CHAPTER X
THE PROVOST MAKES HIS FIRST MOVE
Leech shortly determined to give the neighborhood an illustration ofhis power, and, striking, he struck high.
A few days after the Provost’s arrival Dr. Cary received a summons toappear before him at the court-house next day. It was issued on thecomplaint of “the Rev. James Sherwood,” and was signed, “Jonadab Leech,Provost commanding,” etc.
General Legaie, who was at Birdwood when the soldier who served thesummons arrived, was urgent that Dr. Cary should refuse to obey it;but the Doctor said he would go. He would obey the law. He would not,however report to Leech, but to Captain Middleton, the ranking officer.The General said if the Doctor would persist in going, he would go withhim to represent him. So next morning the two old officers rode down tothe Court-house together, the General very martial, and Dr. Cary verycalm.
When they reached the county seat they found “the street,” or road infront of “the green,” which was occupied by the camp of the soldiers,filled with negroes, men and women. They had made booths of boughs inthe fence-corners, where they were living like children at play, andwere all in the gayest spirits, laughing and shouting and “larking”among themselves, presenting in this regard a very different state ofmind from that of the two gentlemen. They were, however, respectfulenough to them, and when the riders inquired where the commandingofficer was, there were plenty of offers to show them, and more thanenough to hold their horses. Some of them indicated that the commanderwas in the old store on the roadside, which appeared from the throngabout it to be the centre of interest to the crowd.
“Dat ain’t nuttin but the buro, sir; the ones you wants to see is upyonder at Miss’ Dockett’s; I knows de ones you wants to see,” said Tom,one of the Doctor’s old servants, with great pride.
To settle the question, the Doctor dismounted and walked in, giving hishorse to the old man to hold.
The front of the store was full of negroes, packed together as thickas they could stand, and simply waiting. They made way for the Doctorand he passed through to the rear, where there was a little partitionwalling off a back room. The door was ajar, and inside were seated twomen, one a stranger in uniform, the other, a man who sat with his backto the door, and who, at the moment that the Doctor approached, wasleaning forward, talking to the Provost in a low, earnest half-whisper.As the visitor knocked the official glanced up and the other man turnedquickly and looked over his shoulder. Seeing Dr. Cary he sprang to hisfeet. It was Hiram Still.
“I wish to see the officer in command,” announced the Doctor.“Good-morning Mr. Still.” His tone expressed surprise.
“I am the officer in command,” said the official, shortly.
“Ah! you are not Captain Middleton? I believe he is in command.”
“No, I guess not. I’m Captain _Leech_, head of the Freedmen’s Bureau.”His voice was thin but assertive, and he spoke as if he had beencontradicted.
“Ah! It is the regular officer I wish to see.”
“I’m regular enough, I guess, and if it’s anything about the freedmenyou’ll find, I guess, I’m the one to see.” He turned from the Doctorwith studied indifference and motioned to his companion to resume hisseat. The latter, however, came forward. He had apparently recoveredsomewhat from his confusion.
“This is Dr. Cary, one of the finest gentlemen in our county,” he saidto the officer, as if he were making a speech, and then turned to theDoctor: “Captain Leech is the gentleman to see about getting our handsback. Fact is, I am just down here about that now.”
Leech had been looking at the Doctor with new interest. “So you’reDr. Cary?” he said. “Well, I’m the one for you to see. I summoned youto appear before me to know why you turned the Rev. Mr. Sherwood outof his home.” His manner was growing more and more insolent, and theDoctor stiffened. The only notice he took was to look over Leech’s head.
“Ah! I believe I will go and see Captain Middleton,” he said, withdignity. “Good-morning,” and he walked out, his head held somewhathigher than when he went in, leaving Leech fuming in impotent rage, andStill to give the Head of the Bureau behind his back a very differentestimate of him from that which he had just declared so loudly in hispresence.
“He’s one of that same sort with your young men,” said the manager,“only more so. What did I tell you? See, he won’t _talk to you_!He wants to talk to Captain Middleton. You trust me, I’ll keep youinformed. I know ’em all. Not that he ain’t better than most, becausehe’s naturally kind-hearted and would do well enough if let alone, buthe can’t help it. It’s bred in the bone. But I’m too smart for ’em.I was too smart for ’em durin’ the war, and I am still.” He gave theProvost a confidential wink.
