. A gentleman of the South : a memory of the black belt, from the manuscript memoirs of the late Colonel Stanton Elmore . e of them. 136 A GENTLEMAN OF THE SOUTH he said, Pushmataha had saved his life. Wan-dering bands of Choctaws frequently visited HillTop while I was a child, and he told me that ifI should ever be mistress there I must remem-ber his friendship with the chief, and show allkindness to his people. He said he was goingaway, and might not return, and he wished meto know about Pushmataha before he is all. But surely, sir, he would nothave spoken so to me, a little child,
. A gentleman of the South : a memory of the black belt, from the manuscript memoirs of the late Colonel Stanton Elmore . e of them. 136 A GENTLEMAN OF THE SOUTH he said, Pushmataha had saved his life. Wan-dering bands of Choctaws frequently visited HillTop while I was a child, and he told me that ifI should ever be mistress there I must remem-ber his friendship with the chief, and show allkindness to his people. He said he was goingaway, and might not return, and he wished meto know about Pushmataha before he is all. But surely, sir, he would nothave spoken so to me, a little child, concern-ing a man whom he had wronged. It was thevery day before he was — before he died, sir. You never saw the chief.* No, sir; I was an infant when he cameto Hill Top for the last time. But I knowhe came in friendship and not in anger; forthis was his gift.* She held out to the chair-man an Indian ornament of gold. He gaveit to my mother, and she hung it about myneck. The members of the committee examinedthe trinket curiously. I think you do well to cherish it, saidthe chairman ; but it is not such evidence as. 72 ri A GENTLEMAN OF THE SOUTH 139 the courts of law would be likely to there anything else? Nothing, sir. I must leave the rest toMr. Selden, who knows more than I do of myfathers life. She turned to the door, and thecommittee, obeying the lead of the chairman,rose. But impulsively she turned back; andSelden saw in her eyes, looking up into thegaunt face of the aged statesman, the samebrave look which he had first seen when shecame down the stairway that night at TheCedars. Oh, sir, she said, you will bewise enough to find the truth. Much, muchsuffering has come of this charge already, andif it be not disproved two more lives will bedarkened by it. I am told that you, too, havea daughter whom you tenderly love. Thinkhow she might have to suffer if in the yearsto come your fame, your honor, should beblackened by such a charge as this. You willnot wish t
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