“At seventeen, much to tha chagrin of my father, I left Champagnolle and headed to Little Rock. In 1856 tha town was rowdy and full of unwholesome characters, as was true for most river towns. I approached some of tha well-to-do families and proposed to teach their children reading, arithmetic, and penmanship. About ten of the families liked tha idea of having a private school and decided to hire me to teach their children. One of tha families even provided a building for tha school. Tha teaching job allowed me to meet some of tha prominent citizens of tha Arkansas Legislature and Government. In 1860 I decided to go east and see a little more of tha world. I made my way by railroad, stagecoach and riverboat to Baltimore, Maryland and again was able to procure a job as tutor to some of tha children of Baltimore’s mercantile families. I came west when tha War broke out. I didn’t want to be under Yankee rule.”
I had been looking at Mrs. Newcomer during this whole time. At the end of my little performance, I glanced around the table. Mr. Newcomer had ceased slurping his soup and I could tell he had been weighing each of my words. Captain Mosby gave me a nod and smile that conveyed his acceptance of a well-told story. I don’t know if he believed me, but I could tell he thought it was well presented. The Newcomer brothers had finished their soup and looked bored. Ahab had settled with his back against the buffet table. The expression on his face and the crossed arms across his chest gave the impression that he didn’t believe a word I had said. Lastly, Miss Daphne Jane Newcomer had pursed her lips and gave her head a nod just before she hid behind her fan. I think she was giving her acceptance of my fable, but it was hard to tell, since she fixed her gaze on Mr. Newcomer.
Mrs. Newcomer shifted her gaze from me to Mr. Newcomer, who seemed to come to a decision. As Ahab retrieved his empty soup bowl and adroitly replaced it with a dinner plate, Mr. Newcomer looked at me and stated, “Mr. Hager our family would again like to extend our thanks to ya and Captain Mosby. If therah is anything we can ever do for either of ya, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Captain Mosby beamed from ear to ear and bowed his head toward Mr. Newcomer and then Mrs. Newcomer. Then he declared, “I know that I speak for Mr. Hager and myself, when I say we were just doing our duty. However, we are so glad that it resulted in tha return of yar daughter without injury. We appreciate yar friendship and commendations. If y’all ever need our assistance, please feel free to call on us.”
I was flabbergasted at Captain Mosby’s acceptance of Mr. Newcomer’s appreciation and avowals of our continued service in the future, but who was I to go against tradition. So I chimed in, “Herah, herah.” And raising my glass of water, I really laid it on thick when I toasted, “May God eternally hold this family in his protective hand.”
I think I caught Captain Mosby by surprise with that utterance. But, he gamely picked up his glass and we both looked in turn at Mrs. Newcomer, Mr. Newcomer, Daphne and then the boys before drinking to their familial security.
In response to our toast Mrs. Newcomer had tears in her eyes. Mr. Newcomer simply nodded his appreciation. Daphne blushed and the boys rolled their eyes. I happened to glance at Ahab. He had been deftly exchanging everyone’s soup bowls for dinner plates. He felt my fixed stare alight on him and, looking up, gave me a swift conspiratorial grin as if to say, “Ya really know how to spread it on thick, don’t cha?” Then, he continued to distribute the dinner plates.
At that moment Mrs. Newcomer said, “Ahab, ya and Bessie can serve tha vegetables and beef and pour tha wine.” Everyone except the Newcomer brothers was suddenly released from the rapturous presentations of the Captain’s and my promise of future fealty and my entreaty of a heavenly blessing of protection. The two youths were bored out of their minds and like ravenous wolves ready to pounce on any food put in front of them.
Roast beef, creamed corn, melted cheese over cut up cooked potatoes, some kind of cabbage dish, green beans and bacon bits, fresh baked biscuits and gravy were individually presented by Ahab and Bessie, the black servant woman. We shoveled food onto our plates with large silver spoons or forks. Needless to say the Newcomer boys lit into the victuals with the gusto of hound dogs. There was plenty of food and wine for all of us. I didn’t partake of too much wine, since it always hits me pretty hard. I didn’t want it to loosen my tongue and spoil the Newcomer family’s present image of me.
