Newspaper Page Text
the SOUTHERN WORLD, APRIL 15, 1884.
[T*b SoSSJri reported in ful,, and indeed
“^“numbers containing this thrilling and everything. I brought you a paper It
« k ,.r-stlna historical romance can be had was quite an affair >> J a paper, it
Volume
JJeply 1 in te restlng'hfi'torical
.fflve ceuw per copy.]
THE DeSAUSSURES.
A Historical Romance.
by b. f. sawyeb.
quite an affair.
“Oh, did you? I am so glad. Yes
of course it will interest me. May I
read it now as I ride, papa?” y
x es. if you like; but we will aonn
IwlTf* wiU g0 throu gh the fields.
LaRue*” BCe h ° W they are getting on at
CHAPTER XXII.
/»o« we ^}.> the meantime you
can tell me all about it.”
T t» i “ Oh, it seems the ladies—Miss Cole-
The work of improving the LaRue man and the others-have worked them
plantation had begun at once. The next a stand of colors ‘with her own 5S
morning after young DeSaussure had hands,’ the paper said, and they wentup
expressed his wishes Mr Feaster had the day before, and yesterday in all the
set the negro carpenters to work on the pomp and ceremony of martial parade
cabins, and now the architect, Mr. Ste- she presented them to the regiment,
phenson, had come and the morning had and she did it very handsomely. Her
been spent at the old house making out httle speech was really a pretty one.
and arranging the details. He, the ar- The affair, as reported, was a brilliant
chitect, had visited the place before with one; all the beauty aud chivalry of the
the young master who had given him a land were there.”
general idea of the restorations and addi- “ And did they report his speech too.
tions he wished made, and m pursuance papa, or didn’t he make one?”
of these details had perfected his plans ‘‘Oh, yes; that is the Major.”
and drawings. “ Colonel, papa; he is Colonel,” cor-
“ It will make a cozy country villa,” rected the daughter,
approvingly said Mr. Stephenson in con- “Oh, DeSaussure; yes, to be sure,
elusion of the matter. I will call oc- but he didn’t receive the colors.”
casionally and see how they are work- “Oh, didn’t he ?” with an unconscious
ing it out. Are you quite sure of your relief.
carpenters, or had I not better send out “ Oh, no; the Major—a Major Lawton
a master builder? or Lofton or something—anyhow the
“ No; I If 11 ”*, can work it. I Major received the colors and replied to
know of no better. Still, if you can her speech. It was a pretty speech, too
pick me up a gang under a competent —cut and dried of course—but very
boss, I would be glad to have them,” neat.”
Feaster answered. “And what else, papa? Did not he
“ Very well,” and the building of the do anythin/?”
nest worthy to be the home of the young “ He ? Who?”
master’s bride was ready to begin. “Oh, the Colonel; of course I thought
it was late dinner when the monotony —thought—that it was the Colonel’s
of the overseer’s household was sur- place always to do these things.”
prised by the messenger boy with a tele- “Oh, no; it seems that he was sick
or something. The paper did not
[ much to say about him.”
“ Ah, that’s the way with these news
paper correspondents. They never al
ways tell everything—only what suits
them. I suspect he was in the interest
of this Major, or mayhap it was the Ma
gram.
“ Mr. Morris said it was urgent and I
brought it in a hurry,” apologized the
boy for his dusty appearance.
“And started before dinner. Come
in, we are dining,” hospitably answered
theothe". __ f _
“ Oh, no; I had dinner. I don’t think I j 0 r himself who wrote it”
there is an answer so I will ride back. “No, I should not think so; and be
I have another message to deliver this sides, it was full of his mother, Mrs. De
evening, so good day, sir.” SausBure; and since I recall it, did speak
The overseer opened the dispatch as of the Colonel drinking a toast or be
he went back to his dinner. ing drunk.”
“What is it, papa? Anything seri- “Being drunk, papa? Oh, you know
0U8?” asked Miss Feaster, the idea of that’s a vile slander. He never drinks
telegrams being mysteriously always a drop,” indignantly interrupted the
connected with evil tidings. young lady.
