Time seemed to progress and Christmas went and gone. The seasons and the years flew by quickly. As Chandler and Ross were beginning their junior year of Harvard, Ross received a very disturbing letter from home.
"Father says that since Mr. Lincoln was elected President, there is a serious prejudice against southerners in the North. He has read of several incidents of assaults. I am afraid that it is time that I must be going home." Ross said as he folded the letter.
That is too bad, you are doing so well here. Better grades than myself." Chandler laughed.
"Admit it you just will miss those visits from my sister," smiled Ross.
"I do love her so." Chandler said.
"She loves you as well. But now is not the right time, my friend. I must go and make the arrangements for me to leave. Now Rachel and I can be married before this damn war breaks out. She had only been waiting for me.Oh so much to do." he said as he left the room.
Chandler wondered how this would effect his relationship with Monica. By his bed he had her portrait in an oval jeweled frame. When he would go to sleep at night, he would stare at it before he went to bed.Her eyes hypnotized him and lulled him to sleep. He was as in love with her, as his best friend was with the charming southern belle, Rachel. Now with all this war talk in the wind, he didn't know how travel would be effected from the North to the South. The last thing he wanted to do was put Monica in jeopardy.
Within a week, Ross had traveled back to South Carolina. He now had the room to himself and time to think. His father had warned him what happened with being involved with a Southerner and had advised him against it.
"But Dad, Mother was from Charlotte." Chandler reminded his father.
"These are difficult times my son. This Jefferson Davis is stirring things up down there and making them all think they can run their own little country where cotton grows and slaves wait on them. Things were different when I courted your mother. That must be why you fell in love with a Southern belle, it's in the Bing blood." Charles smiled.
Putting a cigarette to his mouth, he lit it at the bar. He didn't see the young man sitting next to him.
"Hey watch it, mack." the Italian man said in a broken lower class New York accent.
"Oh I am sorry. I didn't see you there." Chandler said. "May I buy you a beer to apologize?'
"That you can do, boy you talk fancy." the man said.
"Fancy?' Chandler said amused.
"Yeah, you talk like a college boy." he said
"Well I do go to Harvard, allow me to introduce myself, Chandler M. Bing of New York." Chandler said as he extended his hand.
"No kidding, I am from New York too, Joey Tribbiani, " he smiled and put out his hand. "
The train pulled in to the station where Rachel sat with her servants and slave girls. She fanned herself with anticipation as she watched the passengers disembark from the train. Finally she saw him and ran with her petticoats blowing in the wind.
"Ross! Ross! You're home and this time for good." she said as she ran into his arms.
"Until Jefferson Davis needs me, my darling." he said as he leaned down and smelled her hair. It always smelt of a combination of wild strawberries and coconut.
"Our wedding is in two weeks. Daddy says this will be a season of weddings and we should be the first. I have everything done, all I need is your list for the invitations and that is the final thing." Rachel said as she threw her arms around his neck.
"Decorum my darling, we are in public and for what I want to do to you, I think we should do in the privacy of your coach." Ross said as he helped Rachel up into the carriage. Rachel began to giggle.