A BREATH FROM THE OLD SOUTH.
The room in which Edward Morgan opened his eyes next morning was large
and the ceiling low. The posts of the bed ran up to within a foot of the
latter and supported a canopy. There was no carpet, the curtains were of
chintz and the lambrequins evidently home made. The few pictures on the
wall were portraits, in frames made of pine cones, with clusters of
young cones at the corners. There were home-made brackets, full of swamp
grasses. The bureau had two miniature Tuscan columns, between which was
hung a swivel glass. All was homely but clean and suggestive of a
woman's presence. And through the open windows there floated a delicious
atmosphere, fresh, cool and odorous, with the bloom-breath of tree and
shrub.
He stepped out of bed and looked forth. For a mile ran the great fields
of cotton and corn, with here and there a cabin and its curl of smoke. A
flock of pigeons were walking about the barn doors, and a number of
goats waited at the side gate, which led into a broad back yard. In the
distance he could see negroes in the fields, hear their songs and the
"clank" of a little grist-mill in the valley.
But sweeping all other sounds from mind, he heard also another musical
voice calling "Chick! chick! chickee, chickee!" and caught a glimpse of
fowls hurrying from every direction toward the back yard. He plunged his
head into a basin of cool water, and presently he was dressed.
The front door was open, as it had remained all night, the chairs on the
porch, with here and there books and papers, when Edward Morgan walked
out. The yard was spacious and full of plants. Sunflowers and
poke-berries were growing along the front fence, and mocking birds,
cardinals and jays, their animosities suspended, were breakfasting side
by side. His walk carried him to the side of the house, and, looking
across the low picket fence, he saw Mary. Her sleeves were rolled up
above the elbows and her arms covered with dough from a great pan into
which, from time to time, she thrust a hand. A multitude of ducks,
chickens, turkeys and guineas scrambled about her, and a dozen white
pigeons struggled for standing-room upon her shoulders.
"May I come in?" he called.
"If you can stand it, Mr. Morgan." There was not the slightest
embarrassment; the brown eyes were frank and encouraging; he placed his
hands upon the fence and leaped lightly over.
"What a family you have!" he said. She smiled, turning her face to him
as she scattered dough and gently pushed away the troublesome birds.
"Many birds' mouths to fill; and they will have to fill some mouths too,
one of these days, poor things."
"That is but fair."
"I suppose so; but what a mission in life--just to fill somebody's
mouth."
"The mission of many poor men and women I have seen," he said, "is
merely to fill mouths. And sometimes they get so poor they can't do
that."
"And sometimes chickens get the same way," she said, sagely, at which
both laughed outright. Her face resumed its placid expression almost
instantly. "It must be sad to be very poor; how I wish they could
arrange for all of the poor people to come out here and find homes;
there seems to be so much land wasted."
"They would not stay long anywhere away from the city," he said; "but do
you never sigh for city life?"
"I prefer it," she replied, simply, "but we cannot afford it. And there
is no one to take care of this place. It is harder on Annie, brother's
wife. She simply detests the country. When I graduated--"
"You graduated!" he exclaimed, almost incredulously. She looked at him
surprised.
"Yes, I am young, seventeen this month, but that is not extraordinary.
Mamma graduated at the same age, sixteen, forty years ago." A servant
approached, spoon in hand.
"Want some more lard, missy." She took her bunch of keys, and selecting
one that looked like the bastile memento at Mount Vernon, unlocked the
smoke-house door and waited. "Half of that will do, Gincy," she said,
not looking around as she talked with Morgan, and the woman returned
half.
"Now," she continued to him, "I must go see about the milking."
"I will go, too, if you do not object! This is all new and enjoyable."
They came to where the women were at work. As they stood looking on, a
calf came up and stood by the girl's side, letting her rub its sensitive
ears. A little kid approached, too, and bleated.
"Aunt Mollie," Mary asked, "has its mother come up yet?"
"No, ma'am. Spec' somep'n done cotch her!"
"See if he will drink some cow's milk--give me the cup." She offered him
a little, and the hungry animal drank eagerly. "Let him stay in the yard
until he gets large enough to feed himself." Then turning to Morgan,
laughing, she said: "I expect you are hungry, too; I wonder why papa
does not come."
"Is he up?"
"Oh, yes; he goes about early in the morning--there he comes now!" The
soldierly form of the old man was seen out among the pines. "Bring in
breakfast, Gincy," she called, and presently several negroes sped across
the yard, carrying smoking dishes into the cool basement dining-room.
Then the bell rang.
At the top of the stairway Morgan had an opportunity to better see his
hostess. The lady was slender and moved with deliberation. Her gray hair
was brightened by eyes that seemed to swim with light and sympathy. The
dress was a black silk, old in fashion and texture, but there was real
lace at the throat and wrists, and a little lace headdress. She smiled
upon the young man and gave him her plump hand as he offered to assist
her.
"I hope you slept well," she said; "no ghosts! That part of the house
you were in is said to be one hundred years old, and must be full of
memories."
They stood for grace, and then Mary took her place behind the coffee pot
and served the delicious beverage in thin cups of china. The meal
consisted of broiled chicken, hot, light biscuits, bread of cornmeal,
and eggs that Morgan thought delicious, corn cakes, bacon and fine
butter. A little darky behind an enormous apron, but barefooted, stood
by the coffee pot and with a great brush of the gorgeous peacock
feathers kept the few flies off the tiny caster in the middle of the
table, while his eyes followed the conversation around. Presently there
was a clatter on the stairs and the little boy came down and climbed
into his high chair. He was barefooted and evidently ready for
breakfast, as he took a biscuit and bit it. The colonel looked severely
at him.