“ Oh, no. It is nothing—only Mr. De- “ Well, never mind; you can read it
Saussure telegraphs me to forward his for yourself when we get home. But I
stallion Tiger by the first train. Here, did not say he was drunk, only that his
you can read it and I will start at once, health was drank—and he made a very
I will have time to catch the evening nice little response. I cannot recollect
train. Helen, I will have to leave you it all, because really I was too busy get-
alone to-night. I go to Columbia,” he ting Tiger off,” explained her father,
explained. “ But when did they go—Mrs. DeSaus-
“ Yes, I am sorry you have to go, but sure and the others?”
never mind me, Polly and I can make “ Mrs. DeSaussure left day before yes
jut for one night,” answered the lady terday.”
with an assuring smile. “ But what in “ And when is she coming home, pa-
the world does he want with another pa?”
horse?” “I cannot tell; she never tells me
“Oh he can afford it; and besides, the anything of her movements. I would
mare will be unequal to all the work he not have known she was gone had I not
will have to do. Tiger is much better learned it yesterday when I went up af
suited. I wonder he had not ordered ter the horse. I thought it proper to
him at first.” show the telegram to her, but found her
Mrs. Feaster glanced at her daughter, gone. I suspect now that her house will
The mare had never been mentioned be so lonesome that her son is gone, she
between them since the evening she was will spend in ch of her time in visiting “
taken away. The mother’s quick eye “Heighho!” sighed Miss Feaster, a
noticed the little flush that stole over dismal, lonesome little sigh,
the lovely face, but no other sign of They rode on in silence after that, a
feeling—and without further comment brisk canter bringing them to the LaRue
Mr. Feaster hurried out to make his farm.
preparations for the ride. “ What is this for, papa? Are they
A few moments sufficed for this and going to sell LaRue?” she asked, noting
he was ready to kiss his darlings good- the work of improvement so busily go
b ye- * I ing on
“ No; he is having it restored and im
proved for his own use. He will estab
fish a quarter here.”
“ It iB a beautiful place.”
“ Yes; and, Mary, if you like you can
iy the
and
“Send forme to-morrow, at 12, you
know,” he called back.
“Yes, yes. I will go for you myself,”
answered his daughter.
To-morrow at 12 she was at the station i - -- - .. t - - { w minute8
Laving ridden Lily and led a hack for alightand let Lily browse a few minutes
bt*r father. A few minutes after the uu ll I go in aud see how they are get
??? heF fa * h ? r cam V. ut ves and I can read all about the
v.. re a£®gT nU ^ 1 e 8 Pr , in C ei C ? 0 ySl .eteSiiiSte,” ah. aaid.aprNpnjjlight.
■■You kb*" 1 tfSiSFffi.’vjLe. ly.to the ground aud grv.ng L.I
papa. she asked as they mounted aud reins.
rode away. She eagerly opened the paper.
“ Very pleasant. How did you and finding a lounge on the lo “K» f*
} our mother fare?” under the trees, she ulanced over its col
“ Lonesome enough, but mamma is umns for the report. Appropria ea
‘ L" a >’ 8 Pleasant. And you got the horse lines caught her quick ej e, a
oft safely?” 3 h eagerness she tried vainly to restrain,
«P.' 8068 SglTlt w'a. g iTbriLn{Tpon of ‘a
bled° h * UtUec O. “d «*» Up. t«“- £ a , l ‘ v w *S r th'r8 t “rSge“eagemuM Is ah.
* at ber did not notice the cry, but rea ^- dosrribed • the
ijent <?n: “Yes, they go to Virginia. The encampment was described j^ne
-ere is a long dispatch in the paper etprit de corp* oi the c .» *£? men
ab °ot them. They had a big dayof it Xthe splendid appearanceofthemen
Mia.’Coleman and her the gallant l».rm«<*hejfflee™, the
MiJ? e n a . Dd ^ rB * DeSaussure were there, splendor of the to ^_^ ver rea dy
with o Co « en *. ai1 P reB ented the regiment ladies—God bless t brave words to
ed A 8 a ?d of colors and a ball follow-* with sweet smilesa® j heroic
~ la8t night. Miss Coleman’s little encourage the men to deeds oi
daring-and then it began to particular
ize. The charming Miss Coleman first,
so regal in her loveliness; her toilet re
splendent; her charm of manner; her
;^race of movement. Oh, it was exquis
ite, and then her mother, with a classic
allusion to the mothers of Rome; and
then Mrs. DeSaussure, the proud mother
of the noble voung commander, with an
other allusion—far fetched it may be,
but classic still—to the Roman mother—
to Volumna.
