Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-07-19

you care for billiards." he continued.
II will wager that Ellen can give you
ten points and beat you out And now.
sir, we have dinner at 6 o'clock. for
Bud likes to have his dinner when be
comes from the field instead of In the
middle of the day. as he says he feels
more like gentleman. Until then.
sir, l hope you rest WE'LL"
/ had not asked the question before.
but now summoned the courage b
say:
Colonel, there IL one little thing I
should like to have settled. Business
Is business, you know" l said. laugh.
ing, for ! did not like the look of dig
nifty he suddenly assumed at the men.
ton Of business. 'ln justice to both
of US l ought to ask you how much
will be my board by the week."
Had General Oglethorpe himself aris.
en- to confront the colonel do not
think be could have shown more sur
prise than he did at my simple ques-
ton. He drew himself up with dig.
nifty which was truly commanding.
and. speaking in suppressed voice. be
asked me:
when have the Turpins adopted the
custom of taking money from their
guests. | beg you to tell me. sir7 II
you were not a kinsman of my dear
friends, the Palmers. would at once
show you the door,"
l stood covered With confusion. II
humbly beg your pardon II have Of.
Tended you. colonel. and l am greatly
mortified to have so deeply wounded
you, but until this moment I thought
you had been kind enough to receive
me as a 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 &C.
cept But you yourself are somewhat
to blame" ! added quickly. for I saw
that be was still deeply offended. "You
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 II we have to
cook our own meals we serve them
with no less degree Of hospitality than
when a niger stood ut each door al
the beck and call Of everybody In the
room"
Colonel Turpin. hope you will for.
give me my stupid blunder or else lei
me leave your house at once"
His face relented into smile. and,
extending his hand. he grasped mine.
"As you say. lad. am not blamelesa
IN the matter. But we are getting q
little sensitive down here. And now
forget oil about 1t, and, what Is more
don't ever mention It to Ellen or tc
Bud. for they would think their old
father had been lacking In dignity, else
Z mistake Of this kind were impos.
sible."
When he left me fell prey to 70.
grets over my stupid blunder and. what
seemed worse. my apparent deception
concerning the relationship with the
Kentucky Palmers. As long a.
thought ! was going to so to nm Inn Of
some kind or to pay my board l had
not thought It worth while to 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. II any, SO remote
a. to form no ties Of blood and Ger
tainly not to earn for me any consider.
alton on that score. Feeling like .
culprit, l threw myself on the bed, Dc.
termined to leave the Pines at the nrst
moment l could do 30 without offend.
ing my kind old host.
When the pickaninny, Sam, knocked
at my door to tell me that dinner was
served be 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. yet 1t was with some feeling
Of embarrassment that I 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 q
room In one Of the side wings. There
I saw two silver goblets, frosted on
the outside, with their rims complete
~ hidden by long and graceful lunches
Of mint. Without sitting down he
handed me one and took the other
himself.
''Of late years. Mr.. Palmer" he said.
I'VE 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 that 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 IL pledging my
health.
This delicious fluid should be slipped
only while sitting. but as the family n
assembled for dinner l will ask you
to forego the pleasure Of chat over
our juleps and drink standing. I
pledge your health, sir, and that Of
your kinsfolk. the friends of my young
manhood"
1t was the first julep ] had ever
tasted, and shall never forget With
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 pWloF;
where we were evidently expected, for
the occupants were standing.