The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-03-06
SYNOPSIS

Palmer. Boston newspape man. .,
sent TO Georgia 10 report social and indus
trial conditions in a series Of letters TO his
paper Colonel Turpin. southerner
thinks Palmer is a lawyer and has come
10 foreclose the Turpin planta tons mort
gage
Palmer ur deCeives him. and the colonel
thinking that Palmer Is a kinsman IN
vites him TO he his guest at the Pines
Palmer meets Ellen and Bud Turpin and
is Hospitality received
He becomes interested in Ellen and
learns that the Turpn home is In grave
peril through lack of funds He wants to
confess that he is not really a kinsman.
but falls to do so
Squire Hawkins an elderly man. Is
counting Ellen party Is planned in
honor Of Palmer who writes his impress
sions Of the place for his paper
Ellen wears an old brocade gown at the
party. and Palmer falls in love with her
Ellen and her friends take him to the
wishing stone
You are my queen tonight" Palmer
tells her but she will not permit him to
avow his love He fears she intends mar
rying the squire to save the old home.
Ellen thinks Palmer has ridicued her
and her family IN one OF his newspaper
articles and commands him to leave her
and never return
III ever did you killed 1t the mo
ment You confessed to have written so
about one you professed to love. one
whom you should have protected and
have helped TO hide from the world
that which she feels SO degrades her,
instead of which you hold 1t up to
publicity and TO the scorn Of the world
You cannot stay here longer. Don't
force me TO tell father or my brother.
That would be more than could bear. "
She put her hand toward chair as
II to keen her from falling. came
a step nearer. but she drew back in
voluntarily, steadying herself and look
Ing me In the face. and with a voice
vibrating with emotion said:
Don't touch me! | never want to
see you nor to hear Of you again.
She swept past me. and sank into
a chair, overcome with grief and NOR
tiication. How long sat there | do
not knew. Every time ] heard a foot
fall would start up. expecting her to
come back. thinking in my foolish
heart that she had reented. Bud came
In and found me sitting in the dark
He told me dinner was ready. and we
entered the dining room together.
Miss Ellen came 10 late, for 1t would
have been unlike her To have stayed
away. In a perfectly natural voice
she told them had been called away.
Bud begged me to stay. and the colo
mel and Mrs. Tnrpin made me promise
to come again That night was a dis
NAL one. Miss Ellen would not play
and soon went to her room left the
next morning. Bud remaining from his
work 10 drive me to the station Miss
Ellen babe me farewell In the hall
but avoided taking my hand As the
wagon turned into the cedars ! looked
back, and only the colonel and Mrs
Turpin were standing on the porch to
wave me farewell. hardly spoke
20 Bud IN the way hnt made him
promise that II any one should get III
at the Pines he would write TO me at
once. At the station ! found a letter
from the managing editor telling me
that my last contribution was the clev-
crest bit OF writing had ever done
and that the paper had advertised an
ether one for the following Sunday.
tore his letter into fragments and,
going TO the telegraph office. wrote out
the following telegram and sent 1t:
Accept my resignation. I will leave for
the west tonight on personal business
] grasped Buds hand. but was IN
able 10 speak word I boarded the
train and sat for hours. my head rest
ing on my hands. with my face turned
toward the Pines. my soul full Of sad
ness. with not a ray Of sunlight In my
heart.