Excerpt from   If She Knew Then  by Lolly Anderson©2005

It is a surprise, coming down the long lane, past canopied trees and open fields, the house is: big, white, columned, nestled among old boxwood and ancient trees. The oldest tree of all, a golden Gingko, sprinkles its dainty fan like leaves on the front porch hinting of the refinement within.

The car made its way down the lane, the three occupants silent and somber. This visit to Ellington Plantation was not for a charmed party with candles illuminating wine glasses, polished silver, and smiling eyes above silk dresses and striped ties.

Millie walked slowly through the front hall past the circular staircase and into the living room where the purple draped casket stopped her. She willed herself not to cry. The last time she was in this room, it was full of laughter and light, jeweled women in long dresses, men in black tie. She was 18 years old and a new world of elegance and sophistication, not to mention love, had opened up for her. But that was over now and the only one who knew how she felt was under purple velvet.

The plantation was already a hundred years old when General Lee stayed there. Senators from Washington, presidential candidates, ballerinas, artists, and one impressionable young girl were among the guests at the many elegant parties hosted through the years. If Millie slept late, the plantation's grande dame would likely awaken her by playing Chopin on the big black grand piano in the front hall.  There were two house rules. The first one: no drinks on the piano, the second rule no one could remember.

Lee Trevor, the grande dame, was the most elegant woman ever called that. A graduate of Bennington at age 18, her brains and musical talents would have made her a concert pianist if she had not chosen to marry the 12^th generation descendent of Ellington Plantation.  As she was a descendent herself of Robert E. Lee, hence her first name, it was fitting that she would restore Ellington Plantation to a grandeur it had never known, even when the General stayed there.

Lee greeted those who had come to pay their respects to her son with the stoic grace she was known for. Her oldest son, brilliant, funny, handsome, musical, so much like Lee herself, was gone.

          YBD- Your Bounden Duty     PYE- Part of Your Education (acronyms à la Archibald Edwards)

                                                  MNH-  Might Need a Handkerchief (à la LA)