“Well, he’ll find out who I am before he gets through,” said Leech.“I guess he’ll find I’m about as big a man as Captain Middleton.” Hesquared back his thin shoulders and puffed out his chest. “I’ll showhim.” He turned to the door.
“That’s it—that’s it,” smiled Still, delightedly.
Meantime Dr. Cary had joined General Legaie, and with the single remarkthat it was “the commanding officer, not the commissary,” that theywanted to see, they rode up the hill.
When the two gentlemen arrived at Mrs. Dockett’s they found thatenergetic lady, trowel in hand, among her flowers, and were receivedby her with so much distinction that it produced immediately a greatimpression on her two lodgers, who, unseen, were observing them fromtheir window.
“Gad! Larry, there’s Don Quixote, and he’s brought his cousin, Dr.Filgrave, along with him. He must be a lieutenant-general at least.See the way the old lady is smiling! I must learn his secret.” And thelittle Lieutenant sprang to the mirror and rattled on as Middleton gotready for the interview which he anticipated, and the two gentlemencame slowly up the walk, bareheaded, with Mrs. Dockett, talkingenergetically, between them.
The next moment there was a tramp outside the door, and with thatrap, which Thurston said was a model for the last trump, Mrs. Dockettherself flung open the door and announced, with a wave of her hand:
“General Legaie and Major Cary.”
The two visitors were received with great respect. Middleton was athis best, and in the face of a somewhat depressing gravity on the twoold officers’ part, tried to give the interview a friendly turn byrecalling pleasantly his visit to Red Rock before the war, and hisrecollection of Dr. Cary and his daughter. He ventured even to inquireafter her. He supposed she was a good big girl now?
“Yes, she was almost quite grown and was enjoying very good health,”said the Doctor, bowing civilly, and he proceeded forthwith to statethe cause of their visit, while Thurston introduced to the General,somewhat irrelevantly, the subject of fishing.
Captain Middleton listened respectfully to all the two gentlemen had tosay. He agreed with them as to the necessity of establishing some formof civil government in the counties, and believed that steps would betaken to do so as soon as possible. Meantime he should preserve order.Matters relating to the negroes, except in the line of preservingorder, were, however, rather beyond his province, and properly underthe control of an entirely distinct branch, which was just beingorganized, with head-quarters for the State, in the city. He said hewould go with Dr. Cary before the Provost and see that he was notannoyed by any frivolous charge. So he accompanied the two gentlemenback to Leech’s office and attended the trial. It was galling enoughto the two gentlemen as it was; and but for the presence of Middletonmight have been much more so. Leech’s blue eyes snapped with pleasureat the reappearance of the old officers, but were filled with a vaguedisquiet at the presence of their companion. However, he immediatelyproceeded with much importance to take up the case. The “trial” washeld in the court-house, and the Provost sat in the judge’s seat. Thenegroes around took in quickly that something unusual was happening,and the court-room was thronged with them, all filled with curiosity,and many of the older ones wearing on their faces a preternaturalsolemnity. Sherwood was pre
sent, in a black coat, his countenanceexpressive of comical self-importance. Dr. Cary and General Legaie satbehind the bar, the Doctor, somewhat paler than usual, his head up, hismouth compressed, and his thin nostrils dilating; the General’s eyesglowing with the fire that smouldered beneath. Middleton sat off to oneside, a little in front of the bar, a silent but observant spectator.
The case was stated by Leech, and without the useless formality ofexamining the complainant who had already given his story, Dr. Cary wasasked by the Provost, why he had driven Sherwood off.
The Doctor rose and made his statement. When he first stood up thecompression of his lips showed the feeling under which he labored; butthe next second he had mastered himself, and when he spoke it was withas much respect as if he were addressing the Chief Justice. The landwas his, and he claimed that he would have had the right to drive theman off had he wished to do so; but, as a matter of fact, he had notdone so—he had not done so on account of Sherwood’s wife, who was thedaughter of the old mammy in his family, and a valued servant. He hadonly deposed him from being the manager.
The Provost was manifestly a little disconcerted by this announcement.He glanced about him. The Doctor had evidently made an impression.
“Can you prove this?” he asked, sharply. The General wriggled in hischair, his hands clutching the sides, and the Doctor for a secondlooked a trifle more grim. He drew in a long breath.
