Milford chronicle., 1925-06-05
FIFTEENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER 20

The Peakes were prompt with their
hospitality. The exalted Spaniard was
given the state chamber which, during
ler lifetime. had belonged to Grand
mother Peake. ZenO Washington,
aimble young mulattO with something
Of the worldly air which we associate
With Pullman pOrters, appeared to
wait on" the affable young Marquis.
It was splendid occasion for Zeno
who was all but overcome by the
variety of masculine garments which
ae was called upon to unpack and hang
N Grandmother Peake's enormous
closet. Opening bag after bag, he
aoped breathleSSly to come upon
golden crown or a sceptre or a velvet
lobe with ermine edges. The absence
Of these identifying articles dampened
Zenos ardor for time. But the
Marquis had way with him that
banished all misgivings.
Seated in front of gigantic walnut
mirror San Pillar surrendered his patrl-
.ian chin to the Establishments ofZeno's
razor. A blond Castilian was the Mar
uuis with a thin, rather arrogant nose
and a sabre scar which accentuated the
heaviness of his lower lip and the
length of his prOtruding chin. He was
small and military; to the superficial
observer he would have passed for
German. Indeed, he had gained his
wound in a Heidelberg duelling corps
the Union Democrat had published the
latter information exclusively. The
newspaper reporters had told many
things about the little man, but it was
fer Zeno, the valet pro tenn, to learn his
g~aciousness and his charm.
San Pillars conversation proved,
7pon analysis, to be little more than
series Of pleasant and naive question
lngs. wanted to know if the
Negroes lived in tribes that some Of
them should so much lighter and hand
sOmer than others. He wanted to
know if ice cream sOda-he pronounced
1t eyes-cimsuda-co be obtained in
the best houses of the town. Then,
casually, he asked about the Peakes.
Did the name imply nobility in great
commonwealth like America?
The last question offered golden
opportunity to Zeno's descriptive
powers. He gave an impression Of
vast real estate holdings, such as the
Duke of Westminster's in the gray
heart Of London. Judge Peake, sah2
Zeno reckoned he owned everything
from the X. & G. down depot to the
River, throwing in the railroad, the
slaughter house and the Newberry
Lumber Yards. The Peakes had been
Quality ever since Columbus dis
covered America and Jedge Peale could
be king. Zeno reckoned, if he WASH too
old to take the nomination. Every
body took off his hat to the Peakes, in
Guiding the Mayor. Yes, sab, Mist
MARQUIS, amt that the TRUTH
Another thing the Marquis wanted
to know, America was so gigantic, he
prefaced almost apOlogetically, that it
was impossible for foreigner to under
stand some things. This splendid
house in Europe it would be
placed among other palaces. But in
America it seemed not so. This man
sion, for instance, stood in the midst of
charitable institutions, what-you-cal
-skvgcfapers and various shopping en-
6erprises. Why should that be?
And here again, as he applied hot
towel to San Pillars chin, was Zeno's
chance. Judge Peake was proud
gelman. Yes, sab. Proudest gelman
in America. He wasn't goin' to let the
Republican Party and Yankee white
trash shove him off Inness Street. No
sab. Mist Marquis. Only las week
'long come a Yankee an ofuh six
million dollahs TO- the very lot on which
this house is standin' now, sahl But
the Judge he amt the sellin' kind.
This house has been standin' here most
ave hundred years, and the Jedge 'spect
to die here and have his funeral down
Inness Street, respectable like all the
Peakes done befo'.
All of this was comprehensive to San
Pillar, who appreciated conservatism
and pride of race. While Zeno eased
Tim into his dress coat he gazed curl
ausly up at the oval portrait Of Grand
mother Peake. 1t hung just above the
walnut carving of corn and grapes
which centered the beds headpicee.
"she was a queen" murmured the
MARQUIS, saluting one Of his kind.
eyes, sah," agreed zeno, a matter OF
course.
He was a modern negro. school