Storm Clouds Rolling In

by Ginny Dye

  Thomas allowed her to lead him away from the discussion. “No, we’re staying at the Spotswood Hotel. I was keeping it as a surprise, but since you asked you might as well know,” he said, smiling.

  Carrie grinned with delight. “The Spotswood! How wonderful! It is such a beautiful hotel. I have dreamed of staying there since I was a child.”

  “It is indeed beautiful,” Thomas agreed. “It is also the center of much of the political talk in Richmond right now. It seems to be the place where everyone is congregating to talk. I find I want to be in the thick of things during this trip to our capitol city. I didn’t think you would be adverse to the idea,” he said slyly.

  The rest of the trip passed easily as Carrie chattered about all the things she wanted to do while in Richmond.

  Miles will accompany you this afternoon, Carrie. If you don’t mind, I’m going to stay here at the hotel and talk with some friends.”

  “Of course I don’t mind. Miles and I will have a grand time exploring the city,” Carrie assured her father. “I’m not at all hungry, so we don’t even need to bother with a meal just now. You can eat with your friends. I’ll find something if I want to eat later.”

  It had been just past noon when they arrived at the beautiful five-storied Spotswood Hotel. Its brick construction and iron façade gave it an air of quiet dignity. Richmond was both an old town and a booming, young city. Remnants of its patriarchal, agrarian society mingled easily with industry tycoons intent on bringing change and progress to the rapidly growing area. Spotswood reflected this spirit. Everywhere, you could hear conversations about the events capturing the minds and hearts of America. Heated words mixed with voices of reason.

  Carrie was intrigued by the Spotswood Hotel. She would explore it more thoroughly, but right now it was the city itself that beckoned her. The explosion of spring could be seen everywhere on the streets of the bustling city. The hotel’s location on the corner of Main and 8th was right in the center of the city she loved so much.

  “Miles, I would love to go walk through the capitol area again. It’s been so long.”

  “Whatever you say, Miss Carrie,” he said indulgently, falling in step beside her.

  “Do you like Richmond, Miles?”

  “I ain’t got to see much of it, Miss Carrie. I can’t rightly say whether I like it or not.”

  “But you come here so often,” she protested.

  “Yessum, I guess I do. But I mostly just be in one area.”

  “Where’s that?”

  Miles looked uncomfortable, and shifted his eyes away to avoid her eyes. “Down on Franklin Street, Miss Carrie.”

  “What takes you down there?” Suddenly, it was very important to know what was making her friend so uncomfortable.

  Miles hesitated for a long moment before he spoke. “The auction buildings be down there.”

  Carrie looked at him sharply. She heard the pain in his voice but didn’t know what to say. She thought about the wagon load of slaves that had come in a few weeks ago. She knew it bothered her, but she still couldn’t find her own mind on it. She shook her head to force the clamor away.

  Miles cleared his throat and asked, “Richmond be changed much from the last time you be here?”

  Carrie was grateful for his changing the subject. She was here to enjoy Richmond. Enjoy it she would. The bustle of Main Street thrilled her. “Miles, the city has grown so much! There are so many more people. And look at all the new businesses.” Main Street was the business center of town. The streets were lined with store fronts topped with comfortable apartments and lodging. A steady flow of horses and carriages confined pedestrians to the sidewalks. Tall steeples of some of the city’s forty churches reached for the sky, demanding attention over the bustling commercial area. Carrie stopped at the top of the street and allowed her gaze to sweep over the surrounding hills. Church spires dominated the skyline, with the columned splendor of the Capitol Building proclaiming its importance.

  Carrie allowed the Capitol Building to pull her. She could almost feel its importance – knowing that within its walls men made decisions that could dictate the direction of her life. She couldn’t put it into words; she was simply drawn to it. The park-like atmosphere of the wooded Capitol Square was enchanting. Everywhere, flowers were in full bloom, the canopy of trees providing the perfect setting.

  A sudden sense of foreboding swept through her. She stopped suddenly and stared up at the sky. “What you looking at, Miss Carrie?” Miles asked, his eyes following her own.

