Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-26

the table and wash the dishes, !
thought. with some resentment Colo
mel Turpin talked politics. and l soon
learned that he was decided in his
views, though somewhat mixed in his
politics. | found out that he was ad-
dicted TO the habit OF writing pieces"
for the papers. but never under his
own name. He chose rather such mons
de plume as "VOx POpui." Citizen"
and sometimes Patriot" He did not
believe that writing was the profess
sion Of a gentleman unless one could
hide ones Identity. Yet he felt that
the public should be educated by this
means. He was a Democrat. but be-
lieyed in a high protective tariff. He
disclaimed being a lingo. but thought
II the duty Of the government TO avenGe
the wrongs Of any people prosecuted
by a foreign power And so the night
wore on and the moon rose higher in
the heavens. | heard Bud and the
/ colonel discuss the work on the farm
I and judged that the former and two or
/ three negroes did il all save I'm 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 a cul-
tured gentleman. wearing jeans and
doing the pillow work In the fields?. l
had begun 10 weary Of conjecture
when Miss Ellen returned and offered
10 show me the view from the cupOla.
| IL was a weary climb 10 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 cloudess Miss Ellen point
ed out 10 me the field where the army
OF Sherman had Camped on its famous
march TO the sea, but had not a word
OF criticism 10 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 a blessing
10 both people. She promised to take
Inc 20 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
he through the mothers Of the colored
race that we will some day reach II
and elevate Il TO what is good and
moral" l stood spellbound. as il 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 Bingham gown.
That night after ! retired to my
: room the instincts OF the newspapers
man. which had lain dormant since ar
irving at the Pines began to stir. anC
l could not help thinking what a pic
; rure this household would make il
held up before Boston audience Blu
TO turn these kindly people into an ob
jet lesson would be the baSest in
gratitude. Yet put this idea from N,
! as ! would IL would reCur to me durin,
The night. aDi scene after scene. witt
Ellen and Bud always iD the fore
ground. kept shifting themselves acroS
T the mental canvas, and argue as
I would that TO make use Of this hOmcl,
c life with its poverty and pride. its dig
I nided endurance Of changed conditions
as the subject Of a news letter woult
L be an ill return for the hospitality
70 had received. yet ! could not put asid
the longing 10 pen the picture as
D saw II and 20 paint IL boldly. in oTde
= that others might see 70 In the sam
light rs it had appealed 10 me
The next morning was up early. tn
sun. in fact being only an hour ahea
! Of me- Thinking il would He an ez
b celleut chance to see something of III
{ place and study its character more ii
l detail. for ] had become deeply inter
j. eSted in everything connected with III
I Pines. dressed hastily and started 10
! brisk walk. As | was making III
b half circuit ~ the house by way Of eI
I ploratiou I came upon Miss Ellen. cat
! rying an armful 81 kindl.ng wood.
z Why, Miss Turpin," l cried, Il har
no idea Of finding YOU up at this hour.
10 You forget the dual character
: play" she laughed Il am not early
" however. for 81 IS late But you ar
= responsible for it. as you demoralize-
: the household last night in encourag
ins father 10 discuss politics. Doubles
D you saw all his fallacies. but was kin
l enough not 20 point them out TO him.
q had been much entertained. | said
D though his politics appeared to b
5 somewhat mixed and his ideas wer
quite different from those had expect