Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-07-26
wore on and the moon rose higher in

the heavens. heard Bud and the
colonel discuss the work on the farm
and judged that the former and two or
three negroes did 1t all save In the
picking season.
There was a contradiction about this
strange household which was perplex-
ing to me. Where had Miss Ellen
mastered the piano, and why was Bud.
with the apparent education of Gull
tured gentleman, wearing jeans and
doing the plow work In the fields? l
had begun to weary OF conjecture
when Miss Ellen returned and offered
to show me the view from the cupola.
It was a weary climb to the top of
that old house, but one felt repaid on
reaching there as the panorama un-
folded itself in the moonlight. The
moon was but fortnight old. and the
night was cloudless. Miss Ellen point
ed out to me the field where the army
of Sherman had camped on its famous
march to the sea, but had not word
Of criticism to make Of that great gen.
eral. She told me of the strong young
manhood that was developing to re-
generate the land and seemed to think
the freedom Of the slaves blessing
to both people. She promised to take
me to the negro settlement some day
and show me how they lived. She
had Sunday school there of colored
girls, "for," she said. 1T is going to
be through the mothers of the colored
race that we will some day reach it
and elevate It to what Is good and
moral" / stood spellbound. Us it were.
by her earnestness and faith. and all
my preconceived opinions began to fall
away under the influence of this little
brown eyed girl in a Bingham gown.
That night after retired to my
room the instincts of the newspaper
man. which had lain dormant since ar
irving Mt the Pines, began to stir, and
I could not help thinking what a pic
ture this household would make II
held up before a Boston audience. But
to turn these kindly people into an OBJ
ject lesson would be the basest in
gratitude. Yet put this idea from me
as would. It would recur to me during
the night. and scene after scene, with
Ellen and Bud always In the fore
ground. kept shifting themselves across
the mental canvas. and argue as
would that to make use Of this homely
life with its poverty and pride, its dig.
nified endurance Of changed conditions,
hn o,@l~& - n 1otk rrAs,iA
be an III return for the hospitality
had received. set could not put aside
the longing to pen the picture as I
saw 1t and to paint It boldly. In order
that others might see 1t in the same
light as 1t had appealed to me-
The next morning was up early, the
sun, in fact, being only an hour ahead
Of me. Thinking It would he IN ex.
eellent chance to see something Of the
plare and study its character more in
detail. for I had become deeply inter-
ested in everything connected with the
Pines. l dressed hastily and started for
Z brisk walk. As was making the
half circuit Of the house BY way Of ex.
ploration l came upon Miss Ellen. car
rying an armful of kindling wood.
"Why, Miss Turpin," cried, II had
no idea Of finding you up at this hour"
you forget the dual character l
play" she laughed. Il am not early,
however. for it Is late. But you are
responsible for 1t, as you demoralized
the household last night In encourag-
ing father to discuss politics. Doubtless
you saw all his fallacies, but was kind
enough not to point them out to him"
had been much entertained, said,
though his politics appeared to be
somewhat mixed and his ideas were
quite different from those had expect
ed to hear him express.
"Yes." she answered; 'she is half
Democrat and half Republican, With
q dash here and there Of populism,
fear, but it makes him very angry to
tell him so, as he thinks himself a
hidebound Democrat. He can never
forget that Henry Clay believed in
protective tariff. I think, next to Gen
eral Oglethorpe, he admires the Ken
tuckian more than any of our historical
characters. But l must not allow my
self to be dragged into political argu
ment, for see you are ready to take
up the cudgel for Clay. no doubt, and
since you have come botherirs about
80 early you must make yourself use
full" She then showed me the wood
pile and told me to bring enough to the
kitchen to last two full days
Miss Turpin." l said little later
as I entered the kitchen with my arms
loaded down with short oak logs, "is
1t really necessary for you to dc this
work."
She looked with surprise at me, and
thought l saw faint color come to
the surface Of her skin. but could not
tell. for she was lighting the fire. She
saw that was earnest in my question:
and, still kneeling In front of the stove,
she turned her frank face toward me
and said:
Il would resent the question, Mr..
Palmer. did l not know that a kind
heart prompted It Yes" she added;
1t Is as necessary for me to do this
- it is for Bud to plow. OF course
you must have heard from your rela-
tves that the Turpins were greatly re-
duced. The house Is heavily mortgage
ed, and to meet the interest we have
to save in every legitimate way. Bud