the columns were on
the point Of falling and that Others
were crumbling to decay. The plaster
had fallen from many OF them. show
ing q dull red brick behind. But these
evidences Of decay gave an additionaI
charm to the scene, augmenting its per
lection as a whole and keeping 1t In
perfect harmony with its owner and
the ne~iChborhood Of that section, II
seemed to typify the generation then
living there and fighting against it,
own decay. | was awakened from my
dreamy thought by hearing the coIone
calling loudly for some one to get the
horse. Presently there came from
around one of the wings a little, bal!
naked urchin, who said that Mrs. Tur
pin had gone to the Trig funeral, and
that Miss Ellen was cooking the din
ner, and that Young Marsa" had not
come from the fields
Then tell Miss Ellen. Sammie, tt
put another finger in the pie, for | have
brought q guest home with me. Now
sir" turning to me, IF you will come
with me, | will show you your room
and bid you make yourself at home
We passed under the huge doorway
and entered a large hall which was as
wide as any room | could remember II
my grandfather's house in New Eng
land. 1t was almost bare of furniture