Read Online Secret of Richmond Manor by Gilbert L. Morris - Free Book Online Page B

We grew up together. He comes by sometimes to check on me and my uncle.”
    â€œHe’s a lucky fellow.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWhy, I mean getting to grow up in a nice place, around a nice girl like you.” A longing came into the young man’s eyes, and he shook his head. “I guess that must be pretty nice.”
    â€œGood night, Ezra. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Leah slipped out of the barn and headed for the house. I’ll have to get a Bible, she thought, and some tracts. And he sure doesn’t need to see Jeff!

7
A Southern Belle
    A knock at the door startled Leah.
    â€œWho can that be, I wonder?” she asked Uncle Silas. When she passed into the front room, she saw a rather fat young man standing on the porch. “Yes? What is it?” she asked.
    â€œYour name Carter?”
    â€œYes, I’m Leah Carter. I live here with my uncle Mr. Silas Carter.”
    The boy had a loose mouth, and he gave her a lazy grin. “I reckon this is for you then.”
    Leah opened the screen door and took the envelope the young man handed her. He was around sixteen. He had a moon face with dirty brown hair that fell over his ears and a pair of muddy brown eyes.
    â€œI see the haints ain’t got you yet.”
    Leah was accustomed to people referring to the so-called haunted house she and her uncle lived in. “Thank you for the note,” she said stiffly.
    â€œOh, I better wait. You might want to send an answer.”
    â€œVery well.” She closed the screen and went back to where Uncle Silas was waiting in the living room. “It’s a note addressed to you.” She stood watching while he opened it and saw his eyebrows go up.
    â€œWell, I guess I’m going up in the world. This is a note from the Driscolls. They’re wealthy planters who live about three miles down the road atBriarwood Plantation. They’re having a party, and they want us to come.”
    â€œA
party!”
Leah said raising her eyebrows. “With a war going on!”
    Uncle Silas shook his head and smiled faintly. “I guess they’d have a party if the world was coming to an end tomorrow. The Driscolls are pretty fancy folks. We can’t go, of course.” Then, “Wait a minute, I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you and Jeff go to that party? She says here in the note she’s especially interested in young people coming. She’s heard about you, I take it.”
    â€œOh, I couldn’t go, Uncle Silas. I wouldn’t know a soul. And anyway I’m not sure Jeff would be able to go.”
    â€œWell, we’ll find out. Let me write a note to him. Is that boy outside the one who works for the Driscolls?”
    â€œHe didn’t say.”
    â€œI expect it is. His name is Rufus Prather.” He shook his head, adding, “He’s the laziest human being I ever saw in my life. I guess he can take a note out to the camp for a dollar, though. Get the paper, will you, and pen and ink, and I’ll write to Jeff.”
    A few minutes later Leah walked back to the door. “Is your name Rufus Prather?”
    â€œShore is. You can just call me Rufus, though.” He grinned and rolled his eyes. “Always glad to have another pretty girl to come to settle around here.”
    Ignoring this, Leah gave him an envelope and a dollar. “My uncle wants to know if you’ll take this to the camp and see that it gets to Private Jeff Majors.”
    â€œFor a dollar? Well, I guess I will.” The boy took the dollar and the letter and stuck them into hisshirt pocket. “I’ll be seeing you around, missy. We got to get better acquainted.”
    Leah peered at her choice of dresses, which amounted to two, her everyday dress and the “Sunday” dress she had brought with her. It was a high-waisted checkered gingham with a ruffle at the hem. It wasn’t much of a party dress, but it was all that she had. She