The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1923-03-01
essApraa W.



Landing. I'm the crest of the high
embanl1ment was an endless view of
spreading cane fields The Generals
house stood in the midst of old trees
near half mile from the river. Lead
ing from the landing was road in the
perpetual shade of low-branching live
oaks. Along the road wild peoples
blazed in patches of sunlight, and in
the shade glowed the color of darker
blood. In clumps Of feathery grasses
insects sang, while from everywhere
came the low and drowsy murmur Of
the cane.
Drace was enchanted with the scene,
the sweet air. Beside him Shottle
long-legged his way, his neck stretched
out.
"Yonder comes Uncle Howard, the
General" he said
Toward them, with slow but firm
and emphatic step, came tall, spare,
erect old gentleman; and as he drew
noaisr, ORA, saw that he wore mus
tache and whiskers trimmed neatly
down to sharp point. The soldier
within him predominated the profess
sional soldier. who is often gentler
,and more kindly than the volunteer.
Shottle hailed him, and he quickened
This pace.
swell, well, Liberty Shottlei We'll
come, sir, and your friend"
Uncle, this is Virgil BRACE, my best
friend"
The old man Strengthened, held out
both his hands and made Liberty's
friend welcome most Hospitality.
Now they walked toward the house,
the General with his hand on Braces
arm. Over the yard fence poured a
stream Of hounds, and an old 'possum-
dog "barked up" Shottle as If he had
freed. The double hallway doors stood
open. The General conducted BRACE
into the library, a room that looked
big enough for tennis court. Then
he hastily withdrew, and Shottle
spoke:
Gone to find Aunt Tycie. You'll like
her No hickory tree sap is any sweet
er than her disposition. She was a
Shottle, my fathers young sister.
She's Young, as I told you. And she
looks younger now than when she
married. Did You ever notice that
when young woman marries an old
fellow, she always tries to look young
er? Here they are"
Presently the great plantation bell
on tower In the yard rang time for
the evening meal. The General arose,
and bowling TO his wife, gracefully Of
fered her his arm. To Drace 1t was a
pretty ceremonial, and he contrasted
1t with the more brusque customs Of
= everyday life In the North.
When an opportunity offered, Drace
inquired of the General, as casually as
possible, If he knew anything of an
old fellow named Stepho la vitte, who
was reputed to live somewhere in the
vicinity.
The General seemed somewhat sur
prlsed at the inquiry. Eyes" he said,
II know something Of him. And l be-
lieve there are rumors that he is some
During the war he was guerrilla and
cast much blame on the Confederacy.
/ met him once, after the war-near
your fathers house, my dear. My
mules were tired, and / had halted in
the shade to let them rest, when up
came two men; one put his hand on
the wheel of my buggy and said that
my mules were his--that they had
been stolen from him. laughed but
meantime had the muzzle of a pistol
between his eyes. He didn't finch nor
wink. He looked at me and said that
he may have made a mistake. l told
him l thought he had. Then taking
his hand off my wheel, he bowed him.
self back and said that he would see
me again, to apologize. But haven't
seen him since.''
In the evening how still and sweet
was the ART From the quarters came
the weird drone Of the negros chant,
for the habit Of the slave had not fall
len with his chain. In the parlor Aunt
Tyeie sang, in this house custom to
be dreaded by the learned ear; but
braces ear was not learned; Shottle's
was as an oyster-shell clapped to his
head and in music the General could
not distinguish intention from accom-
plishment. IT was a song of love,
''Hast Thou No Feeling to See Me-
and when its last note had
found q dark corner wherein to die,
Drnce reduested her fo sing II again