  She shook her head silently, pondering the sense of foreboding that had suddenly consumed her. Her former happiness was suddenly shadowed by the realization that, if her father was right, all she loved might soon be under attack. In spite of the bright sunshine, it was as if dark clouds were lowering onto the bright city, threatening to destroy the ideals the very country had been built on. What if there weren’t enough men of reason to stop them?

  “Carrie Cromwell!”

  Startled, Carrie jumped and looked around. “Sally Hampton! Natalie Heyward! What a wonderful surprise. What are you two girls doing here?” She was delighted to see her friends, and relieved to see the sun shining brightly again. All the talk of secession must be affecting her more than she thought. She shook off her dark thoughts, glad to have something else to claim her attention.

  “We’re here with our mothers on a glorious shopping spree. Thalheimers has just gotten in a wonderful new shipment of dresses. We’ve been buying all day!” Sally’s voice was euphoric.

  “What about you, Carrie?” Natalie asked. “You didn’t mention you were coming to Richmond when we saw you at Louisa’s.”

  “No. My father decided rather suddenly to make the trip. I harassed him into letting me come along,” Carrie said, laughing. “I do so love this city!” She laughed again at her own intensity. “Forgive me. I’ve just so looked forward to being here again.”

  The next hour passed quickly as the three girls continued their tour of the city, while Miles and Sally’s driver, Tom, followed, chatting quietly. Carrie insisted they spend long moments in front of Washington’s monument. As she gazed up at the impressive statue, she couldn’t help wishing Washington would dismount from his horse and come back to save the country he had helped found. Surely, he would be appalled that everything he, and so many others had fought for, was so close to being thrown to the winds. Surely he would have something to say to stop the madness. There was no movement, however. Washington, from his place in history, merely stared out over the multitudes, challenging them to find their way through this dark time.

  “I’m starving, girls,” Natalie announced.

  Carrie laughed. “You’re always hungry, Natalie.”

  “Not true!” she retorted. “But what does it matter? I’m hungry now, and I intend to do something about it. Does anyone care to join me?”

  Shortly, the girls were seated at a cozy little restaurant on Main Street with bowls of hearty soup and thick slices of bread in front of them. Tall, cool glasses of iced tea promised to soothe their burning thirsts. Their two attendants were given lunch and permission to go off as long as they were back within an hour.

  “So, have you heard anything from Robert Borden?”

  “Sally Hampton!” Natalie exclaimed. “Have you no manners at all?”

  “Oh, pooh,” Sally scoffed. “Don’t bother to look all proper and shocked, Miss Natalie Heyward. You know you’re as curious as I am. You were just waiting for me to do the dirty work.”

  Carrie laughed as the two friends sparred. “There is no news here worth fighting over. I have not heard from Mr. Borden since he departed Blackwell Plantation for Charleston.” She wanted nothing more than to discuss the Democratic Convention with her two friends, but she knew they would laugh at her and tell her to concentrate on things more important.

  “Oh, yes, that Democratic Convention.” Sally’s tone left no doubt how little she thought of it. “I say those Northerners got what they deserved.
It will show them how useless it is to try and push things over on the South!”

  Carrie gazed at Sally, a little shocked. “You know what’s going on in Charleston?”

  “Why, of course, silly. Every proper southern lady had best be aware of the attempts of Northern aggression to destroy our way of life down here.”

  Carrie didn’t like where the conversation seemed to be going. “Surely, you have no desire to see the Union destroyed.”

  Sally sniffed. “There is no reason to stay loyal to a government that wishes to abolish slavery. Why, in no time there would be all manner of uprisings and killings. No respectable white person would be safe if all the slaves were set free. It’s plain craziness.”

  Carrie thought the sparkle in Sally’s eyes reflected a certain craziness of its own, but she decided not to say so.

  Sally rattled on. “I was talking with some other girls last week. We’ve decided it might be fun to have a war.”

  “Sally!” Carrie could force out no more than a shocked whisper.

  Sally ignored her. “I’ve watched all those men marching with the Virginia Militia. They look positively divine in their uniforms. Can you imagine anything more romantic than a whole army of such stunning good looks?”

  Carrie found her tongue. “People get killed in war, Sally.”