In my estimation, the meal’s piece de resistance was the dessert of blackberry cobbler. I hadn’t tasted anything as delicious since eating my grandfather’s blackberry cobbler back in Alabama, when I was a boy. Which opened up another question for me, since my grandmother was here, was my grandfather in this time period also? There was enough to deal with at the present time. I saved the question of my grandfather for another day.
Once the dinner was completed, the men and boys all gravitated to the parlor, while Mrs. Newcomer and Daphne went out on the porch. Captain Mosby, Mr. Newcomer and I were offered cigars and brandy by Ahab. The Newcomer brothers were denied the cigars, but offered a smidgen of brandy. In years passed I had smoked cigars and a pipe, but had gotten to where the tobacco made me sick to my stomach. So I graciously turned down the cigar, but accepted the brandy. I sipped it judiciously while listening to Captain Mosby’s opinion of how the War was progressing. The Newcomer boys were hanging on his every word. They couldn’t get enough of this supposed insider’s information.
I couldn’t help but steal a glance at Ahab during this recitation. He seemed to be taking it all in as he performed his duties of supplying us with the after dinner niceties.
The sun was just above the horizon, when Mr. Newcomer suddenly asked, “Mr. Hager have ya made any provision for where to stay tonight?”
I uttered, “I am going to proceed back to Harpers Ferry for tonight and then resume my trip back to Shepherdstown tomorrow.”
He said, “Nonsense. Ya will stay with us tonight and resume yar trip from here tomorrow.” Too tired to argue, I inclined my head to him and thanked him graciously for his friendly offer, which I readily accepted. Mr. Newcomer then proposed that we join the ladies on the porch.
When we went out on the porch, Captain Mosby bowed and asked to be excused, “Mr. and Mrs. Newcomer, I want to thank ya for tha elegant dinner and tha gracious cordiality of yar home. However, I must take my leave. I have a lengthy report to write plus I need to check on my troops.” He in turn shook Mr. Newcomer’s hand, bowed over Mrs. Newcomer’s proffered hand and shook the hands of the brothers, who were excited to be considered good enough by their idol for this manly display of respect.
Lastly, Mosby went to Daphne and tilting his head to one side gazed fondly into her eyes. Daphne stretched her right hand to the captain. He took her hand in his and bending over her extended appendage declared gallantly, “Always a pleasure Miss Daphne.” She smiled broadly as any damsel to a brave cavalier. Then she demurely extracted her hand from his. Mosby smiled and turned to look out in the yard.
Ahab, who seemed to be able to read minds, had already given the order for the Captain’s horse to be brought around to the front of the house.
When the Captain turned to me, I said, “I would appreciate it if I may walk down the lane a ways with ya.”
He smiled and said, “Gladly.”
The Captain and I proceeded down the steps of the house. At the bottom of the stairs the Captain gathered his horse’s reins from a young black servant and we walked out toward the road together. I looked straight ahead as we wandered along. I finally got up enough nerve to say, “Thank ya for allowing me to accompany ya on tha track down of the Yanks. I am not a brave man, but yar presence made me brave and it did tha same for tha men that followed ya.”
He looked at me and said, “As I recall, I didn’t give ya much choice.”
I chuckled and retorted, “I guess yar right. But ya will never know how scared I was.”
He smiled and stated, “We don’t really know what we can do until tha time comes and then we react bravely or we don’t. You reacted bravely. I was glad ya were alo
ng and I know Ms. Daphne Jane Newcomer was also. Now, ya need to go back up therah and claim that woman’s hand because I believe she is yars for tha asking.”
We stopped and faced each other. He stuck out his hand and I shook it vigorously. He then mounted, turned his steed toward the Newcomer family, did the most graceful bow and sweeping movement with his hat and rode off into the night. It seems that some people are knights errant no matter what universe they are situated in.
I took a deep breath, turned, went back up the steps and joined the Newcomer family. They were all still standing and looking at the dust left in the wake of Captain Mosby’s departure. Mr. Newcomer commented, “Therah goes a great leader. We’ll hear momentous things from him.”
Mrs. Newcomer added, “I just hope tha Good Lord will protect him for I feel he’s brave but too bold.”
