Chapter 9- Cora Ardlay and Brian Elroy's descendants

With Beatrice, Colin's half sister, Cora behaved more ethically when it came to courting. Charles Hamilton, a twenty-eight year old tobacco and cotton plantation owner of dark complexion, dark hair and eyes fell in love with Beatrice when she traveled to a family estate in Florida while she celebrated her seventeenth birthday on June 15, 1879. Cora and Brian had received a letter cordially inviting them to visit the plantation in plans to court their daughter Beatrice. They visited the plantation and met Charles; they felt that he should be granted the permission to court Beatrice while she stayed with family members in Florida. Beatrice agreed to Charles's appealing proposal since she loved the area, the vegetation, and besides, she found him to be quite interesting. A year later, on June 20, 1880 Beatrice Elroy-Ardlay married Charles Hamilton and lived in their plantation home in Gainesville, Florida. On January 17, 1881 Beatrice gave birth to their baby girl named Sarah Eleanor Hamilton-Elroy. The baby was named after Charles's mentor and grandmother.

Sarah had her father's complexion; she possessed a pretty face with medium skin tone, chestnut brown hair, brown eyes, and a well proportioned body. Sarah was a smart girl with a mean streak; since she was an only child, her father had spoiled her rotten. Sarah was capricious and got anything her heart desired. From a young age, Sarah had a sense of entitlement and a demeaning attitude; therefore, she treated others less fortunate poorly. Sarah at times would play mean tricks on the help and even allowed them to take blame for her own mishaps. At the plantation Sarah was not liked by many workers, the servants would whisper to each other under their breath "Miss Heartless" or "Miss Brat" as she would leave their presence.

"Mrs. Hamilton, I swear on my children's life that I had nothing to do with your missing broach. After I was done cleaning your jewelry ma'am I placed it back to its original safe place. Please don't let me go, God knows I need this employment, I have five children to feed, I beg you!" Implored Betsy, she was a servant that had worked for the Hamilton family five years, and was recently widowed.

"You leave me no choice Betsy, you were the last to come in contact with my jewelry, but if you were to return the broach in its mint condition I would reconsider your plea." Beatrice said honestly.

Sarah, at age fourteen, had taken her mother's broach without caring who would be blamed. She had watched and desired the enchanting piece that her mother wore on special occasions. Sarah would have received the broach on her fifteenth birthday if she were patient; it was an heirloom piece inherited from her Grand-Mamie Cora from four generations ago.

As soon as Beatrice found out that Sarah had taken the broach, Beatrice personally went searching for Betsy to offer her an apology, a new position and a better pay at the plantation. Betsy became Beatrice's trusted and loyal employee until they were both old and frail. They cared for each other as friends yet in the public eye they knew to keep a personal distance as was expected and required by the society of status. The workers overall felt at ease with Beatrice and loved her for her charisma, kindness, and fairness.

Sarah's misbehavior was tolerated by Charles, her father, yet her mother, Beatrice, grew angrier as Sarah conspired in her wretched ways. Since Betsy was close to Beatrice, she would often retell her of events for which Sarah was liable. At times Beatrice allowed Sarah to be caught in lies and acts of deviance that led to her being ridiculed. Since Sarah proved to be headstrong to her mother's pleas to demonstrate self control, Beatrice allowed her daughter to experience embarrassment in hopes that this would be the best source of correction for Sarah. She loved her daughter but disliked how she behaved at times.

The workers at the plantation would plan ways to get back at Sarah without being caught. On one occasion, a girl named Lilly, who was in charge of taking care of cleaning Sarah's shoes, placed a frog in a pair that Sarah was to wear for an outing. The curdling screams that came from Sarah's room were heard all over the two story home. Down below in the kitchen a group of servants tried to contain their laughter since they were aware of Lilly's doing.

"Ahhh! Mom! Help! Sarah cried out.

I am about to faint, I cannot imagine ever touching a nasty frog! It is such an ugly animal! What a disgusting feeling, I think I am going to die! I must wash my foot right now!" Screamed Sarah as her mother ran to Sarah's side.

"For heaven's sake Sarah, I thought the worst had happened! I thought you were mortally wounded. Do not ever scream in that manner, as if someone were harming you." Beatrice said to Sarah with anguish.

"It is just a frog, for crying out loud, one of the many that live in our surroundings; the poor thing is probably even more petrified than you are Sarah." Beatrice said with a smile without knowing the true facts that lead Sarah's moment of horror.

On another occasion, Sarah was to be ready for an event at the downtown festival; since she mismanaged her time, Sarah found herself in a hurry to get ready. Before dressing, Lilly had assisted Sarah with a layer of talcum powder to perfume her and to absorb any excess moisture. Once fully dressed, she hurried and grabbed the tin that contained the loose powder to freshen up her face. Sarah failed to notice that Lilly purposely did not tighten the lid of the tin; she proceeded to hold the tin by the top. As Sarah held the top of the dense tin, the bottom quickly slid, hitting the freshly polished pine floor. Lilly burst into laughter as she saw Sarah covered from head to toe in the white powder. Sarah looked ghostly with the appearance of a pale face, pale arms, and gray hair from the powder. Sarah screamed as she looked at herself in the mirror then she proceeded to squall. Her tears left streaks on her face making her look even more comical. Beatrice heard the commotion and ran to see what ailed Sarah. As soon as Beatrice entered the room, she could not contain her laughter; both Lilly and Beatrice had been holding their stomachs from laughing with such intensity that they could barely stand it. Sarah grew furious as the women carried on with their laughter and stormed out of her bedroom not caring how she appeared. These were just a few of the many things Sarah had to encounter as long as she remained in the plantation.

Beatrice, in fact, wished her daughter to become a respectable woman; the morals and high standards Beatrice taught Sarah on a daily basis should have been enough to guide her. But at times, Beatrice thought Sarah was not learning due to her strong-willed nature.

"Could she be someone's true love? Would she be able to love back without malice or wrong doing to her future partner? Could she possibly become kinder once she becomes a mother?" Beatrice would ask herself often, as she daydreamed about her beloved daughter's future.


Thank you all for sticking with the story, I appreciate all your comments, it warms my heart :)

Stay tuned for next Monday 19, 2012. I shall post my Chapter10- Two Hearts Enchanted. This chapter is very sweet, I hope you enjoy it.