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Show BBBHsWstBBsmMBMbbWHBbWbbtbMsbW -' V H&0TH AIDES. Wsf 'ia ofihz) mri 1bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbwJVC rfirii K mti f'l-h-Ji B AbbbbV iL '- $ . '! CHAPTER II. A Quest at the Pines. fCTltESENTLY 1 asked what nc- vr co'inniodatlouB were to bo hnd ' JK at Oglethorpe. ' I "Mighty poor, mighty poor, sirthat la, If you stay In tho towu. ' But If you urc going to be long In the $ , Vicinity you might got board In 6ne of $$ - tho farmhouses outsldo of the town." i. fjIj-thanked- him and then explained! &"" k jAthnt -I was u writer and that 1 was ' ' , $ collecting material for a story. , "A book'" bo said, showing great In- '; - j'tcrent at Once nud carefully scanning .jwy facu through his spectacles. f "f$, "Yes," l answered, which was the - ' jtruth at least, for I had, suddenly con-1 a -celved Uio Idea of collecting data for &j J, novel. For where else, 1 thought, ' $! "Icbuld there bo better characters and, mm -wiencry than right 'here? My agedi ft 2 r. companion looked thoughtful for a tab-. SJya mcnt an(l "en 8&l(l: ' 'Mm $ 'Mny I nsk If youNiavo any refer-J rNB Scnces or If you know anybody In these. " parts?" ' iAjI mentioned several persons within I ho state whom my father had known, and those seemed to satisfy him, for he continued: ( ' "If you are of n mind to accept my '"hospitality, we will be glad to put you up and- to share what we havo with you. I guess Hud would enjoy your company, and Ellen and Mary Mary's my wife, you know would make you welcome.1' ".It would be n great convenience to mo," I said and thanked hltu, 'Tor 1 know nothing of this country, and you Bcem to be very well acquainted." i"I ougtH to .be." ho said, "for my family vhusbcon lu' these partuvnlnce General Oglethorpe, that great phllan-lunvmimv phllan-lunvmimv trirnptiir-nnii riium) pf tti? poor. first crime to Georgia The last time he came to this country ho mndo my great- grandfather's house his headquarters when on his way from Fort Augusta toSavanuuh. Just beforo tho Revolution Revolu-tion he sent my grandfather a portrait of.'jblmself In token of tho esteem in which ho held his father. EIo lived to Kco. tho colony ho had planted become anjlndopendcnt shite, you know, sir,' and ho seemed mighty proud of the record old Georgia -mode during the war of the Revolution. Tho Plues, as wo, call our home, was built Just after his death, and his picture has the place of honor In It now It Is n sorry place since the Yankees came through hero and used It as a stable, but we keep It with tho hope that some day the fortunes for-tunes of the family may go out of their eclipse and jhat somo worthy son will arise to reatoro It to Its former position posi-tion -of Importance In the commonwealth. common-wealth. Hut whnt thero Is left you will bo welcomed to, my lad." Beoro i could properly thank him tho -whistle blew and our train pulled I "If I knoVtd yer had gists I'd sure have I brought the coach." I Into OsleHioriM?' The colonel ndvane- fid and $eiUllti out to au old negro. wikiu) nSajiaur(-1Wt3li us jerrersou. or- 1 , ft'h&i'?' ucixu in u , sriiTh rv.o wage:: actrr, as there was n trunk to got. "If I know'd yer had gists. Mars (to'oge. M'd suro have brought the coach." said tho old darky, looking apologetically at tho wagon he was ou Tbo colonel told him that I was going to stny Rome time nnd that ho "reckoned" "reckon-ed" I would know all they had soon nud so he would not begin by offering excuses. "Hy the wny, sir." he said as we stepped off the platform, "1 haVo-not the pleasure of knowing your name, though you have heard mine often enough this morning." I had. Indeed, overlooked that detail or Imo relt lu-. different to It, but I handed him my card, which ho read carefully and then asked: "I reckon you ain't any relation to the Palmers of Kentucky. I roomed with two men from that stato of your name years ago when I was at Princeton." Prince-ton." 1 told tho colonel that I was not from Kentucky, but thought thero was somo kinship. I had intended telling him Unit tho families had never met and that in all Vo liability the Kentucky Ken-tucky Palmers would not know of me, but I did not finish my explanation, for as soon as I mentioned kltiMilp he grasped my hand warmly and said: "Then, sir, you can make yourself at home lu my house ns long as you care to. for there were never two liner fellows than those Palmer boys, even if they did Join the Yankee army during dur-ing the war. I tell you, sir. I am proud and happy to entertain one ot their blood at tho Pines. And now. Jefferson, drive fast, for we must let Miss Ellen kuow wo bavo a guest" .