“Well, my word has usually been taken as proof of a fact I stated,” hesaid, slowly. “But if you desire further proof, there are several ofmy old servants present who will corroborate what I state. Perhaps youmight be willing to accept their testimony?” He looked the Provost inthe eyes, and then glanced around half humorously. “Tom!” he called tothe old man who had held his horse, and who was now standing in thefront row. “Will you state what occurred, to this—ah—officer?”
“Yas, suh—I’ll groberate ev’y wud you say—‘cus’ I wuz dyah,” assertedTom, with manifest pride.
“Dat’s so,” called out one or two others, not to be outdone by Tom, andthe tide set in for the Doctor.
The Provost, in this state of the case, declared that the charge wasnot sustained, and he felt it his duty to dismiss the complaint. He,however, would take this occasion to state his views on the duties ofthe former owners to their slaves; and he delivered a long and somewhatrambling discourse on the subject, manifestly designed for the sablepart of his audience. When he concluded, and just as he started torise, the General sprang to his feet. The Doctor looked at him withsome curiosity, perhaps not unmingled with anxiety, for the General’seyes were blazing. With an effort, however, the General controlledhimself.
“Permit me to say, Mr. Provost, that your views, like those of a goodmany people of your class, are more valuable to yourself than toothers.” He bowed low.
“Dat’s so, too!” called out Tom, who was still in a corroborative mood,on which there was a guffaw from the negroes. And with this shot,the General, after looking the Provost steadily in the eyes, turnedon his heel and stalked out of the court-house, leaving Leech tryingineffectually to look as if he, as well as others, appreciated thehumor of Tom’s speech.
As they came out, Middleton took occasion to reopen their formerconversation as to the necessity of establishing some form of civilgovernment in the counties. He believed, he said, that the twogentlemen might find it better to apply to the head of the bureau inthis section—Colonel Krafton—rather than to attempt to secure anycooperation from Leech, who, he said, was only a subordinate, andreally had little authority.
Middleton and Thurston quickly felt the beneficial effect of theircivility to the old officers, in the increasing cordiality shown themby their landlady. Mrs. Dockett gave them a full account of bothvisitors, their pedigrees and position, not omitting a glowing pictureof the beauty and charms of the daughter of Dr. Cary, and a hint thatshe was bound to marry either Jacquelin Gray, the owner of Red Rock,or her cousin, Captain Stevenson Allen, who, Mrs. Dockett declared,was the finest young man in the world, and had applied to her fortable-board that very day.
This was interesting, at least to Thurston, who declared that nowthat he was succeeding so well with Miss Dockett, it was necessaryto utilize Middleton’s figure. Events, however, were moving withoutThurston’s agency.
An order came to Middleton from head-quarters a day or two later to goto the upper end of the county and investigate certain “mysteriousmeetings” which, it was reported, were being held in that section.
The list given of those who participated in such meetings madeMiddleton whistle. It contained the names of Dr. Cary, General Legaie,Captain Allen, and nearly every man of prominence in the county.
The name given him, as that of the person who could furnish himwith information, was Hiram Still; and the order contained explicitdirections where to meet him. He would find him at a certain hour atthe house of a colored man, named Nicholas Ash.
So the Captain rode up to a small cabin situated in a little valleynear the Red Rock place, and had an interview with Still, who appearedto Middleton far more mysterious than anything else he discoveredon his trip. The meetings referred to, seemed to be only thosesocial gatherings which Dr. Cary had already spoken of to the youngofficer. When Middleton prepared to leave, Mr. Still offered to showhim a nearer way back by the ford below the old bridge that hadbeen destroyed during the war, and as it was late in the afternoon,Middleton accepted his offer.
They were almost at the ford when an old carriage came out of the roadwhich led down from the Red Rock plantation, and turned into the mainroad just before them. Still pulled up his horse, and, excusing himselffrom going any farther, on the ground that if Middleton followed thecarriage he would be all right, turned back. All anyone had to do, hesaid, was to keep down the river a little, so as not to hit the sunkentimbers; but not to go too far down or he would get over a ledge ofrock and into deep water.
As the road was narrow and Middleton supposed that the driver knewthe ford, he kept behind the carriage, and let it cross before him.One of the horses appeared to be afraid of the water, and the driverhad to whip him to force him in. So when he entered the stream he wasplunging, and, continuing to plunge, he got among the sunken timbersand fell.
