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PLAYING A
PART
A Story of the War Be
tween the States
By F. A. MITCHEL t
When the war between the state*
opened we were a contented family
living on our plantation not far from
Nashville, on the south side of the
Cumberland river. I was then a girl of
twenty and bad heeu at a boarding
<^bool In Ohio. Our circle consisted of
father, mother, my two brothers, Clar
ence and Arthur, myself nud Clarice.
When 1 say that Clarice was a slave
it may appear remarkable that 1 should
-peal: of her ns one of our fatally circle,
'll, the first place, she had so little
negro blood In her veins that no one
wou ld have known 'from her appear
ance that she had any nt all. Her skin
ivua fair; her hair was light, with a
tinge of red In It; her eyes were dark.
The occupation of Nashville by the
federal troops In the spring of 1802
,vns different from that of any other
of ottr cities. It was at the beginning
of the struggle, and most of the south
ern people believed that when the Yan
kees came down upon us they would
come with lire and sword. The conse
quence was that when It was known
they were advancing upon us from
Bowling Creen. Ky., and coming up
the Cumberland river our people began
to make preparations for flight. The
night before the evacuation of the city
every luxury In the way of eatables
end drinkables was consumed. In ev
ery house where there were such lux
uries were purties feasting and drink
ing. On that night there was a sin
gular mixture In Nashville of terror,
sacrifice and conviviality.
The next morning the mayor crossed
the Cumberland and surrendered the
city to the Federal commander ad
vancing from Howling Green. We had
packed all our valuables—we bad no
transport for the heavier articles—and
went to a plantation of my mother's
brother some twenty miles to the
southward. Having been at school In
the north, I, knew something of the
northern people and did not believe
that we should all he pnt to the sword.
I wished to remain In the house, be
lieving that m.v presence there would
be a protection. But mother would
not hear of such a thing. She said
the bouse might be burned to the
ground rather than that I should ex
pose myself to a lot of vandals.
We had got well started on our Jour
ney when some one asked. “Where Is
Clarice?" I supposed she was In an
other conveyance than mine, but she
was not She bad done what 1 had
wished to do—remained Id the house.
We had gone too far on our Journey to
turn back, so It was decided by
mother, who was director general of
our heglra—my father and brothers
being awny In the army under General
Albert Sidney Johnston—that if Clarice
Insisted on being murdered it could
not be helped. So we pursued our Jour
ney to my uncle's plantation.
I was very much chagrined that
Clarice had taken the risk—If Indeed
there were any risk In what she bad
done—that I proposed to take myself.
I did not for a moment believe that
she would remain at home for the
purpose of falling Into the bands of
the Yankees In order to get her free
dom, for she could hnve had It for
the asking at any time. I felt sure
that she had remained to do what she
could for the preservation of the place.
After a few days, not hearing that
those few persons who -had awaited
the coming of the enemy bad been
put to the sword. 1 determined to go
back and see what was the condition
of our abandoned home. So without
saying anything to mother or any one
else I told one of the servants to sad
dle my horse, and 1 started up the road
for our plantation.
A few miles' ride brought me to the
Federal pickets, and on stating that 1
wished to return to my home 1 was
permitted to pass. 1 found the yard
occupied with tents nnd sentinels pac
ing about the house. 1 was riding up
to the front porch and saw Clarice
come running down the steps and. to
ward me. I drew rein, thinking she
might wish to see me alone, and she
did. 1 was surprised to see her in one
of my best dresses and wearing some
of my ornaments.
“Don’t come any farther till 1 tell
you,” she said. “The house has been
taken for the headquarters of one of
the generals. 1 thought that If 1 mnde
him believe 1 was one of the fnmily
and not a servant It would help me to
Induce him to protect the place. He is
doing everything 1 ask him. He even
stopped the men from using the fur
naces for fires. But your coming Is
going to break me all up. What shall
we do?"
I thought a few moments before re
plying. Should 1 turn back and leave
her to play her game? 1 preferred to
remain.
"1 tell you what we’ll do. Clarice.
You know I’m very dark skinned. 1
can pass for an octoroon. I'll be maid
and leave you to go on playing mis
tress.”
Clarice tried to think of some other
way out of It but failed, and 1. dis
mounting. led my horse around to the
barn, while Clarice went back Into the
house. When 1 had taken off the sad
dle and bridle I Joined her. While
passing through the hall 1 met a young
officer, who looked at tne with evident
surprise. I surmised that he took me
for a Indy, so 1 said:
“Have you seeu my mistress? I'm
looking for her.*’
"Your mistress?"
“Yes, my mistress. 1 didn't know
thnt she was going to stay here alone
or I wouldn't have gone nwuy. I ve
come buck to take wire of tier.”