"Put your biscuit down," he said, quietly but sternly, "and wait outside
now until the others are through. You came in after grace and you have
not said good-morning." The boy's countenance clouded and he began to
pick at his knife handle; the grandmother said, gently:
"He'll not do it again, grandpa, and he is hungry, I know. Let him off
this time." Grandpa assumed a very severe expression as he replied,
promptly:
"Very well, madam; let him say grace and stay, under those
circumstances." The company waited on him, he hesitated, swelled up as
if about to cry and said, earnestly: "Gimme somep'n to eat, for the
Lord's sake, amen." Grandma smiled benignly, but Mary and grandpa were
convulsed. Then other footfalls were heard on the stairs outside, as if
some one were coming down by placing the same foot in front each time.
Presently in walked a blue-eyed, golden-haired, barefooted girl of
three, who went straight to the colonel and held up her arms. He lifted
her and pressed the little cheek to his.
"Ah," he said, "here comes the Duchess." He gave her a plate next to
his, and taking her fork she ate demurely, from time to time watching
Morgan.
"Papa ain't up yet," volunteered the boy. "He told mamma to throw his
clothes in the creek as he wouldn't have any more use for them--ain'
going to get up any more."
"Mamma, does your eye hurt you?" said Mary, seeing the white hand for
the second time raised to her face.
"A little. The same old pain."
"Mamma," she explained to Morgan, "has lost the sight of one eye by
neuralgia, tho you would never suspect it. She still suffers dreadfully
at times from the same trouble."
Presently the elder lady excused herself, the daughter watching her
anxiously as she slowly disappeared.
It was nearly noon when Norton Montjoy and Edward Morgan reached the law
office of Ellison Eldridge. As they entered Morgan saw a clean-shaven
man of frank, open expression. Norton spoke:
"Judge, this is Mr. Edward Morgan--you have corresponded with him."
Morgan felt the sudden penetrating look of the lawyer. Montjoy was
already saying au revoir and hastening out, waving off Edward's thanks
as he went.
"Will see you later," he called back from the stairway, "and don't
forget your promise to the old folks."
"You got my letter, Mr. Morgan? Please be seated."
"Yes; three days since, in New York, through Fuller & Fuller. You have,
I believe, the will of the late John Morgan."
"A copy of it. The will is already probated." He went to his safe and
returned with a document and a bunch of keys. "Shall I read it to you?"
"If you please."
The lawyer read, after the usual recitation that begins such documents,
as follows: "Do create, name and declare Edward Morgan of the city of
New York my lawful heir to all property, real and personal, of which I
may die possessed. And I hereby name as executor of this my last will
and testament, Ellison Eldridge of ---- state afore-said, relieving said
Ellison Eldridge of bond as executor and giving him full power to wind
up my estate, pay all debts and settle with the heir as named, without
the order of or returns to any court, and for his services in this
connection a lien of $10,000 in his favor is hereby created upon said
estate, to be paid in full when the residue of property is transferred
to the said Edward Morgan," etc.
"The property, aside from Ilexhurst, his late home," continued Judge
Eldridge, "consists of $630,000 in government bonds. These I have in a
safety-deposit company. I see the amount surprises you."
"Yes," said the young man; "I am surprised by the amount." He gave
himself up to thought for a few moments.
"The keys," said Eldridge, "he gave me a few days before his death,
stating that they were for you only, and that the desk in his room at
home, which they fitted, contained no property."
"You knew Mr. Morgan well, I presume?" said the young man.
"Yes, and no. I have seen him frequently for a great many years, but no
man knew him intimately. He was eccentric, but a fine lawyer and a very
able man. One day he came in here to execute this will and left it with
me. He referred to it again but once and that was when he came to bring
your address and photograph."
"Was there--anything marked--or strange--in his life?"
"Nothing beyond what I have outlined. He was a bachelor, and beyond an
occasional party to gentlemen in his house, when he spared no expense,
and regular attendance upon the theater, he had few amusements. He
inherited some money; the balance he accumulated in his practice and by
speculation, I suppose. The amount is several times larger than I
suspected. His one great vice was drink. He would get on his sprees two
or three times a year, but always at home. There he would shut himself
up and drink until his housekeeper called in the doctors." Morgan waited
in silence; there was nothing else and he rose abruptly.
"Judge, we will wind up this matter in a few days. Here are your
letters, and John Morgan's to me, and letters from Fuller & Fuller, who
have known me for many years and have acted as agents for both Col.
Morgan and myself. If more proof is desired----"
"These are sufficient. Your photograph is accurate. May I ask how you
are related to Col. Morgan?"
"Distantly only. The fact is I am almost as nearly alone in the world as
he was. I must have your advice touching other matters. I shall return,
very likely, in the morning."
Upon the street Edward Morgan walked as in a dream. Strange to say, the
information imparted to him had been depressing. He called a carriage.
"Take me out to John Morgan's," he said, briefly.
"De colonel's done dead, sah!"
"I know, but the house is still there, is it not?"
The driver conveyed the rebuke to his bony horse, in the shape of a
sharp lash, and secured a reasonably fair gait. Once or twice he
ventured observations upon the character of the deceased.
"Col. Morgan's never asked nobody 'how much' when dey drive 'im; he des
fling down half er doller an' go long 'bout es business. Look to me,
young marster, like you sorter got de Morgan's eye. Is you kinned to
'im?"
"I employed you to drive, not to talk," said Edward, sharply.
"Dere now, dat's des what Col. Morgan say!"
The negro gave vent to a little pacifying laugh and was silent. The
shadow on the young man's face was almost black when he got out of the
hack in front of the Morgan house and tossed the old negro a dollar.
"Oom-hoo!" said that worthy, significantly. "Oo-hoo! What I tole you?"