Middleton was so close behind the carriage that he could hear thevoices of two ladies inside, one of whom was apparently much alarmed,whilst the other was soothing her, and encouraging the driver. He heardher say:
“There’s no danger, Cousin Thomasia. Gideon can manage them.” Butthere was some danger, and “Cousin Thomasia” appeared to know it. Thedanger was that the frightened horses might turn and pull the vehiclearound, upsetting it in the deep water below, and as the fallen horsestruggled, Middleton dashed in on the lower side, and catching the nearhorse, steadied him whilst the other got up. Then, springing from hisown horse, he caught the other just as he got to his feet, and held tohim until they reached the farther bank, where he assisted the driverin bringing them to a stand-still, and enabled the ladies to get outand see what damage had been done.
He had taken in, even as he passed the carriage in the water, that thetwo occupants were an elderly lady and a young lady, the latter of whomappeared to be holding the former; but it was after he reached the bankthat he observed that the younger of the two ladies was one of theprettiest girls he had ever seen. And the next second he recognized heras Miss Cary. She evidently recognized him too. As she turned to thankhim, after she had helped her companion from the carriage, the colorrose to her face, appearing the deeper and more charming because of thewhite which had just preceded it, and which it so rapidly followed; andthere was a look in her eyes which was part shy embarrassment and partmerriment. He saw that she knew him, but she did not admit it.
He began to examine busily the harness, which was old, and had beenbroken in several places. He had some straps on his saddle, he said,which he would get. The girl thanked him, with quiet dignity, butdeclined firmly.
They would not trouble him. Gideon could
mend it, and she could holdthe horses. She bowed to him, with grave eyes, and made a movementtoward the horse, holding out her ungloved hand to catch the bridle,and saying, “Whoa, boy,” in a voice which Middleton thought might havetamed Bucephalus. Miss Thomasia, however, mildly but firmly interposed.
“No, indeed, my dear, I’ll never get into that carriage again behindthose dreadful horses, unless this—this—gentleman (the word was alittle difficult) stays right by their heads. I am the greatest cowardin the world,” she said to Middleton in the most confiding and friendlymanner; “I am afraid of everything.” (Then to her companion again, ina lower tone:) “It is very hard to be beholden to a Yankee; but it ismuch better than having your neck broken. And we are very much obligedto you, sir, I assure you. Blair, my dear, let the—” She paused andtook breath.
“_Yankee_,” said Middleton, in a clear voice, much amused, as he workeddiligently at a strap.
“—_Gentleman_ help us. Don’t be too obstinate. Nothing distinguishes alady more than her manner of giving in.”
So, as Middleton was already at work, the girl could do nothing butyield. He got his straps, and soon had the breaks repaired, and,having, at Miss Thomasia’s request, held the horses while the ladiesre-entered the vehicle, and then having started them off, he stoodaside and saluted as they passed, catching, accidentally, Miss Cary’seyes, which were once more grave. The only remark she had volunteeredto him outside of the subject of the broken harness was in praise ofhis horse, which was, indeed, a magnificent animal.
A few minutes later, the young Captain galloped by the carriage, but hedid not glance in, he simply saluted as he passed, with eyes straightto the front.
When he reached home that night Larry Middleton was graver than usual;but little Thurston, after hearing of the adventure, was in betterspirits than he had shown for some time. He glanced at Middleton’shalf-discontented face, and burst out:
“‘Oh! cast that shadow from thy brow.’ It was clearly Providence. Why,Larry, after that they are obliged to invite us to dinner.”
“Why, she didn’t even speak to me,” growled Middleton, puffing away athis pipe. “And I know she recognized me, just as clearly as I did her.”
“Of course, she recognized you—recognized you as one of the enemies ofher country—a hated oppressor—a despicable Yankee. Did you expect herto fall on your neck and weep? On my soul! she’s a girl of spirit! Likemy own adorable Elizabeth! All the same, we’re as good for invitationsto whatever they give as a dollar is for a doughnut.”
And when a day or two later a note from Dr. Cary, in a formalhandwriting and equally formal words, was brought to Captain Middleton,thanking him for his “opportune and courteous aid” to his daughterand cousin, Lieutenant Thurston declared that it was an invitation toMiddleton’s wedding.
Red Rock: A Chronicle of Reconstruction Page 13