-The, Pines was a distanco of somo 'uvoXtbllcB frpm thu' town,JmUit. was approprtutoiyonamearoPnrterjWA entered tbo grouiiilH wo puuscd into a prlmovnl forest of tnll and stately" pine trees. The long needles waved in tho w(ind, nnd there was a mournful cadenco In the branches, different from tho song we hear lu the northern forests. for-ests. Tho ground was covered with pino straw, and It might bavo been falling there and ungnthcrcd for generations, gen-erations, so thickly did It seem to lie. Wo crossed n branch over which thero had been built an old stone bridge, now covered with vines. "That. sir. was built as a memorial to General Oglethorpe." said uiy old host, seeing my curiosity, for the bridge wns out of all proportion to the size of the stream. "When the general gen-eral paid his memorable visit to this place it was right there, sir. Mint he drew from his pocket a small flnsk and after offering my grandfather a dram took one himself. Von must know, sir. that the great philanthropist was supposed to be a teetotaler and certainly never took a drink In the preseuce of any of his colonists for fear of setting them a bnd example. That little act shows as nothing else could tho great confidence and esteem In which he held my worthy progenitor." progeni-tor." I wns anxious to hear more of Mils episode, but feared to get tho colonel started on what was evidently .to hlra nn important hit of family history and which I suspected strongly had become a hobby, "Some day Ellen shnll walk here, with you," ho added, "and show you the Inscriptions on It. You will llnd them interesting." Ellen again. I wns beginning to feel the keenest anxiety to meet this Ellen and to wonder what she could behalf be-half cook and half lady, 1 had begun to think 'from the little bits I had picked pick-ed up concerning her during the day. We pnssed from the pine trees Into a long avenue of cedars, and when wo emerged from this tho Pines in all Its solitary and lonely grandeur stood before be-fore us, rich In coloring from tho setting set-ting sun that bathed it in a crimson glow. As I looked at It In wonderment It might have been a dream out of tho past that had taken shape and floated now across my vision. Its front nnd sides were flanked with colonlnl columns col-umns of the Doric type, nnd the low wings running nt right angles to tho body of the house were covered with vines which almost hid the low porch. This porch was supported by dlmluu-Mve dlmluu-Mve columns of the snme graceful curves. I wns so moved by the beauty 67 the whole at first that I failed to note ihnt some of the columns were on the point of falling ai'd that others' re c;ruu)hllnc to deav. The nlaster f.-ti- ?&' " '- ' had fallen irom many of tncnl, snowing snow-ing n dull red brick behind Hut these evidences of decay gave au additional charm to tho scene, augmontltig its perfection per-fection ns a whole and keeplug it In perfect harmony with its owner and the neighborhood of that sectlou. it scorned to typify the generation thenj living there and lighting against Its own decay I wns nwakeqed from my dreamy thought by hearing the colonel cnlllug loudly for somo ono to get the horse. Presently there came from around on6 of the wings n little, half naked urchin, who said that Mrs Tnr-pin Tnr-pin had gone to the Trig funeral, and that Miss 'Ellen was cooking the dinner, din-ner, nnd that '"Young Mursa" had uot como from tho Holds "Then tell Miss Ellen. Sammle. to put another finger tu tho pie, tor I havo brought a' gu6st home with tne. Now. Bir," turning to me. "If you will come with me, I will show you your room nnd bid you make yourself at borne." We pnsed under tin huge doorway nnd entered a large l.p which was as wide as any room I nm.d remember lit my grandfather's houe lu .'ewlng land. It wns almost bare of furniture There weie two or more large mahogany mahog-any sofas which had once been lined with black horsehair, but this latter was so much worn that the matting showed beneath it lu places, nnd In others It was patched with bright, col ored calico and sometimes with pieces of faded silk. I'he colonel led me up u