Daphne looked at me and asked, “What did ya discuss with Captain Mosby?”
Mr. Newcomer gasped, “Daphne Jane that was a private conversation and is none of yar business. Now ya apologize to Mr. Hager this instant.”
I broke in, “It is alright Mr. Newcomer.” I turned to the beet red beautiful face of Daphne Newcomer and said, “I thanked him for allowing me to accompany him on his bold enterprise against tha Yanks.”
Daphne demurely looked down as she rasped, “I apologize for asking such an impertinent question.” Then she looked up and as her eyes locked on to mine she added, “But I appreciate yar answering it.”
I smiled broadly and, turning to her father, requested, “Mr. Newcomer, may I escort yar daughter into tha parlor?” He reluctantly nodded his head in consent. I offered my arm to Daphne. She coyly entwined her arm in mine and, turning toward the front door, we strode into the house.
Once in the parlor I parked Miss Newcomer in a high back wing chair and took a seat on a small two-person sofa opposite her. The rest of the family followed us into the room. Jonah sat next to me. Mr. Newcomer sat in the largest wing back chair, which I assumed was the patriarch’s parlor chair. Mrs. Newcomer sat in a chair that was a smaller version of her husband’s. Tom sat in a small wooden chair next to Daphne.
We all looked at each other awkwardly for a few seconds. Then, Tom asked me, “What’s Arkansas like?”
I responded, “Well, I was raised in what could be called a semi-settled area. Tha state is vastly different from east to west and nawth to sowth.”
He seemed interested and asked, “How so?” I wondered if he had itchy feet and wanted to follow Horace Greeley’s admonition of “Go West Young Man, Go West.” He seemed mature beyond his years.
I continued, “Well, tha eastern third of tha state is flat delta from nawth to sowth and planted in cotton. The central and western part of tha state is mountainous in tha nawrth and rolling hills in tha sowth with tha industries being tha raising of cattle and farming.”
After my monologue about Arkansas, Mrs. Newcomer queried, “Are ya ever going back to Arkansas?” I knew where this was leading and I wanted to put everyone’s mind at rest.
I responded, “I doubt it. Even though I’ve lived in Arkansas most of my life, I really prefer this part of tha country. It is so much more civilized. Ya don’t have to worry about being attacked by a panter or a wild hog when you go out into tha woods. Also, even though ya might have colder winters herah, ya definitely don’t have scorching hot summers like we do in tha Deep South.”
Mrs. Newcomer’s countenance showed relief. Tom quickly asked me, “What’s a panter?”
I glanced at him and apologized, “Tom, please forgive me for using an Arkansas colloquialism. A panter is what we call a panther.”
He swiftly asked, “What’s a panther?”
Mrs. Newcomer admonished, “Tom quit bothering Mr. Hager!”
I held up my hand to Mrs. Newcomer and said, “It’s no bother, Mrs. Newcomer. Turning to Tom, I answered, “A panther is a large cat, just a little smaller than a mountain lion.”
He looked astonished and quizzed me further. “Have ya ever seen one?”
I answered, “No, but I have heard one. It is one of tha eeriest sounds you can imagine. Their cry is like tha squall of a new born baby. It will send shivers up and down yar spine”
The boy’s eyes were so wide you could see the whites around his irises. Then, he realized how I had captured his imagination. Not to be thought an uneducated youth, he crossed his arms and said, “Truly Mr. Hager, ya must be having fun at my expense.”
I looked at him with a serious expression and vowed, “I would never do that to ya Tom. Panters have scared me ever since I heard one when I was twelve years old. They’re not to be trifled with.”
We looked at each other for a few seconds. Then he nodded his head in my direction. He knew I was not lying to him or trying to make him the butt of a joke. I hoped he understood that I would treat him as an adult in the future, and if I could keep from it, not lie to him.
After a few more moments of small talk, I asked Mr. Newcomer, “May I take a walk around yar delightful yard to help the digestion of the wonderful food of which I had the privilege of partaking and may Daphne accompany me with a chaperon?”
Daphne looked expectantly at her father, who in turn looked at Mrs. Newcomer with questioning raised eyebrows. Mrs. Newcomer gave Mr. Newcomer a resigned nod of her head. Mr. Newcomer nodded his acquiescence and, turning to Ahab, directed, “Ya will accompany Mr. Hager and Daphne.”
