Norwich bulletin., 1916-01-15
THE SINS or THE FATHERS

It was the beginning Of April In the
year 1851. Everything in Kentucky
was budding and putting forth. Plow-
ing had been done and planting was
In full swing.
tentious estate. The large house sat
on hill overlooking many fertile
fields and was one OF those southern
mansions with large rooms on either
side of q wide hall which could con-
veniently be used as a room Il 1t were
AS one approached the house walk
ing along the gravel drive he came to
porch, vine covered with q large elm
towering over the whole structure, and
that extended the full length OF the
house. A large ell was on the south
side of the house. and about ten feet
from the main house was the kitchen.
From the upper porch one Gould
have a fine view OF the plantation,
with the white huts or quarters fully
one-half mile away.
1t was from this porch that Miss
Sally Bellmayne would sew. knit or
read and enjoy the scenery OF her ma
tive blue grass estate. II was from
this porch this beautiful April morn
ing that her brother Henry approached
her after one of his periodical visits
to Lexington, and informed her that he
was thinking OF selling Millie, who
was the maid to Miss Sally.
She looked up from her sewing and
said: why Henry, what are you
thinking OFF,
Henry Bellmayne was young. with
blond hair, blue eyes and dropping
mustache. SLOUGH hat coming down
over one eye. should say not over
IS years old. Miss Sally was several
years his senior.
81 repeat. Henry Bellmayne, what
are you thinking Of? Didn't You I'M
derstand the will of your father that
can war? Didn't you know that UNI
der no circumstances should slave
on this plantation go under the ham
mer; and of all to think of selling
Milliei How often your father tok-
ingly would refer to Millie as next
of kim 1t is a wonder to me that you
did not bargain for Mary as we'll"
20, 1t was for Mary, the deal was
made; but I said Mary should not go
unless her mother went with her, so
I sold them BOTH" said Henry putting
away at his Havana.
Miss Sally jumped to her feet, and
drew her stately figure to its full
height. So enraged she walked up to
her brother and said: MY God, Henry,
you must be crazy as l limited to you
that Mile is next of kin and Mary is
of our own flesh and blood. What are
you thinking of? / shall at once leave
your house and go to Robert, who has
wanted me to keep house for him and
his children since his wife died! Who
has bought them?"
Richard Martini" he said
'And you know the reputation of
Richard Martin" she said sneeringly.
81 should rather see them both dead"
With this assertion Miss Bellmayne
went to her room to shed tears; yes,
bitter tears over the actions of her
hr0fhor RI ranrnQOh herself for
the care she had taken of him almost
from his infancy, and now this I'M
gratefulness.
Richard Martin was a man Of fifty
five, If day, gray with bushy eye
browS, piercing brown eyes, heavy but
well trimmed mustache, strong chin
and nose, with fine determined lines
about the mouth.
Miss Bellnayne at once made pre-
paration for leaving the manor. In
the meantime sending a message to
her older brother that she would ac-
cept his invitation, and in not many
days he came and took her to his
home in Brandenburg.
Just about this period troublous
times were brewing all over the south.
There was strong talk of the southern
states seeding from the northern.
South Carolina and other southern
states had already done so, but Ken
tuckey, had postponed action waiting
for the decision of Virginia.
Henry Bellmayne not knowing how
affairs would turn concluded to sell as
many of his slaves as he could man
age to do without Indeed, he was so
much in debt-"debts of honor" that
he found that this was his only ave-
nue. of escape.
In due time Richard Martin sent his
overseer to bring to Longwood his
property. Longwood was a plantation,
all it's own, veritable little kingdom,
and largely supplied all its own