flight of stairs, bare of carpet. bu clean nnd polished ""You will be light over tho billiard room." lie said opening a door which led into a licnutirulljt lighted room on the cast side, standing hi the center ot which was a large, canopied bed. "It you enre for, billiards," ho continued, 'ten points llll(llcil you out. -AikI now, 'sir, we have Mlnnor at (I o'clock, for Hud likes to hive his dinner when ho comes from the Held Instead of in the middle ot the day, as tie says tie feels more like a gentleman. Until ttieu, sir, l hope yon rest well." I had not iiHkcd the question before, but now summoned tbo courago to any: " "Colonel, there is ono little thing I should tike to havo settled. Business is business, you kuow," I snld, laughing, laugh-ing, for I did uot like the look of dignity dig-nity he suddenly assumed at the mention men-tion of business. 'Mil Justice to both ot us 1 o'iglit to ask you how much will be my hoard by tho week." Had General Oglethorpe himself arts, en to confront the colonel I do uot think he could havo shown more surprise sur-prise than ho did at my simple question ques-tion He (hew himself up with n dignity dig-nity which was truly commanding, and, speaMng in a suppiessed voice, he usked me IrliCU III- "When have tho Turplns adopted tho custom of taking money from their guests. I beg you to tell me. sir? If you weie nut a kinsman of my dear friejids. the Palmers. I would at once sftow you the door." 1 stood covered with confusion. "I humbly beg your pardon If I havo offended of-fended you. colonel, and I am greatly mortllled to have so deeply wounded you. but until this moment I thought you' had been kind enough to receive j me as a boarder. 1 felt grateful euough t for that, and you should not put mo umlei obligations which I can never re- j pa and which I have uo right to accept. ac-cept. Hut ou yourself ilro somewhat to blame." I added quickly, for I saw that he was still deeply offended. "You told me that I might get board in ono of the farmhouses and Immediately offered me the hospitality of your roof." Tho Turplns are not farmers, sir; they are plauters, and If wo havo to cook our own meals wo servo them with no less degree of hospitality than when a iiigger stood at each door at the beck and call 'of everjbody lu tbo room " "Colonel Turpln, I hope you will forgive for-give mo my stupid blunder or else let me leave your uouse at once." Ills face relented into a smile, and. extending hi nd' h(J grasped uTlno. s ou say. Idi 1 u,n not blameless lu the' matter. Hut we are getting a little sensltlire down here And now forKet all about lU'nnd. what Is wore, I dolt ever mention it to Ellen or to I Hud for tbey would think their old ;iir hod "" kcWtW-lu dltrnllv Iw i a mlstaKci orthU kind wero impossible." impos-sible." t ' When ho loft mo I fell a prey to to-grcts to-grcts ovor my stupid blunder nnd, what seemed waste, my apparent deception concerning (ho ivlillntuhln with th Wclilti. U lU melt. As long lis 1 thought I was going to go to an Inn of somo kind or to pay my board 1 had not thought It worth whilo to explain tho mlstnko Into which tho colonel had fallen. 1 felt It to bo tbo late now to confess that In all likelihood Micro wns no kinship nt all or, If any, so remote ns to form no ties of blood and certainly cer-tainly not to earu for mu any consideration consider-ation on that score. Feeling like a culprit. 1 throw myself on the bed, determined de-termined to leave tho Pines nt the Orst moment 1 could do so without offoud-Ing offoud-Ing my kind old host. When tho plcknnlnny, Bam, knocked nt my door to toll mo Mint dluner was served ho found mo prepared to do Justice to anything In tho wny of food which might bo placed boforo me. 1 hnd been Unvoting all dny, to all Intents In-tents and purposes wlthput anything to eat. Whllo nnxlouB to snUsfy my i hunger, yet It wns with somo fooling of embnrrnssmout that I started downstairs down-stairs to meet tho colonol. Ho met mo ! nt tho foot of tho steps nnd, motioning motion-ing mo to follow him, led me to a room lu ono of tho sldo wings. Thero t snw two silver goblets, frosted on Uio outsldo, with their rims complexly complex-ly hlddon by long nnd graceful bunches of miut. Without sitting down hb J hnuded mo quo and took the other himself. "Of Into years, Mr. Palmer." ho said, "wo hnvo abandoned the tltije honored custom of drluklng mint Juleps boforo our dinner, but In order that you may feel perfectly at homo and rest certain of tho fact that I fool no resontmont on nccouut of your natural mistake 1 havo taken tho liberty of asking you to Join mo In ono of theso, sir," holding hold-ing the goblet ns if pledging hiy health. "This delicious fluid should be Blpped only whllo sitting, but as tho family Is assembled for dinner I will ask you to forego tho pleasure of u chat over our Juleps and drink standing. 