Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1904 — IN THE DEBATABLE LAND. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IN THE DEBATABLE LAND.

BY EDWARD S. ELLIS.

CHAPTER V A BRKK2K That hospitable southern home of General Arthur Eldridge. C. S. A., had its physician, who. so far as the ordinary ailments of the human flesh are concerned, could have given lessons to the majority of the profession who hold the duly certified diplomas of the most famous medical schools of the land. Aunt Marcie. wife of old Pete, the coachman, and mother of Rastus, had nourished Adele when a child through a seemingly mortal illness after the regular physician said all hope was vanished. and she had sat by the bedside of her beloved mistress as the weeping husband uttered what he believed was his last farewell and administered her simple remedies, which pulled the mother back from the edge of the dark river General Eldridge himself had received the benefit of that wonderful skill which nature sometimes bestows upon those that are the least gifted mentally, while in the old days, when the threescore slaves sang and worked on the plantation, there was none who willingly received the care of any doctor in preference to Aunt Marcie. Of all this Lieutenant Oakman knew nothing, but when the old colored woman. with her head swathed in a gorgeous bandanna handkerchief, promptly and deftly removed the bandage from the wounded arm with a sniff of contempt he felt somehow or other that it was useless to send for the best surgeon in the Union army, even if the opportunity were presented. While Mrs. Eldridge and her daughter looked sympathetically on. with an occasional word of pity. Aunt Marcie attended to business. “Might’ve knowed dat was done by some fool of a white man like Jim Ackers. ‘ she remarked as she laid the stained and caked cloth aside “It am tied twice as tight as it orter be. Dat’s what makes yo’ face so red. ” Lieutenant Oakman felt his countenance burning, for he was aware that a pair of bright eyes were fixed commiseratingly upon him. and he welcomed the chance for a parry or diversion “Why should that make my face red. aunty Y" "Yo’s a big fool as de rest ob de white folks. Doan' yo’ see dat de bandage bein tied tight stops de blood from promenadin frough de system an keeps it all in de head? Yo’s mighty lucky dat yo' head hain’t busted afore dis. " “Ah. how wonderful 1 l never thought of that.' “Cose yo' neber tought ob dat. Yo wer’n't bo’n dat way. ” The officer raised his eyes and met those of Miss Eldirdge. standing just behind her mother, fan in hand. She pijt it in front of her month to hide the smile she could not repress, while he made no effort to check liis own expression of amusement His eyes flitted to those of the mother. w T ho had no hesitation in showing her pleasure Just then aunty looked up "Lord sabe met But 1 must bequick, for yo' face am redder dan eber It’ll bust suah es I doan hurry. ” Despite the embarrassment felt by the invalid under the battery of those black eyes, there was something mighty soothing in the manipulation of his wounded arm by the colored woman She had carefully provided herself with the medicinal herbs brought by Rastus from their cabin. From some a bitter tea was made and from others a cooling lotion that was like the touch of the winter’s breath upon the fevered forehead. As the black, horny hands passed up and down the forearm, clearing it of the last traces cf coagulated blood, spreading the subtle tonic over the fair skin through whose pores it gently stole its way. pain vanished, aud the officer felt that but for the presence of the two standing behind aunty’s chair he could have laid back his head and sunk into the refreshing dreamless sleep of infancy. “1 never saw anything like it. "he said gratefully “I felt better from the moment yon began taking off the bandage. 1 don't understand how”— “Cose yo’ (loan’ obstend it. cose yo' is nuffin but a white man. ” “That must be it. aunty. I have had some fear that one of the bones was injured Is it so- oh!” She was kneading the forearm with a vigor that sent a thrill of agony through his frame and caused the frown, the start and the exclamation.

“Hush! Hain’t yo' no- sense? 1 t’ought Marse Linkum’s sojers had some sense, but dey am as big fools aa Marse Jeff Davis’. Yaas, de bone had been brashed a little by de bullet dat obscated it, but it ain’t broke. Shall I tell yo’sumfin?” The black eyes, with the iron spectacles resting on the bridge of the flat nose, flashed upward and looked into the face so near its own, like a vision of mercy from out of the midnight. “I shall be glad to hear it, aunty. ” “Dat arm am gwine to hab a good eal ob inflammeration. Yo’ must keep quiet Doan’ fret, but it’ll hurt like creation fur a few days. ” “You are sure there is no danger, aunty?” The question was asked by Mrs. Eldridge, who was too accustomed to the ways of her servant to be startled by what she might say. “Lor* bless yo’ I Nuffin at aIL It’ll hurt, but de bones ain aa good aa eber

an in a week or two he won’t know what hab been de matter wid him. ” “And aunty never makes a mistake, ’ added Miss Eldridge. “She is the beat physician in the county. Do as she says, and she will soon bring yon around.

