| Somewhere ahead of them a band began to
play
"Oh! Susanna The rollicking, merry tune was as bright and sunny as
the dayEulalie and Pauline walked more quickly, keeping time with
the music, but Scarlett's feet felt like leadCoward! she berated
herselfBut inside she couldn't stop trembling"Why are there so
many damned Yankees in Charleston?" she asked angrily"I saw
some at
the depot, too
"My goodness, Scarlett," said Eulalie, "didn't you know? Charleston is
still under military occupationThey'll likely never leave us
alone
They hate us because we threw them out of Fort Sumter and then held
it
against their whole fleet
"And cheap rolex watches heaven only knows how many regiments," Pauline added? The
sisters' faces were glowing with pride"Mother of God," Scarlett
whisperedWhat had she done?
Walked right into the arms of the enemyShe knew what military
government meant: the helplessness and the rage, the constant fear
that
they'd confiscate your house or put you in jail or shoot you if you
broke one of their lawsMilitary government was all-powerfulShe
had lived under its capricious rule for five harsh yearsHow could
she have been such a fool as to stumble back into it again? "They do
have a pleasant band," said Pauline"Come along, Scarlett, we cross
hereThe Butler omega seamaster watch house is the one with the fresh paint
"Lucky Eleanor," said Eulalie, "to have such a devoted sonRhett
positively worships his mother Scarlett stared at the houseNot a
house, a mansionShining white columns soared a hundred feet to
support the roof overhang above the deep porches along the side of
the
tall, imposing brick houseScarlett's knees felt weakShe couldn't
go in, she couldn'tShe'd never seen any place as grand, as
impressiveHow would she ever find anything to say to the woman
who
lived in such magnificence? Who could destroy all her hopes with one
word to RhettPauline had her by the arm, hurrying her across sterling silver chanel inspired jewelry the
streetith a banjo on my knee,'" she was singing in a low
off-key murmurScarlett allowed herself to be led like a
sleepwalker
In time, she found herself standing inside a door, looking at a tall
elegant woman with shining white hair crowning a lined lovely face
"Dear Eleanor," said Eulalie"You've brought Scarlett," said Mrs"My dear child," she said to Scarlett, "you look so pale
She put her hands lightly on Scarlett's shoulders and bent to kiss her
cheekScarlett closed her eyesThe faint scent of lemon verbena
surrounded her, floating gently from Eleanor Butler's silk gown and
silken hairIt was the fragrance that had always been part of wholesale gucci handbags Ellen
O'Hara, the scent for Scarlett of comfort, of safety, of love, of life
before the War
Scarlett felt her eyes spilling uncontrollable tears"There, there,"
Rhett's mother said"It's all right, my dearWhatever it is, it's
all right nowYou've come home at lastI've been longing for you to
come She put her arms around her daughter-in-law and held her
close
leanor Butler was a Southern ladyHer slow, soft voice and indolent,
graceful movements disguised a formidable energy and efficiency
Ladies were trained from birth to be decorative, to be sympathetic and
fascinated listeners, to be appealingly helpless and empty-headed chanel flap bag lambskin and
admiri |