Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-01-30
been about to make, my uncle, the
General Robert. made this remark to

0cueTdI nODcI~ maui InAo ACAneAA W
me:
"Women are like crows-all black,
and the exceptional white one only
makes the rest look blacker. The only
way to stop them in their depredations
Ia to trap them since the law forbids
shooting them." And as he made this
Judgment Of women I forgot for mo-
ment that we discussed that Madam
Whitworth whom 1t was causing me
great pain to discover to be the enemy
Of France, and thought Of my beaut-
ful mother, whom he had judged with.
out ever having encountered. and
great longing rose in my heart 80 to
comport myself that his heart should
learn to trust in me as man and then
discover the honor Of woman through
me at some future time. ! took re-
solve that such should be the case. and
to that end asked Of him:
"How is 1t that I can serve you In
these serious troubles, my Uncle Rob-
ert" And as I asked that question
made also VOW in my heart against
that black crow woman.
"Now, that's what I'm coming to.
The French government Is sending an
army expert down here to look over
the situation and make the contracts.
I can't speak their heathenish tongue
or read It, and !, want somebody
whom I can trust-trust, mind you-to
help me talk with him and make any
necessary translations. That Whit
worth hussy has been translating for
US, and don't trust her. Your letter
was handed to me In the governors
private Office, and both he and I saw
what a help 1t would be to have you
here when this Frenchie-who Is a
Count Something or Other-and his
servants and secretaries, what he calls
his suit, arrive. By George, sir, we
need your advice In eating and drink
Ing them. Do you suppose they'll have
intelligence enough to eat the mamma
Of the gods, which Is corn pone. and
drink the nectar, which is plain whis-
Ky, or will we be expected to furnish
them with snails and abslnthT
At that laughed very large laugh
and made this answer to the perturba-
ton of my uncle, the General Robert:
II will tell you after lu1,heon, my
Uncle Robert, because I have not as
yet eaten in this Harpeth country Of
America"
"All right; we'll talk about 1t after
you've had one Of old Kizzie's fried
chicken dinners. Here we are ut the
mansion. Remember, you know the
whole situation and are only supposed
to know the part that Governor Bill
thinks is the whole. Look at me. boy"
And as the big car drove up to the
curb before a great stone house with
tall pillars on guard Of its front, he
laid both his hands upon my shoulders
and turned pe toward him with force
and no gentleness, and then with his
keen eyes did he look down into the
very soul Of me.
"Yes, I see can trust, you, sir. God
bless you, boy~ he said, after a very
long moment Of time.
"Yes, my Uncle Robert" ! answered
him without turning my eyes from
his.
"Wen, then, here we are. I came
to the side door SO I wouldn't have to
introduce you to any Of the boys this
morning, for we want to have q talk
with the governor before dinner, and
don't dare keep Kizzie waiting. It
riles her, and a riled woman burns up
things. masters, husbands. cooking or
worse. Come on"
Here's my boy, governor" was all
the introduction my uncle, the General
Robert, administered, to me; then /
stood and looked into the face Of him
whom afterward I discovered to be
the greatest gentleman In the world,
with my heart beating in my throat
and yet astir under my woman's
breast in the place 1t had always be.
before resided, after we had been ush-
cred into the gouverneurs room BY an
old black servant called Cato.
lro BI ooNTMuKn.1