The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-02-06

thought, the better Later In the day
I left the mnin road and took the mar
row gauge line which was told fol-
lowed the bed OF the Savannah river
and passed through several OF the
most historic counties OF the state. rich
IN memories OF the past and peopled
mostly by remnants OF the old colonial
and antebcllum families, who had In
the past made them the most infuen.
tial centers Of the state.
The railroad wendell Its way through
a beautiful rolling country studded
with pines aud ccdars The wild dow.
ers grew up TO the very tracks, and
the earth seemed carpeted with soft.
yeIvety moss. Through the pines |
caught glimpses occasionally OF state
" old residences. with their gardens
unkempt and the weeds growing In
wild profuslon Where the fences had
fallen they had been left to decay. but
the fields were plowcd and showed
signs OF cultivation at a cost OF great
labor
We stopped nt several stations, and
around each there was an air or happy
Incidence that lent a charm to the di'
lapidated wooden sheds which stood
for depots. and in front OF these there
was always to be seen some antiqunt.
ed wagon or cnrryall. These latter
we're Invariably filled with half grown
boys and girls laughing and chattering
like O lot OF magpies ms the train pull
ell up They were there presumably
to get the mail. but as thought more
likely to exchange bits OF gossip and
10 find out what was going on" down
the road gave myself up to listen
ing TO their chatter. aud found my.
self wondering as the train would start
again on its slow journey how many
Of these bright and innocent faces
there would he at the next station TO
greet us II would indeed take some
time. ! thought. to get proper esti-
mate OF these people, whose clothes
would indicate that they belonged to
the farming and laboring classes. but
whose conversation. accent and gram.
maticaI phrusing would lead one to be-
lieve they represented class better
educated and with more culture than
one Is likely TO discover In such out OF
the way counties as those through
which we were now passing.
BY degrees the few passengers who
had taken this train got OF. and to
ward the end OF the journey there was
no one In the coach but venerable
looking old gentleman and myself lie
wore long frock coat and an old
fashioned silk hat lie represented a
type | had begun TO know and recog
nize He seemed well known along
the road II was "IIowdy. Colonel
Turping" at every station now, and
some one always asked. "How's FL.
lenT" His clean shaver face would
wreath itself In a smile as invariably
| he would make answer:
"Ellen's well, but between the cook.
ing and the music she has little time
/ left to frolic with you young people"
Its her own fault" said some one
al one of the stations. "for all she has
got 10 do is to choose which farm she
/ prefers. that OF Squire Hawkins or Jim
Wadley's Hollyhurst" At this there
was burst OF merriment from the
young people in the wagons.
Don't be putting such notions In
my Ellen's head just now" he would
laugh back. Ellen aud Bud have their
old father and mother to look after for
awhile yet. TO say nothing OF the
Pines"
bud can de- that by himself" called
out one youth Then he suddenly turn
ed red and hung his head as he sa W
the girls casting their eyes from one
TO the other and laughing
II dare saw there are Others OF us
who have used that argument to Ellen
before this and many a ume." added
another boy scarce out OF his teens
80 you need not bother to repeat II
colonel"
| BY the time our train had started
myself TO the colonel. for ! saw mate
rial In him for a letter BY way OF
opening operations I asked him the dis
lance TO Oglethorpe station. where
had expected 20 leave the train
"A bout DIV. miles. SIR" he said. and
with a courteous. old fashioned bow
across the aisle. lie added. May ! ask
" you are lnnnd therer'
! told him that was my destination
lie then continued:
"if II he not too impertlnent. may
ask you what takes you TO such an
cut 81 the way placer You are not u
LAWYER from Atlanta. are you. sirf'
There seemed To me to be q note OF
alarm la the question. and he appear
ID greatly relieved and his face bright
en,d visibiy when ! told him that I
| was not % iawyer and was visiting
Georgia for the first time. ! sooo learn
I'd the cause Of his anxiety az 10 the
matter OF my profession. for In cOu
tidential whisper. which could have
been hea ri throughout the car had
| there b.rn others In u. hp said
when smart IOnking young men like
you come M this road they bring trou
bic with them usually and Ms often
leave more behind. sir
How ~ thatg' determined to bur
row NJ deep NJ possible In this ante
bellum soft. which ! believed Ia be rich
| tron, the wild ana uncultIyated growth
Of experience. "lnnt smart looking