  “Oh, pooh! There won’t be a real war, silly girl. The North may be pushy, but they’re not silly enough to come down here and fight our boys. Why, we would send them running back with their tails between their legs.” She laughed as she envisioned it. “It would be fun to have them give it a try!”

  Carrie felt sick. She couldn’t believe this was her life-long friend talking. Had the whole country fallen into this crazy way of thinking? She couldn’t define where her deep-seated horror of war came from since she had never experienced it firsthand. Yet, from somewhere deep within, she felt it – the pain, the suffering, the utter futility of men fighting one another.

  Natalie, striving for peace, changed the subject. “I’m going to take a trip in June,” she said brightly.

  Wearily, Carrie turned to her. “Where are you going?” she asked as she was expected to. She couldn’t have cared less right then.

  “I’m going to visit my Aunt Abby in Philadelphia.” She had Carrie’s attention now so she pressed on. “Aunt Abby is my mother’s oldest sister. She went to Philadelphia to a girl’s boarding school and just never came back. She fell in love with the city and then married one of its leading businessmen. He died several years ago, but she has chosen to stay there. I received an invitation last year asking me to visit. My parents have given their permission for me to go this year.” She paused, and leaned forward to take Carrie’s hand. “My mother said I could take along a couple of friends for the month. Sally has already accepted. I would love for you join us. Would you like to come?”

  Carrie was delighted. “Oh, Natalie, that would be wonderful!” She had always longed to visit Philadelphia. Robert’s accounts of the city, along with his information about the medical college there, had intensified her longing. “I’ll speak with my father about it as soon as possible. How soon must you know?”

  “Oh, in a week or so,” Natalie replied casually. “I do hope you’ll be able to join us.”

  “So do I,” Carrie murmured. “So do I.”

  Carrie was concerned by the drawn look on her father’s face as they sat across from each other in the Spotswood’s elegant dinner room. “I take it you haven’t heard much good news today?”

  “You’re right,” Thomas said heavily. “I’m afraid I heard nothing to encourage me and much to cause grave concern.”

  “Things didn’t improve in Charleston?” Carrie guessed, already sure she was right.

  Thomas shook his head. “They gave up yesterday. The delegates that walked out formed their own convention, developed their own platform, and then sat back to wait and see what the rest of the Party – that they nicknamed the Rump Convention – would do. The remaining delegates, after countless numbers of attempts to garner enough votes to nominate a candidate, finally threw up their hands and left town. They are going to try again in Baltimore on June 18th.”

  “Well, isn’t that a good sign?” Carrie asked hopefully. “Maybe things will change by then.”

  “I have no real hope of that. The madness affecting our country is not going to change substantially in the next few weeks. Unless it just gets worse,” he predicted morosely, his face lined with fatigue.

  Carrie looked at her usually optimistic father with surprise, casting around in her mind for something to say, while also seeing Sally’s face, euphoric with the thought of war.

  Thomas rubbed his forehead wearily. “No, I’m afraid the end result of all of this will be war. I fear there are not virtue and patriotism, nor sense enough, left in this country to avoid it.” He paused for a long moment. “I will do everything within my rather weak power to stop it, but in less than one year I predict this country will be in the midst of a bloody war. What is to become of us then, only God knows.”

  Carrie stared at him with a sinking heart. She had no words to ease her father’s pain. She knew how much he loved the South; knew how beloved his way of life was to him. She could only imagine the agony in his heart. It still all seemed so unreal to her, but suddenly it was more real, and scarier, than it had been before.

  Thomas forced a smile and raised his glass to take a long drink. “Enough dark talk. Tell me what you discovered in Richmond today, daughter.”

  Carrie hesitated to talk of such light matters and then decided the distraction might do her father good. Detail by detail, she invited him into her afternoon. She painted the city in glowing terms, gratified to realize her storytelling was lifting some of the gloom from her father’s countenance.

  He was surprised to hear Sally and Natalie were in town. “Are their fathers with them?”

  “No, this is a women’s expedition.” Carrie laughed. “They are here to empty Thalheimers of their stock of spring and summer dresses.”