And then the colors—the exquisite
banner wrought by the fair hand of Car
olina’s fairest daughter, tit standard for
the knights of Arthur to go forth to con
quer under. And then the speech, so
gracefully spoken, in a voice soclearaml
yet so sweet; the words so full of patri
otic meaning, of brave encouragement
and of kindly confidence. And then the
salvo of music and applause that follow
ed it, speaking in ttiunder tunes the
heartiness of its reception.
And then the gallant Major’s response
as he so gracefully received the banner
from the fair hands that bestowed it,
pi eceded by cheers, interrupted by ap
plause and followed by appropriate ad
jectives of approval.
And then the dinner—with the toasts
—and then her heart suspended its flut
tering to listen as his little speech was
reported, and she stopped to utter a little
viva, whispering as she did, “ He but
needs to appear to show himself a than.”
And then came the ball—but not so
elaborate for want of time and space—
but sufficiently sparkling to fill her eyes
with a wistful look as she read of the
brilliant entree of the gallant Colonel
DeSaussure, leading to the waltz the
queenly beauty, MisB Drucie Coleman.
The report closed with a hurried line
“At a late hour the gaieties of the bril
liant assembly were ended to give place
to the sterner duties of the soldier. The
command leaves to-morrow for the front
where we may soon expect to hear rom
it in a less grateful but no lesB gallant
role. The eyes of the State will be
upon them as the hearts of all go with
them. A more gallant Bet of men, com
manded by a more gallant officer, never
left the State. We may expect gallant
things of them.”
The girl sat with her hands listlessly
folded in her lap and such a far away
look in her wondrous eyes, that her fath
er was struck with its pathos.
“ Did you read anything unpleasant ?”
he asked.
“ No, oh, no; it was all very pleasant,
and Miss Coleman must feel very proud
of her triumph.”
Yes, I dare say she is.”
And have I told you, papa, what a
friend she has promised to be to me?
She is coming to see me when she gets
back home, and we have arranged for a
number of rides. Will you have Sam
look at her feet—I mean Lily’s—I think
one of her shoes is loose?”
“ Yes; I will attend to it as soon as
we get back; but come, are you ready
to ride ? Your mother is looking for us. ”
“ Yes, quite ready,” and gathering up
Lily’s reins, she sprang as lightly into
the saddle as she had dismounted a few
moments before.
Another brisk canter brought them
home, where wife and mother stood at
the gate on the loving lookout for their
coming.
The greeting over and a delicious bath
and dinner was ready.
The yonng lady recounted the report
of the affair at Fort Mill, and after it
waB discussed, she said:
“ Mamma, we came by LaRue. You
would hardly know the place. Papa iB
having it restored and rebuilt.”
“ Yes?” asked the mother, who never
inquired into the business of the plan
tation.
“ Yes,” answered Mr. Feaster, catch
ing the curiosity in the tone, “I had
instructions from Mr. DeSaussure the
day he left to improve it. The improve
ments are on quite an extensive scale
and will cost some ten or twelve thou
sand dollars, and, Helen, if you and
Polly would like to see it, I have a draw
ing of the house as it will look when
finished. Let’s go to my desk and I
will show you.
They eagerly adjourned to the over
may come a time when she will remem
ber this kindness with pleasure.”
“ He ought to have remembered it
himself when he sent for his mare.”
“Oil, mamma, please forget all about
the mare,” with pain in her eyes.
“Well, never mind; perhaps he ex
pects to pay me aB he would pay Witch-
ell.”
“ I do not think that, Helen.”
“ Well, I shall have nothing to do
with his grounds.”
“No, 1 should not feeling that way;
only somehow I feel that the young man
is not to blame about the mare.”