My mother has already assured you that you are welcome so long as you choose to romain with us. ” “I cannot express my thankfulness.’ said the lieutenant With deep feeling “Since I entered your state as an enemy. what right had I to look for such kindness T" “The right of those who profess the faith of the good Samaritan. ” replied the mother “God knows I have suffered enough at the hands of your people. My father and brother have given up their lives, one at Gettysburg and the other in front of Richmond. But we are civilized creatures, and when my husband was a prisoner of the Unionists he was treated as I hope to treat you. ” “I remember General Eldridge well, ” said the lieutenant gently “No braver officer lives. I helped to capture him. and my opinion is that of all who knew him. I was glad when he was exchanged, though," cleverly added the officer “I know it is just such as he that help prolong the war. I shall avail myself of your kindness to the extent of perhaps a week”— “Shet upl" angrily interrupted Aunt Marcie. “Yo’ hain’t got nuffin to say how long yo’s gwine to be heah. I’ll fix dat. ” “As yon please, aunty, ” meekly responded the invnlid, who blushed mere fiercelj’ than before, because at that moment his eyes and those of Miss Eldridge met. and each smiled. Into the room walked at that moment a tall, severely featured woman of perhaps 25 or 80 years of age. She came through the front door, as if she were a neighbor. She was attired in black, and the light gray eyes, the thin lips and the rigid figure were those of one who knows little of the quality of mercy “This is Miss Harriman, ” Miss Eldridge made haste to say, mentioning at the same time the name of Lieutenant Oakman and the misfortune that made him a temporary guest in that home. The officer partly rose from the cushioned chair in which lie had been seated. bowed low and expressed his pleasure at the meeting Miss Harriman looked angrily at him without the slightest inclination of her head or «c knowledgment of the introduction. The thin lips closed for a moment, and then with a strange glitter in her steely she turned to the mistress of the home. The words that followed seemed to Vie si shot ont like ballets from between the lips "Mrs. Eldridge. do you mean to let that man stay here T’ “Such is my intention. " replied the elder with dignity, “and I have yet to learn that it is any concern of Vjpurs. ' “Humph, and yon claim to be n southern woman!" “1 do. and therefore a Christian woman There was an ominous flash in the eyes of the daughter, who here inter posed “Miss Harriman. were 1 not certain that you have forgotten yonr self command and that yon will soon be ashamed <if this, l should not permit you to remain in this room. " “Ashamed of myself!’ repeated the woman with scorn "Never! It is you who will regret to your dying day having given shelter to one who comes to slay our people and burn onr homes! If I had my way, I should not pernlit him to remain another minute under this roof. ’ ’ “Madam,” interposed Lieutenant Oakma.u, “I judge you are a native of the north, ” “I am,” replied the woman, turning ferociously upon him. “Your words and manner led me to suspect it ” “And I am ashamed of my misfortune. which cannot be helped.” “No more ashamed than the north is es such daughters as you, and the woeful grief of it all is that the north is equally helpless in its misfortune." -VCHAPTER VL convalescence. Aunt Marcie’s diagnoeis of Lieutenant Oakman’s case was accurate. The