  Thomas looked thoughtful. “Do you need dresses, Carrie? I hadn’t even thought of that when we came. Your mother is probably expecting me to make sure you return with an adequate wardrobe.”

  Carrie shrugged. “I have plenty of clothes, Father.” She loved pretty clothes as much as any girl, but she had plenty, and somehow she sensed even now that it was frivolous to focus on such trivial issues. “There is something I would like, though.” Now was as good a time as any to ask.

  “What is it?”

  “Natalie has invited me to go with Philadelphia with her. I would dearly love to go!”

  Her father leaned back in his chair and regarded her with surprise. “Philadelphia? That’s quite an invitation. How long would you be gone? Who else is going along, and where would you be staying?”

  “We would be gone a month.” She filled him in on as many details as she knew.

  Thomas fell silent. Long moments passed, but Carrie was content to wait. “This is a wonderful opportunity,” he finally said. Then his voice deepened with concern. “We are not living in normal times, however. I fear you will not find a warm welcome in the North.”

  Carrie held her breath. Surely he was not about to say no.

  Thomas stared at her and then smiled. “If I were you…It’s fine with me if you go,” he finally agreed. “I simply cannot bring myself to say no.”

  “Thank you!” Carrie jumped up from the table and wrapped her arms around her father.

  FIFTEEN

  The next morning dawned bright and beautiful. Carrie’s spirits matched the weather. The country might be falling apart, but she was in Richmond and soon she would be headed to Philadelphia. She had a whole day free to explore the city, and she intended to make the most of it.

  Miles was waiting for her when she walked out of the Spotswood after breakfast with her father. “Good morning, Miss Carrie.”

  “Good morning, Miles. Isn’t it a beautiful day?”

&
nbsp; “That it is, Miss. Where you be wantin’ to go today?”

  “Everywhere!”

  Miles smiled indulgently and chuckled. “Where you want to go first?”

  Carrie laughed along with him. “Let’s go this way.” She glanced around at the hordes of people already clogging the sidewalks and turned east on 8th Street. She walked briskly, talking steadily while she forged ahead. “I received quite an education last night. I simply asked several of my fellow hoteliers where I should go. They not only gave me suggestions - they told me great stories as well!”

  The streets were already busy with carts and carriages. They had only covered two blocks when they reached Grace Street. “Did you know Richmond has forty churches, Miles? A lot of them are right here on this road. That’s why they named it Grace Street.” Carrie laughed. “It seems rather appropriate.”

  Miles listened intently.

  They continued on another block until they reached Broad Street. The hum of activity increased and the noise level deepened with the roar and clamor of trains entering and leaving the Broad Street Depot. Carrie was fascinated by the hectic pace of the station. She loved the slow, easy pace of the plantation, but there was something about this that drew her, as well. She longed to be a part of all that was going on. She carefully scanned the sea of people milling around the station, and then caught herself. Who was she looking for? She blushed when she realized she was searching for Robert – she hoped to find him returning from Charleston. How silly of her to think they might meet in Richmond.

  Carrie turned deliberately away from the station, and strode briskly in the direction of the river. She tried to control her thoughts about Robert, oblivious of all they passed until they reached Monumental Episcopalian Church. “Oh, Miles,” she cried, fully aware of her surroundings again, “this is a story you should know. This church stands where once the Richmond Theater stood. In 1811, on the night after Christmas, the theater was packed with many prominent Richmonders. During the performance one of the chandeliers being used as a prop was the cause of a horrible fire.” Carrie shuddered as she envisioned it. “I can just imagine the panic as everyone tried to escape! Seventy-two people, including the governor at the time, died in the fire.” She paused, staring up at the church. “There were a lot of heroes who helped save people who were trapped that night. One of those heroes was a black man named Gilbert Hunt. When Gilbert got to the fire there were people jumping out the windows. He heard a man called Dr. McCaw cry out for help. Gilbert ran over and caught the women as McCaw handed them down from a window where he was standing. Together, they saved about a dozen women who would have otherwise died. When Dr. McCaw had to jump for his life, it was Gilbert who rushed forward and saved him from almost certain death because a wall of the theater was about to collapse on him. Isn’t that the most thrilling story?”