“Perhaps not. From his standpoint
certainly not. But what is he having
LaRue rebuilt for?”
“ For the present to establish a quar
ter there. I have the list of negroes to
transfer there.”
“For the present, and what for the
future?”
Oh, I hardly know that I am at lib
erty to tell, but I suppose he would have
no objections to you knowing, only it
must not go out of the family.”
Certainly not.”
Well, he told me as his reason for
restoring the house that should he re
turn he would expect to marry, and he
wanted a house fitted for his wife.”
“ Ah!” from the mother.
“ Oh!” a little gasp from the daugh
ter.
“ And why does he give up LaV orgne ?”
“ He says as long as his mother lives
he shall consider her the mistress of La-
Vergne, and doing that he is sensible in
wishing an establishment of his own.”
“Yes; but did he tell you who
this Princess is for whom he is prepar
ing this palace?”
“ No; but I am quite sure that I know.”
Who?” with a glance at the daugh
ter.
“ Miss Coleman, of course. Themat-
ter is quite well understood between the
families.”
The mother’s heart ached as she wit
nessed the pain that lay in the large,
expressive eyes, and quivered on the
lips of her daughter.
“ I have suspected as much,” she
said, but the disappointment lay in her
voice all the same.
“Yes, quite a suitable match; but
who is that? I believe it is young Sam
son and the mare following,” he said,
as looking through the window he caught
the young man Samson returning with
his charge.
The mother frowned darkly as she
noticed the quick start of gladness that
rushed to her daughter’s eyes and the
flush that suffused her cheek as she, too,
caught sight of the mare.
“Oh, it is Love—it is Love!” she
cried, turning to run out to meet ier.
“ Mary; 1 should not! ” gently Bpoke
her mother.
The gentle reproof was enough, and
the gladness all went out of her eyes
and the, startled look of wounded pride
took its* place.
“ Well, let us all go outand see her,”
-aid her father, pitying the anxiety that
spoke through his daughter’s eyes.
“ You go on, we will come in a mo
ment Mary, I hope you will put all
this thing away from you forever,” she
said as she dropped behind with her
daughter.
“Yes; mother. I—I—will try,” with
a brave effort to be strong.
“ Hello, Bamson, what is the matter.
I hardly expected you back so soon ? ”
hailed the overseer as he went out to
meet the young man.
“ Oh, sir; there was a mistake about
the mare. Colonel DeSaussure did not
want her, and hurried me back with her
to get another. Here is a letter that will
better explain. 1 have promised to take
the other horse back, mid if you will
have him ready by the time I get back I
will run over home and fix * little. I
have jined the boys and am going to the
war, too.”
“ Ah! have you; that is right. But I
have done sent the horse by the cars.
The command has marching orders and
Colonel DeSaussure telegraphed me to
forwnrd the horse at once. He is there
by this time,” explained the overseer.
“ Oh, is that so! Then I cau’t get to
seer’s little office and were criticising
with little cries of delight the drawing.
“ Why, it will be quite a villa. With
appropriate grounds it will almost rival
LaVjergne,” said Mrs. Feaster.
“YeB; and the grounds are to be as
elaborately ar.anged as the building.
And, Helen, he a*ked me to beg you to
assist Mr. Witchell in the grounds. He
told me if you would kindly undertake
the task, to give you unlimited authori
ty and means in the matter.”
“I. think the request a presumptuous
one,” answered the lady.
“ There was nothing like presumption
in the manner of his asking. He was
deferential enough, and said, tell her
tb*t if she will be so good perhaps there
go.
“ Yes yon can go. If you will report
in Columbia they will give you trans-
por'ation and you can follow on.”
“ Can I. Then I’ll be dinged if I don’t!
But here’s your letter aud here’s the
mare I The Colonel ripped like fair
when we got there with her; and he took
a little ride on her out in the woods like,
all by himself, and when he came back
he told me to bundle up and hurry back
with the mare and bring Tiger.”
“ Yes; his letter says it was a mistake,
and as the horse is already gone you
have nothing else to do. I will pay you
for your time and trouble.
“ Yes; here is eighteen dollars he
gave me. I spent two. You can pay
me out of this,” said the honest fellow.