Chapter 10. An Old Town

Atlanta – December 1879

The respectable town people of Atlanta came to the funeral of Mr. Wilkes, one of their own for many years. He would be buried beside his first wife.

Standing in front of the grave site, his second wife Scarlett, wearing a full black mourning gown with a veil, was encompassed by her four children. The jewel of the family, the little girl Cat, stood quietly by her mother and her brother. The older girl was between her mother and her big brother.

In the back of the crowd, several curious bystanders came for the funeral of the year.

"He was her fourth husband. She is used to the funerals, I bet. Not even a drop of tear," said one.

"Hush, that poor woman probably has cried dry all her tears over the years, widowed three times and divorced once. Her third husband divorced her after they lost their daughter," another whispered.

"The poor woman! She almost lost another child this time."

"Yes, almost, the fourth husband died for protecting their little girl."

"A good man, a Southern gentleman!"

"He was killed by the son of Madam Watling. Do you know, that creature used to be the mistress of Captain Butler, the third husband of Mrs. Wilkes?"

"How scandalous?! Is that true?"

"Of course. Actually, the third husband killed his mistress' son for saving Mr. Wilkes' little girl."

"At least he helped save the girl. I heard he was shot too, may not live through the year."

"Yes, I heard that rogue killed his mistress too."

"No, the girl who escaped from the basement told Sheriff Ford, Watling boy killed his mother. He meant to shoot at Captain Butler, but the bullet hit his mother."

"So both mother and son died?" Another prying.

"Yes, and both were burned with the whorehouse."

"Burned alive?"

"Oh, no! That would be too barbarous. But the son is likely burning in hell for killing his own mother."

"But how all these started? Why would the Watling boy want to hurt Mr. Wilkes and his daughter?"

"Oh, I heard that he was a scumbag, gambling, blackmailing, and robbery. This time, he kidnapped the little girl for ransom."

"Why he chose Mr. Wilkes? They lived in Jonesboro, not even in Atlanta. There is something fishy, I bet you," said another agog soul.

"I reckon it. There was something going on. Three people died, I bet Sheriff Ford knows more than he let on."

"No, four people died."

"Yes, four! Mr. Wilkes killed an accomplice of Watling's, a foolish bully."

"What a drama? Maybe five, if Captain Butler couldn't pull through. I heard he isn't looking good."

"Good lord, a true Greek tragedy! It ends with the grandest whorehouse burning for two days."

"What a pity! I have never been there before."

…

Mrs. Meade felt a sense of relief as the funeral service proceeded without incidence. The widow and four children of the deceased stood silently with dignity. Many well-wishers came by but let the grieving family be.

Old Henry had asked Mrs. Meade for helping the service. While Scarlett still was the one making all the arrangement. It was Ashley's wish to be buried in Atlanta.

Only thing Mrs. Meade could help was to keep an eye on India and Pitty, per her husband's instruction. "Stay with them. I won't let them make a scene of themselves in front of Atlanta."

Both ladies had gone foolish after Mr. Wilkes' death and had kept Dr. Meade on his toes for days. Aside from attending Captain Butler, Dr. Meade had to intermittently give India a dose of laudanum to keep her calm or use smelling salt to keep Pitty awake.

Between her consciousness, India hatefully blamed Scarlett for Ashley's untimely death, only being shut up by Old Henry. He would not let anyone tarnish the family names of his grandnephews and grandniece.

And India's request to Beau had been wisely turned down by the young man who had a kind but rational head on his shoulders like his mother. "Aunt India, I must stay with my sister Cat, and Ella, Wade and Aunt Scarlett. I love them. I have to go back to school to finish my study as Father had wished."

While comparing to India, Mrs. Meade's friends were even more malicious toward the thrice-widowed and once-divorced Scarlett, whose names became too long to be remembered by Mrs. Meade's advanced age.

"That heartless O'Hara is cursed with death. The poor Ashley lost his life, and the good Captain Butler is hanging on his life."

The vengeful voice of Mrs. Merriwether startled Mrs. Meade severely. She knew Dolly favored Captain Butler and disliked Scarlett. But cursing the poor girl with death seemed too much.

It was a huge scandal when Ashley married Scarlett four years ago. They had planned to go separate ways, Ashley to the North and Scarlett to join her husband in Charleston. The Atlanta people did not see this marriage coming.

Mrs. Meade remembered she had asked her husband at that time, "How could they get married so soon? Two months after her divorce?" She knew there was something more than her husband had told her.

Dr. Meade stopped her and said sternly for once and all, "Don't gossip with your lady friends. That poor girl has suffered enough. Wilkes, Hamilton, and Kennedy are the oldest families in Georgia. By all means, your ladies shall not blacken them more."

Only the news of the birth of Wilkes' daughter came a few months after, Mrs. Meade realized that the marriage had its own legitimate reason, scandalous or not.

And the news Captain Butler remarried and then deserted his second wife arrived much later but caused more confusion among the good people of Atlanta.

Mrs. Merriwether had been quiet since Captain Butler showed up in the town early this year as a twice divorced man. But she had not closed her mouth since the event, many unkind remarks in their sewing circles and church committees, or even on the streets.

Dr. Meade then said again, "Mrs. Meade, tell your friend to be quiet for Heaven's sake. Or I will have the old Merriwether lash her with his whip."

Grandpa Merriwether had no strength to lash his daughter in law. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Elsing came to reprimand Mrs. Merriwether. "Darling Dolly, you shall not blame Scarlett this time. Ashley was killed by that low creature and her boy. I wonder how they found Ashley and his girl. Who told them?"

Mrs. Merriwether stared at her friend in shock. No one dared to say more.

Feeling she might have implied more than she should have, Mrs. Elsing turned to a light tone, "Ashley is gone, but he left two good boys. Look at Wade Hamilton and Beau Wilkes, so handsome and well mannered. You must agree that Ashley and Scarlett have done a decent job raising them. In the next years, they will be the respectful young gentlemen, be welcomed into any good families of Atlanta."

Mrs. Merriwether nodded indignantly and then half-smiled. She had two granddaughters.

Mrs. Meade looked at the stoic Scarlett again. Yes, she lost four husbands. But she still had her four children. They were the blessing from all heartbreaks. They were the purpose and strength of her life.

Mrs. Meade thought sadly, she lost two sons and only had her husband, a good old man. He was the pillar of her old life.

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