Part 17 (2/2)
Mrs. Marshall stooped and kissed her brother.
”You're a true son of Virginia, Robert, in this beautiful answer you make to-day to all our enemies.”
She rose and faced Ruffin with square antagonism.
Lee turned to the old butler.
”And Ben, tell all our servants of the estate that, under the will of Mrs. Lee's father I will in due time set them free. I would do so to-day if the will had not fixed the date.”
Ben bowed gravely.
”I'se proud to be your servant, Ma.r.s.e Robert and Missis, and when my freedom comes frum yo' hands, I'll be prouder still to serve you always.”
With head erect Ben proudly led the dazed young freedman from the hall to the kitchen where his reception was one of mixed wonder and pity.
There fell a moment's awkward silence, broken at last by Stuart's clear, boyish voice. He saw Ruffin's embarra.s.sment. He knew the man's fiery temper and wondered at his restraint.
”Well, Mr. Ruffin,” Stuart began, ”we may not see as clearly as Colonel Lee to-day, but he's my commander, sir, and I'll say he's right.”
Ruffin faced Lee with a look of uncompromising antagonism and fairly shot his words.
”And for the millions of the South, I say he's wrong. There's a time for all things. And this is not the time for such an act. From the appearance of this book you can rest a.s.sured the emanc.i.p.ation of slaves in the South will cease. We will never be bullied into freeing our slaves by slander and insult. Colonel Lee's example will not be followed. The fanatics of the North have begun to spit on our faces.
There's but one answer to an insult--and that's a blow!”
Lee stepped close to the planter, laid one hand gently on his shoulder, searched his angry eyes for a moment and slowly said:
”And thrice is he armed, my friend, who hath his quarrel just. I set my house in order before the first blow falls.”
Ruffin smiled and threw off the ugly strain.
”I'm sorry, sir,” he said with friendly indifference, ”that my mission has been a failure.”
”And I'm sorry we can't agree.”
”I won't be able to stay to dinner, Mrs. Lee, and I bid you all good evening.”
With a wave of his hand in a gesture behind which lurked the tingling of taut nerves, he turned and left.
The beat of his horse's hoof echoed down the road with a sharp, angry crack.
CHAPTER IX
On Sunday the whole plantation went to Church. The negroes sat in the gallery and listened with rapt attention to the service. They joined its ritual and its songs with their white folks in equal sincerity and more profound emotion.
At the crossroads the stream of carriages, carts and buggies and horseback riders parted. To the right, the way led to the Episcopal Church, the old English establishment of the State, long since separated from secular authority, yet still bearing the seal of county aristocracy. Colonel Lee was a devout member of this church. Mrs. Lee was the inspiration of its charities and the soul of its activities.
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