Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-08-19
CHAPTER XVII.
HERO WORSHIP.

- q SOA41S OOQ lulC Lucy 11dIlp.
ton was a scholar of Francois. The
colonel. lamenting on a day that there
were no capable teachers of French in
the neighborhood, that Lucy's school
girl command OF the language was fast
disappearing. and an accomplishment
80 vital to a lady was likely soon to be
lost-thfs saga Of regret being sung
by the colonel at the dinner table,
Francois had offered to teach made
moiselle his mother tongue. And the
colonel had accepted the offer.
IF you are not too busy. chevalier.
And I suppose your-ah-accent-is en-
tirely good? One can not be too care
full. you know. At least we shall not
quarrel about he terms. for whatever
money you think right to ask I shall
be ready to pay. and the colonel feG
himself a man OF tho world and ex-
tremely generous.
"Father!" Lucy cried quickly.
Francois eyes were on his plate but
they swept up with their wide brown
gaze full OF the colonel's face. AZ am
not too busy. monsieur the colonel. AS
for my accent am a peasant, as
monsieur knows. but yet I am instruct
ed. I was for years at Saint Cyr, the
great military school Of France. / be-
lieve my accent is right. As for mon
eva quick motion. all French, spoke
a whole sentence. IF monsieur insists
on that-that must finish it. To me
It would be impossible to take money
for the pleasure of teaching made
all g%entleness. and Lucy's eyes. wait
ing for that smile. met his shyly.
The colonel clustered a bit, but the
lessons We're arranged as Francois
wished. and twice a week throughout
the winter he rode over from Carnifax
came to know the small mistress Of the
manor as Few had known her. People
thought Lucy Hampton too serious and
staid for q young girl; no ono realized
that. here mother being dead and her
father as he was. the clear-headed little
person had begun at 10 or IL years old
to know that she must make her own
decisions. and many Of her fathers also.
At IA she had taken the keys and the
responsibility Of the house. and now, at
16. h was in reality the head Of the
whole great plantation. The colonel,
who would have been most indignant
to be told so. leaned on her in every de-
tail. and 1t was h who planned and
decided and often executed the govern
ment of the little kingdom.
Those who think of southern ladies
OF h old regime as Idle do not UNDER
OF mayor of q city would approach idle
ness al nearly. It was for the woman
at the head of such q place TO guide
the household work Of a great number
OF servants: to train new ervantS as
they were added to the corps: to man
age the commissariat for all this army:
to see that the fruits Of one season
were cooked and made into the sweets
and pickles and drinks Of. another: to
look after the clothing Of hundreds OF
ncxroes on the plantation. cutting and
arranging with her own hands. Beyond
this. to the mind Of . conscientious
southern woman. such an was young
Lucy Hampton. the souls of her slaves
were her charge "a well as their bod
les. As she stock slim and fair and
young. In h great. shadowy. sunshot
hall Of Roanoke House. and read and
explained the bible or led the singing,
while all the earnest. reverent, black
faces turned to her trustingly. 1t was
Rreat power to be given into such
hands. and she felt IL so. In addition
TO all this q lady Of Virginia must en-
terrain and 20 into society and be g
Grande dame AZ well az. IL It 90 hap.
pened. . devoted wife and mother.
All this, except the last. lay on thu
slender shoulders Of Lucy Hampton
ana besides an this. she had beHun in
very ch1dh0od IL hold up the handl
end do the thinking Of an Incompetent
father. 4 was not wonderful that shl
Wa 9taver ana slower to frolic thar
Other gir1s Of 1e. Her c~onscientioul
you1S bsaln vas fun q care, and llght.