White Lies: Part 2

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(The court officer approaches the lady and instants an
exchange.) "Mam, I've been instructed by the court to have
your carriage readied for dispatch to the South. We have
been informed that there has been an exchange of arms
being fired between Confederate and Union troops at a place
called Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The court has provided
a military escort."

"Well, Parson, sir, seeing that the jury is made up of some
of my people, you will see the light of day. Oh, by the way,
CUTE--Terse Verse, naught the scriptural sort, eh! This
conversation I started is a discourse, like a speech --you'd
call it a sermon. You lead into them quite well, for your
sort." "You mean from my ... kind." "Hm! When war comes
to my doorstep, I best open my front door to be sure of
who's doing the shooting." "Sounds like Peter walking on
water!" "Poor Pete is too busy at Fort Sumter!"

"You already knew what the White Lie was about before I
mentioned it. We may have put an angle on our White Lie,
but you're a dodger ... naught taking sides? How many of
you climb up on that cross?" "That is the very reason why
I'm on trial." "I've read the dissertation and testimonies,
but naught yours ... until now. That's the reason I shared
White Lies with you. There's something about White Lies
that I didn't tell you!"

(Officer of the court interrupts.) "Mam, your carriage--you
must hurry!" "Wait, he needs to hear this from me!" "I
thank you--but please go!" "A man, gentle or naught, is
wearing a black suit with a white spot, a blemish of some
sort on his lapel. A refined upstart, like myself, would
probably put a flower to hide it. Yet, knowing that there's
your kind, take it off and change it."

"Still with the--angles?" "Well, at least I'm naught that--
kind!" "I'm proper?" "You 're naught, improper!" "See you
after the war, Parson Brown!" (She turns to leave.) "Pity
they'd be one." (With her back facing him, she pauses
amid his words, then proceeds to leave while he watches
her backside.) "Perhaps I just might be that sort of guy?"
(With her back still facing--daring naught to turn, sadly,
her head lowers further down.) He knew what he had just
done. He wanted to feel like a man ... what it feels like to
sacrifice yourself; maybe naught for the world, but for just
one ... being, such of his kind ...

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