Ahab looked at me at once with a stern expression that indicated he would tear me limb from limb if I so much as breathed in her direction.
I thought, “Oh Great. Now I’ll have this ebony Hercules as an accompanying party pooper.”
I let out a sigh that made Mr. Newcomer grin and got to my feet. Daphne followed suit and I asked her, “Where’s tha best place to stroll?” She pointed toward the back of the house with her fan so we traipsed out the back door with the ever vigilant Ahab a few feet behind us.
The sun had gone down and twilight had ensued. We walked leisurely keeping a small distance between us as we strolled toward the kitchen.
The Dark Mage’s Log: Earth 3 Date: 18620918
Jargunn enjoyed the repartee of the various members of the dinner party. He wondered how much of the story of Mr. Hager, the nom de plume assumed by the imposter, was true. This Captain Mosby was a brave earthling. He had led the small stealth force earlier in the day and achieved the triumph. He could be quite helpful in the future.
Jargunn left the area for a moment and communicating with Lord Dendaras, asked what further information he should procure before transporting back to the Mother Ship. While receiving further instructions, something of importance occurred.
To be sociable I asked Daphne, “Are Jonah or Tom gonna join up with Mosby’s Cavalry?”
She smugly answered, “Tom has already tried, but Momma forbade it. So, Daddy hired a substitute for $200 to take his place.”
I thought it best not to follow that line of questioning any further, so, I asked, “Have ya attended a school herah in Harpers Ferry?”
She replied, “No, but I have had a few tutors. One taught me music and how to play tha piano, which I have studied since a little girl. Another taught me how to read and some arithmetic. I also spent two years in finishing school in Baltimore.”
I raised my eyebrows and said, “Oh that explains it.”
She immediately turned toward me and demanded in a truculent voice, “Explains what?”
Ahab was immediately behind me and no doubt ready to carry out the coup de grace at this young girl’s command. As we say in the South, “her color was up” and she was definitely ready to defend her person from a smart mouth hooligan from Arkansas. I instantly put my hands up in front of me as if to ward off an attacker, smiled and uttered, “It explains tha grace and charm that emanates from yar person when ya enter tha room.”
She suddenly smiled, looked at me coyly and returned, “Well Mr. Hager, don’t ya have a gentlemanly way with
words.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. I decided she was not one to trifle with. I smiled and, not wanting to make any more social gaffes, said, “I believe we should return to tha house now.”
Why I made the next moves I don’t know. I guess I just finally gave into the beauty of Daphne Jane Newcomer and her fetching ways plus I wanted to put one over on Ahab.
I turned abruptly and positioned myself directly in front of Ahab. Daphne followed my lead. Ahab was flabbergasted that we had out maneuvered him. He shifted as best he could to get behind us again. When he turned to go around me, I reached down and took Daphne’s hand and squeezed it. I expected her to reject my sudden romantic and courtship flouting act. But, when I glanced at her, even in the semi-darkness, I could see that she smiled. For some reason it raised love’s budding desire in me. I let go of her hand, but I looked deeply into her eyes, and she saw the passion and the promise of romance that she had awakened in me. Her smile suddenly melted and in an instant she returned an answering look of acceptance, hope and fervor. I felt my legs almost turn to jelly. That this beautiful woman child responded to me in such a way filled me with astonishment and a little fear.
The union had taken just a second, but the fervency of passions it awakened was overwhelming. My heart was beating like a drum and the adrenaline that surged through me was a perpetual fountain of youth. I felt like I was twenty-five again.
We both tried quickly to recover which wasn’t easy to do. I coughed loudly and Daphne began to fan herself rather swiftly. I stole another quick peek at her countenance. Her face and neck were flushed. Her breathing was rather ragged as was mine. We dutifully started our return trip to the house although we walked a little closer together.
Ahab trooped along behind us, but, if he were any judge of human nature, he sensed there was a definite change in the atmosphere. I wondered if he knew something out-of-sorts had occurred during our confrontational turn back toward the house.
Assassins of History- Transference Page 16