comparatively sli gh t wound gradually grew mow angry and inflamed until his system was afire with fever and his ■offerings were intense. He walked the floor two entire nights, stepping softly lest he disturbed the sleeping ones whq conld give him no more than their sympathy. and he (rested only when nature succumbed. The fact that the old colored woman foretold unerringly every phase of his case kept his confidence in her at par. In her erode way she explained that the bnllet. which ranged along the forearm nnder the sleeve of coat and shirt, had carried some of the cloth with it and it was this foreign substance that was still within the wound which caused the irritation. Until that was removed by her treatment the inflammation and pain would continue, but the mischievous substance would be exuded at some hour on the fourth day. after which bis improvement would be rapid. And it came about precisely as she said. Indeed the relief was so marked that, as he expressed it the change was like heaven itself. A strong man desires to be let alone when he 1b suffering. Words of sympathy do no good and generally are a bore. Lieutenant Oakman was glad that Mrs. Eldridge and her daughter understood this truth and forbore intruding upon him. The effort to show the courtesy aud gratitude due them would have intensified his pain. But there were delicacies sent to his room, accompanied by kind wishes borne by Aunt Marcie, that were the sweetest of balm a How these people, reduced to the most painful degree of poverty, could furnish him with such delicate and nourishing food was inconceivable to the guest. All the slaves had run off excepting Pete, his wife and the boy Rastus. The plantation had been going to waste for a long time, and it would seem that the production was not sufficient for the sustenance of one person. And here were mother and daughter, accustomed to lives of refinement and luxury, besides the three servants, none of whom showed evidence of actual want, though the poverty of attire, the substitutes for genuine tea and coffee and the meager fare itself spoke eloquently of the painful change of conditions. It is probable that this exemption from the distress that came to thousands of other homes was due to a variety of causes As is known, the section lay in the very heart of the Confederacy, where, until the visit of Sherman and his army, the real presence of war was not felt. Althongh the men attached to the plantation had long since gone to war. taking the most valuable horses with them, Pete and his wife were able to give more help to the women than would be supposed. Their love for the mistress and her daughter led them to a self denial that no one besides themselves suspected Since Lieutenant Oakman was not ailing in body and the arm which he carried in a sling was mending rapidly, there was no call for him to stay within doors. The second night on which he walked the floor was the most wretched of his life. A drizzling rain fell steadily through the dismal hoars, and the pattering on the roof, the endless dripping of the eaves, the soughing of the wet branches, drove him almost frantic, but with his sudden release from anguish the autumn sun burst forth in splendor, as if rejoicing with him over the blessed surcease from misery. Stirring news had come to the Union prisoner From some cause General Sherman made an abrupt turn to the northward in his line of march, thus leaving the Eldridge plantation a goodly number of miles to the south. This was an enormous relief to the officer, who knew too well the plundering proclivities of many cf his countrymen, which led them to regard everything worth taking as legitimate spoil. He dreaded a visit from them, though expecting it, until he learned of the change in the line of march. Several squads of cavalry had been seen hovering in the neighborhood, but they vanished without molesting the women, who uttered a prayer of thankfulness when convinced that nothing more would be seen of the invaders Of coarse in the event of a hostile visit the officer would have defended the household to the last, but lie was only one unarmed man against what might have been a score or a hundred. Perhaps his chivalry would have availed. perhaps it would not; so it is well that it was not put to the supreme test

The situation of Lieutenant Oabman was unique. He felt that he ought not to prolong his stay, and yet what means should he adopt to depart 1 He was a prisoner on parole and unexchanged. Scurrying back and forth on the flanks and in the wake of the Union army were multitudes of Confederate cavalrymen. through which it would be well nigh impossible for him to make his way Some of them were irregular forces or guerrillas, who, enraged by disaster, would show scant consideration to the United States uniform. They were liable to visit the home of General Eldridge at any hour “I must take the first opportunity to leave,” was Oakrnan’s thought. “My arm is only slightly sore, and if mounted on a good horse, with my revolver at command, I wouldn’t hesitate to chance it. Poor Fanny! It isn’t likely we shall ever meet again, and as for a revolver’ ’ — He checked himself with a thrill of hope. In the flurry of his encounter with his captors the weapon was dropped while riding the mare at full speed. Forgotten for the time, it might be he was the only one who recalled the fact What a godsend if he could recover itl Since his rapid convalescence the officer spent much of his time in Wandering about the old plantation. He loved to sit under the grand old shade trees, where seats had been placed long before Sometimes he chatted with Uncle Pete or Aunt Mkrcie, and inasmuch aa they refused to accept any-

thing In tbe Form of money from Mm h« filled the pockets of Rastus with greenbacks, until the dusky urchin threatened to become s budding millionaire. Mrs. Eldridge and her daughter were considerate, responding kindly to his greetings and expressing their pleasure at his recovery, but the situation was so delicate to him that he avoided both. His sense of honor would not permit him to attempt in the remotest degree to take advantage of his position. . As for Miss Harriman. the situation may be said to have been one of armed neutrality. Mrs. Eldridge must have spoken sharp words to her. for nothing more was heard of her biting sentencea She avoided the guest, never sitting at the table with him. and being absent from the house sometimes all day and night. The most that was said of her by Miss Eldridge was to explain that her fnll name was Marian Harriman, that she had come from New England just before the breaking out of the war. and, because of her high recommendations, had been engaged by General Eldridge as a governess or companion for his daughter, who contemplated a European tour with her mother, but was prevented by the opening of hostilities. Brief as are the words recorded of this young woman, they are sufficient to show her intense southern sympathies. She was more extreme than those among whom she lived and sometimes brought reproof upon her head for her fierce utterances. Lieutenant Oakman remembered the spot where he dropped his revolver when he was struck by the bullet of Tim Musters. Sauntering to the place, he groped only a few minutes among the cotton shrubs when he came upon the weapon lying precisely as it had fallen. With a cry of joy he snatched it up, slipped if into his pocket and started homeward. To Be Continued.

“Shet upl" angrily interrupted Aunt Marcie.