1 pledge your henltlf, sir. nnd that of your kinsfolk, the friends of piy young manhood-" It wns the first Julep 1 bad over tasted, and I shnll never forget with what delicious force tho straw threw the liquor against the roof of my mouth The goblets were soon emptied, emp-tied, nud I wns ushered into the parlor, where we were evidently expected, for the occupnuts were Htaudlng "Mr Palmer, let me present you to my wife. Mrs. Turpln: to my daughter. Ellon. nndj,to my,Hpn. Uowcll ,Comv nmr. ntiou. uii.y tlonr,' blil our ifxicat, Mr. Palmer, welcome, for ho Is a kinsman kins-man of my old friends the Palmers of Kentucky, of whom you hnvo so often heard me speak." "Any friend whom my fnthor brings to us Is welcome. Mr. Palmer, but wo uinko you doubly welcome on nccouut of the ties which bind our bouse to vntnt" t 'I i "Mr. Palmor, lot mo present you to my daughter, Ellen." Klic cxteinied her tiand, wlifin i toot? nnd for the first time looked Into that frank, open face. I did not think her beautiful then, but I was unprepared ! for Hie subtle ease and grace of man , ner and the exquisite poiso of her head nnd the patrician face that was turned to me wit bout any sign of embarrass raont whatever. Iler eyes wei.e large nud brown and her hands small and white. These were the only things about her that wink them Into my Hmmory. Mr. Palmer, fnthei has taken m somewhat by surprise, nnd you must ; fixcuso many things, hut we make you , right welcoue, and when you get tired of playing billiards with Ellen nnd talklug poJjticA wllh father. I bavo a k 4 Knm uvu ulia gtlll nt yOUf Glnpufla'i. The young man who was addressing H mo was tall and big. and when 1 had Hfl first eiiteied I had mistaken him for n lubberly tarm baud, but here lie was, making me welcome with the ease of a iH courtier Mrs Turpln was u small, VlH delicate looking woman, but was gown- ?'1 ed in a faded royal purple velvet, evJ- t '-JH dently the remnant of au anterior (into. , ',H "You young people can make plans ifH nt tho tabic In tho meantime El- i H ten's roast Is getting cold," said tho ''lH colonel. Then 1 remembered about thu ,.! cooking and thought for u moment jlH what n sua liege it would bo to devour JH anything prepared by thoo lovely 4R hands, but a sudden convulsive pang .tbl of hunger banished my nentluicutul lH thought, nud I offered my arm gladly ' jH to Mrs. Turpln, whllo sho led tho way fH to tho dining room, It was. In fact, an 'jl Imincpsc hall, wainscoted with oak, mt'bh but the wails above tho paneling wcrb ft Btalned nut, as far as I could sec, even Hsssi moldy. It was n gloomy looking placo, jsH but tho tabid was mndo bright and 91 cheerful by two big candlesticks. On r'' ibsbs! Die table was a profusion of dishes. 'KbbbI somoasllvcr, others of, rare old china, mLbh and, ns 1 saw later, Micro was hardly JfcH one of tbo latter which wns not broken vIbM or chipped, but each steamed with tfll somo sinory vegetable or meat, and 1 iRH soon fell in the wny of handing plates tSIH around Mie table and helping others H from tho dishes In front of or near me, JLbbI Just as we were wont to do In the mil- -fetH road eating houses In New England JwH when 1 was u boy. Tho conversation fsttLsS was easy and homelike, and I saw lHfl at otice that I was not looked upon as dHssI a stranger. No questions wero usked IbbLbH mo about myself, for which I was :SJKh thankful, and 1 soon saw, too, that Mm SKfl colonel did not Intend to rotate the Vi9H details of UKtii-etluK that morning or . JnlV to . account JtTiv other members of the 1BI9H family fur his sudden Impuluo to In- .'IH vlte mo to hopomo a guest nt tho MvH 1 Pines. Bo, as if by mutual consent, wo fl refrained from making any reference 41M to tho matter, and I determined to-' V"IbsH leave It to tho colonel to mnke any ex- jLI planntions which he might think tocbo. aH best ,k7 '"H (To, bo continued.) . ' M- iB obBsVLfl bbbbbbbI bbVtvbbh HSisfl bbVRj H BBvfilldl |