Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-04-01

for lady. so | said:
Have you seen my mistressf I'm
looking for her.
Your mistressg"
Eyes, my mistress | didn't know
that she was going to stay here alone
or l wouldn't have gone away. I've
come back to take care of her
Miss Clayton went up to her room a
moment ago. think you'll find ner
there"
Grim visaged war was Turned into a
stage on which was enacted comedy,
Clarice and | being the principal wo-
men actors and Captain Harding. the
officer | had met in the hall. the lead
ing gentleman. While we convinced
him that Clarice was white and | had
negro blood in my veins. that she was
mistress and | was maid. 1t was i'm
possible for her to show the effects of
an education she had not received, and
I could not help showing both my
breeding and education. called her
Missy Alice, and she called me Clarice.
l obeyed her slightest nod, and she
carried her part as mistress extreme
ly well-that is. before others. When
we were alone we were to each other
what we had always been.
1t was plain to me when / first met
Captain Harding that he was pleased
with me. A man doesn't usually take
pains to conceal his admiration, and
till | told him that l was negro and
a slave the captains eyes were full
of it I thought l saw. when gave
him the information. Look of disap-
pointment in his face, bdt that might
have been imaginary on my part.
There can scarcely arise a situation
personate one between whom and an
admirer there is a great gulf fixed.
confess l played the game with relish,
though outwardly with modesty tinged
with sadness-the sadness | took on
when began to feel assured that
was getting my admirer into my tolls.
led him to think that it was caused
by the faint of blood which separated
me from him.
Had not Captain Harding's nature
been of fine texture l should have
expected him to treat me for what
pretended to be. But he was as re.
spectful to me as If had been of the
purest white blood. True, he kept a
certain reserve, such as would be prop
er between him and a servant He
bot NTH 20 ~
when l showed an understanding that
could only have been developed by
educa ton he sometimes forgot himself
SO far as to treat me like lady.
What | mean is that he took no ad.
vantage Of my being supposedly a ne
gro and slave.
I was enjoying my little comedy i'm
mensely when one morning l was sud-
denly brought to my senses. Clarice
came into my room and Weakened me
by crying:
"The Yankees have gone. the Lord
be praisedr
What" | exclaimed. starting up.
There isn't a soldier on the place.
They all went away at o'clock this
morning."
Then and there came upon me an
awakening different from that after
slumber. Captain Harding had gonei
And he had gone believing me to be
a negro and a slave. Had he known
my true status he might return and
seek me. Now this was impossible.
Il Dot I
had led him to believe | was. And, as
for my seeking him. no woman with
womanly modesty can seek man.
The fall was as depressing as the
rise had been exhilarating. l arose
from my bed and looked out through
toned to seeing tents there was now
nothing but bare ground. A month be-
fore l had execrated the coming OF
these Yankees: now l bemoaned their
going. The morning was murky, and
the wind was stirring the leaves to
what to me was a requiem.
The army had moved to Murfrees.
boro, some thirty miles south of US. In
a few days our household was at home
again. All were happy at the vanish
ment Of the enemy except me. | was
desolate The man 1 loved had gone,
believing that an impossible barrier
existed between him and me. There
was an impossible barrier. but not
such as he supposed.
One Of the last battles of the wal
was fought near us. We were within
the Federal lines. and our wounded
enemies were brought to u.s. Seeing a
stretcher set down in the yard with a
man on it. | went out to learn il I
could do anything for him. In his pale
face recognized Captain Harding. and
when he looked up at me with his mel
ancholy eyes | saw an Involuntary
start. AS for me. l was both grieved