Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-07-19
name years ago when l was at Prince


ton"
I 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
a. soon rs 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
II they did join the Yankee army dur
ing the war. l 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 a distance of some
i've miles from the town limits. 1t
was appropriately named. for after we
entered the grounds we passed into
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 1t might have been
falling there and ungathered for gen.
erations. SO thickly did It seem to lie.
We crossed q branch over which there
had been built an old stone bridge.
now covered with vines
THAT, sir. was built as 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.
erai paid his memorable visit to this
place it was right there. sir. that be
drew from his pocket small 6ask
and after offering my grandfather q
dram took one himself. You must
know. sir. that the great philanthropist
was supposed to be a teetotaier and
certainly never took drink In the
presence Of any Of bis colonists for
fear of setting them a bad example.
That little act shows as nothing else
could the great confidence aud 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
q hobby. Some day Ellen shall walk
here with you" he added. "and show
you the inscriptions on 1t. You will
ind them interesting"
Ellen again. I was beginning to feel
the keenest anxiety to meet this Ellen
and to wonder what she could be-
half cook and half lady. I had begun
to think from the little bits had pick
ed up concerning her during the day.
We passed from the pine trees Into .
long avenue 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
It might have been q dream ont of the
past that had taken shape and doated
now across my vision. Its front and
sides were fanked with colonial COL
umns Of the Doric tyne. 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 ut FIRST that failed to
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 dull red brick behind. But these
evidences Of decay gave an additional
charm to the scene. augmenting its per
lection as a whole and keeping 1t In
perfect harmony with its owner and
the neighborhood of that section. 1t
seemed to typify the generation then
living there and lighting against its
own decay. l was awakened from my
dreamy thought by hearing the colonel
calling loudly for some one to get the
horse. Presently there came from
around one Of the wings a little, half
naked urchin, who said that Mrs Tur.
pin had gone to the Trig funeral, aud
that Miss Ellen was cooking the din.
ner, and that young Marsa" had not
come from the fields.
''Then tell Miss Ellen. Sammie, to
put another finger in the pie, for have
brought guest home with me. Now,
SIR" turning to me. III jon WsI come
with me. l will show you your room
and bid you make yourself at home"
We passed under the huge doorway
and entered large hall which was as
wide as any room could remember In
my grandfather's house 10 New Eng
land. 1t was almost bare of furniture.
There were two or more iczge mahog-
any sofas which had once Ea,ss lined
with black horsehair. but tsSs latter
was SO much worn that the eating
showed beneath 1t In places. and In
others it was patched With bright COL
ored calico and sometimes with pieces
of faded silk. The colonel led me M q
flight of stairs, bare of carpet. but
clean and polished.
"You will be right over the billiard
room," he said. opening a door which
led into a beautifully lighted room on
the east side. standing In the center OF