In the Time of War

Chapter 1

"Why didn't you tell me?" I screamer.
" I didn't want to hurt you", he confessed.
"You already did," I replied walking away.

In 1879, 16 year old Ruth Dweller meet a man named Daniel Scarborough. He was a handsome rich man that took a liking to Ruth. They soon fell in love and in 1861 Daniel joined the civil war. He was on the Union side, of course. He wanted to help Ruth and her people. In 1863, slavery ended, but Daniel wasn't back.

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"Momma! Momma!" I called. Running across the field to my Momma. I just had to tell her about my day, it was marvelous.
"What is it Ruth?" My Momma called to me.
"Oh Momma, on my way home I saw Arthur, and he was playing his saxophone. Oh Momma, his tune was so sweet. I wish you coulda heard it, you woulda loved it. When I grow up, I'm gonna be just like him." My Momma gave me a soft smile, and replied.
"I'm sure you will. Now, go and get your brother, and go wash up before supper." I nodded my head and ran to go find my brother.

" Marcel! Marcel, Where are you?" I called. My brother, Marcel, was no where to be seen. I kept looking until I found him with a strange looking man. I looked at the man. He was wearing a navy blue shirt, black jacket with 6 silver buttons, gray pants, with a white scarf. He had a straight dark brown hair, tall, dark brown eyes, and a very serious look on his face. I was scared he was gonna hurt Marcel, so I ran over to him. I stood by his side and watched the strange man. After a moment of silence, the man spoke.

" Is this your sister I've heard so much about, Marcellus?" The man asked, using my brothers full name. Marcel noded. I looked at the man curiously. Wondering what he was doing with my brother.

"Well Hello Ruth, I'm Daniel . It's nice to meet you." He bowed. I still wasn't gonna let my guard down.

" What are you doing with my brother?" I asked the man I now know as Daniel. Not caring that I didn't curtsy back. He didn't seem to either, because he just laughed and said.

" No need to worry love, I just saw him walking down the road, and decided to have a nice conversation, but I should probably be going now,"

" Yes, we should too." I quickly said. Marcel gave me a look and Daniel just smiled.

"I hope to be seeing you around Miss Ruth. You too, Marcellus." Daniel said turning on his heels and walking away.

Once Daniel was out of earshot, I started yelling.

" Where were you mister, I was worried sick, I thought somethin' bad happened! Actually, you know what, it doesn't even matter. Now come on Momma wants us to wash up for supper and I'll be telling her about you and that man."

"Alright! Then I'll tell Momma that you was bein' rude to Mr. Daniel. He ain't done nothin' to you. So, why you gotta be so rude?" Marcel screamed at me. Man, that boy needs to learn proper grammar.

I washed Marcel up and wasn't very gentle with it either. I haven't said a word to him since he yelled at me. I kind of feel bad now, though. I was rather rude to Mr.Daniel, and he never did anything to me. If I ever see him again, I will apologize. Though, I doubt I will ever see him again, but he did say he wanted to see me again. I doubt he meant it, and from the looks of it he is very rich. He was also very handsome. I wonder if he has wife.
Oh what am I saying, of course he is, and if he's not, he won't go for me anyway. I'm just a slave girl from New Orleans. Why am I even thinking of this. I should be taking care of my family.

It was pretty silent during dinner. Not a word was said. We were having gumbo with some milk and bread for dinner, my favorite. Usually during dinner we would tell each other out day, but today it was awkward. My momma, Genevieve, has been tryin' so hard to please us and make us happy since our papa died. He died four year ago, when I was 12 and Marcel was 8. It hasn't been the same without him.
" Marcel, what did you do today? My momma asked. I looked at him, he looked right back at me. He knew if he didn't tell her I would.

"Well Momma, on the road today, I met a really nice man. Daniel was his name. Ruth met him, too." Marcel told Momma.

Oh you did, Ruth? What was he like?" Momma asked me. Of course he had to put the attention on me. I glared at him.
"Oh Momma he was so nice. I really hope I can see him again." I replied sweetly in my deep Louisiana accent. I could feel Marcellus eyes on me the whole time, but I just ignored him.

"Oh that's nice to here, honey." Momma said smiling.

Not another word was said. We just finished our supper, cleaned our dishes, and Marcel went to bed. I was about to go too, but Momma wanted to talk to me.

"Ruth, I want you to stay inside at all times, and make sure Marcel does, too. That man you meet, Daniel, he just moved here, and rumor has it he wants a new slave. If you do happen to see him, stay away." I knew Momma was dead serious, because she wasn't smiling. She is always smiling, and that's one of the things I love about her. She's always smiling even when she wants to cry. But I could also tell she was hiding something and I''m gonna find out what it is.

"I will Momma, I promise."

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It's been 3 days since I met Mr. Daniel, and been outside. Momma says tonight she might take us outside to look at the stars, but if we hear so much as a twig snap we go in right away. I'm really excited, even if we're only going out for a little while. I'm used to spending almost all day outside.

Now being cramped up in this little house with only a table, two chairs, 2 bedrooms and a small kitchen. Although compared to my other friend, Arabella, my home is as marvelous as Saint Anne's church in the French Quarter. Her home only has one room. Her papa couldn't afford much since her Momma died when she was giving birth to her younger brother. Arabella is the oldest of 5, she's 17 like me. Her youngest brother is 6 years old, and he's so sweet. Her whole family is so amazing. I've known them since I was a baby, and we went to church together, Arabella and I have been best friends ever since.

Speaking of Arabella, I haven't seen her for a while. I wonder where she is. Is she okay? There is a horrible sickness going around. It was just a couple days ago, on February 29, there was a death. The sickness is called Typhoid fever. It came here from some crew members on board an oil tanker. It spread through the town like wildfire. The
infirmaries are full. Maybe tomorrow I'll ask Momma if I can go visit Arabella and make sure she's okay. I don't know what I'd do if anybody I cared about got typhoid fever. It's a tragedy really for the man who died. God bless his soul and may he rest in peace.

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Momma let me go see Arabella today. The only thing she told me to do was stay off the main road and come straight home after I made sure she was okay. Half way there, I saw Mr. Daniel talking to one of the slave owners. I immediately ran to hide. It wasn't just because of Mr. Daniel, it was also because I knew that man. He is one of the fiercest slave owners in all of Louisiana and he bought my friend, Esther's papa. Nobody has seen him since. I knew that Mr. Daniel was a cruel man. He's probably just as bad or worse as the other slave owners. I'll have to tell Marcel and see if he thinks so highly of him then.

Soon I got to Arabella's house and found her crying on her deck. I immediately ran to her not caring that I could ruin my dress in the process.

" Arabella, " I screamed. " What on earth has happened?"

"They took him," she sobbed. I felt paralyzed. I just held her to my chest and rocked her back and forth. I knew what she meant, the auction worker's took her papa.

We sat there together for what seemed like hours. We didn't say a word to each other. What could I say? Sorry for your loss, you'll get through this? I didn't know what to do so I just rocked her back and forth. We sat there in complete silence doing absolutely nothing. What could I do? I've never had to go through this, and I couldn't tell her it would be okay because... I don't know if it will be.