"Miss Clayton went up to her room a
moment ago. 1 think you'll .find tier
there."
Grim vtsuged war was turned into a
stage on which was enacted a comedy.
Clarice and 1 being the principal wo
men actors and Captain Ilardlng. the
olllcor 1 had met In the hall, the lead
ing gentleman. While we convinced
him that Clarice was white and I laid
negro blood In my veins, that she was
mistress and 1 was maid, it was im
possible for her to show the effects of
an education she had not received, and
1 could not help showing both my
breeding nnd education. I sailed her
Missy Alice, and she called vte Clarice.
I obeyed her slightest and, nnd she
enrried her part as mistress extreme
ly well—that Is, before others. Wheu
we were alone we were to each other
wbnt we had always been.
It was plain to me when I first mot
Captain Harding that he was pleased
with me. A man doesn't usually take
palus to conceal Ids admiration, and
till I told him that I was a negtv) nnd
a slave the captain's eyes were full
of it. I thought I saw, when I gave
him the Inforraalon, a look of disap
pointment in his face, but that might
have been Imaginary on ray part
There enn scarcely arise a situation
more attractive to a woman than to
personate one between whom and an
admirer there is a great gulf fixed. I
confess 1 played the game with relish,
though outwardly with modesty tinged
with sadness—the sadness 1 took on
when 1 began to feel assured that 1
was getting my admirer into my tolls.
I led him to think thnt It was caused
by the taint of blood which separated
me from him.
Had not Captain Harding's nnture
been of a fine texture I should have
expected him to treat me for what l
pretended to be. But he was ns re
spectful to me as If 1 had been of the
purest white blood. True, he kept a
certain reserve, such as would be prop
er between him and a servant He
would chat with me quite freely, and
when 1 showed on understanding thnt
could only have been developed by
education he sometimes forgot himself
so far os to treat me like n lady.
What I mean Is that he took no ad
vantage of m.v being supposedly a ne
gro and a slave.
I was enjoying my Uttle comedy Im
mensely when one morning 1 was sud
denly brought to my senses. Clarice
came Into my room and wakened me
by crying:
"The Yankees hnve gone, the Lord
be praised!”
'What!” I exclaimed, starting up.
‘There Isn't a soldier on the place.
They all went awny at 4 o’clock this
morning."
Then and there came upon roe an
awakening different from that after a
slumber. Captain Harding had gone!
And be bad gone believing me to be
a Degro and a slave! Had he known
my true status he might return and
seek me. Now this wns impossible
He would never Bcek one tainted as 1
bad led him to believe 1 was. And, as
for my seeking him, no woman with
womanly modesty can seek a man.
The fall was as depressing as the
rise had been exhilarating. I arose
from my bed and looked out through
my window. Where I had been nccus
tomed to seeing tents there wns now
nothing but bare ground. A month be
fore I had execrated the coming of
these Yankees; now 1 bemoaned their
going. The morning was murky, and
the wind was stirring the leaves to
what to me was a requiem.
The army had moved to Murfrees
boro, some thirty miles south of us. In
a few days our household was at home
again. All were happy at the vanish
ment of the enemy except me. I was
desolate. The man 1 loved bad gone,
believing that an Impassable barrier
existed between him nnd me. There
was an impassable barrier, but not
such as be supposed.
One of the last bnttles.of the war
was fought near us. We /were within
the Federal -lines, and oyr wounded
enemies were brought to us. Seeing a
stretcher set down In the yard with a
man on it, I went out to learn if 1
could do anything for him. In his pole
face I recognized Captain Harding, and
when he looked up at me with his mel
nncholy eyes 1 saw an involuntary
start As for me. 1 wns both grieved
at his condition and delighted that he
had returned to me. 1 dreaded lest he
should die still believing me to he what
I had represented myself. 1 wished at
once to correct the Impression I had
given him. but I could not. Neverthe
less I did not personate a servant
“Clarice!" 1 called. “Bring water
Some brandy! Quick! Captain Hard
ing Is here, badly wounded!"
A faint surprise came Into the wound
ed man’s eyes. But his condition wns
too low for me to enlighten him. Cla
rice brought the water and the brandy
and after giving him a drink 1 or
dered her In no gentle tone to bring
some of the negroes to carry the in
valid into the house. When l got him
there 1 went myself for a surgeon
brought him to the bedside and held
my breath till be assured me tbe case
was not hopeless.
All that happened nearly half a cen
tury ago. When Captain Harding re
turned to the north 1 went with him
and here 1 have lived ever since,
have often thought what my life would
have been bad 1 not bad an opportu
nity to undo what I had done in lead
ing him to suppose that 1 was a negro
and a Slav*.
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__ PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON.
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Petition to Remove Disabilities.
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