yBJa'g OLD MAN GILBERT. By ELIZABETH W. BELLAMY, ("KAMBA TnOttPE,") Auther of "Four Oatct," "Litth Joan Jean na," Etc i tOepyrtahtsd. All rights reserved. Published by pvwiwiucuiinituuniKuuiuvvuiwii IW i rYerfc CHAPTER I. UTTUC M1S3T. "ft-aiie de kingdom!" Glory-Ann ejacu lated. Miss Theme, or, niore familiarly, Miss Elvira, a gentle, faded beauty, attired according te the height of the etyle in the year of grace eighteen hundred and flfty-seven, was going, this warm May morning, "up te town," as they said en the plantations around Tallahassee in the days befere the war; and the entire domestic retinue of Therno Hill were as sembled te speed her departure. Her brother, the colonel, had preceded her en heisehack, for he was a man of tee many Inches te endute a carriage in a drlve of nlne long miles. It may have been because of these extra inches that he was called colonel, but his world ac knowledged the title without inquiry. The colonel's only daughter, Miss Win ifred, a motherless lass of cloven, was deemed this day te be left at home in charge of Glory-Ann, the old family nurse, whose name Miss Winifred had transformed into "Mem Bee." "See that Winifred dec3 net run in the sun," Miss Elvira said, as she sank back against the cushions and opened a little well worn volutne of Bishop Ken's "Do "De "Do vetions." Miss Elvira spent her day, for the most part, reading this geed book; she had formed the habit when she gave up Sir WalterScett'a novels, nobody knew hew long age or nobody told. It was a practice that enabled her te forget little Miss Winifred, who was a young lady of exasperating devices. "Weuldn s'prise me ef Missy wuz In dishyer 6un new dis minute," grumbled Glory-Ann as the carriage rolled away. 'Yit bIie meught be n-peutin' somewhere 'bout de house," she amended, as she be gan laboriously te climb the Btairs. The heuse at Therno Hill had a third story under the reef, lighted by a win dow in each gable, and deep, high peaked dormers, back and front. The stair land ing divided this story into two long rooms, which were used chiefly for stor ing odds and ends. In the cool north room was Winifred's chosen den, and here, in an old discarded arm chair be Bide the gable window, Glory-Ann found her. A wild looking child she was, very small for her 11 years, with bcant premiso of beauty. She had large eyes of a dark, uncertain color, a mouth for which her teeth seemed tee many, and an insig nificant nose. Streaks of sunburnt yellow marred the beauty of her curling and abundant reddish brown hair; more over, her face was freckled. She wero a faded green gingham dress, which marked her growth by two bands of deeper color in the skirt, where the provi dent tucks had been let out. Her arms and shoulders were bare, but pantalettes of a pioce with her dress hung nearly te her ankles, and obscured her white stock ings. Her shoes, every way tee large, laced up the front. "Praise de kingdom!" Glory-Ann ejaculated, pausing in the doorway, her arms akimbo. "Yeu deli, Heney?" "Ge 'way I Lemme 'lone!" was Heney's response. But Glory-Ann subsided te the fleer boside the arm chair, slowly and with a sigh, and there she crouched, her hands clasping her knees. She foresaw that the exhortation te duty she felt bound te deliver would occupy a portion of tiene distinctly appreciable by her btift and elderly joints. "Wliyn't you mind ye' book, missy?" she began. "I'm tired of this old plantation!'' Missy declared, irrelevantly. "I want te go ever an' ever se fnr away!" This was the burden of the young lady's lament whenever her aunt went up te town with out her. "You'd be tuk wid a mighly henin' ter git back," baid Glory-Ann. "Yeu ter talk 'bout quittin' here, when you can't se much as dress ye'nef," she concluded, half in pity, half in reproachful pride. "I can!" retorted Missy, indignantly, as she tugged at the btringy and inade quate blue ribbon that was supposed te keep in subjection her rebellious hair. "Den hukkem you don't nuver de it?" demanded Glory-Ann, with bly humor. Te this tluust Missy made no reply, and the old nurse began anew te exhort her te "mind her book." "De, new, Missy, lak a geed chile, jes' as Misslo Missle Misslo virey said; "an I'm gwan mek de nicest little ginger pone, tubbe she!" Tempted by this prospect, Missy slowly rose, and clasping her small sun browned hands en the top of her head, steed con templating, with lazy iudilTcrence, her old nurse'i) struggling achievement of the perpendicular. When at lest Mem Bee, with a grunt of thanksgiving, btoed upon her feet, Missy's eyes had found an attraction in the Heme Field, beyond the garden fence, where the corn in the furrows was making n premising show of green. In an instant her languor and indlfTerence vanished. "Mem Bee! Mem Bee!" she cried ex citedly. "TIicie'h Daddy Gilbert in the Heme Field; you reckon be's gein' te the branch?" "Jes' lis'n at dat, new!" said Glory Ann, in a discouraged tone. "Why ain't you mindin' ye' book, stidder studyin' dat ele nigger's dein's?" "I'm a gein with hlml" Missy an nounced, as she rushed from the room, and went tearing downstairs deaf te all remonstrance. "Jes' leek at her new!" lamented Glory-Ann, as the child slipped through a gap in the garden paling, and made wild haste across the furrows, reckless of damage te the growing com. "She is jes' as heady as Mawbe Nick hecelf; an' mawster ain' get no room ter complain when his chillen tek dey own way; dey is made atter his own pettcrun plum!" "I'm a-gein' with you!" panted Missy, as seen as she was within hearing dis tance of her father's much indulged old 6lave, who, be(ug slightly lame, and duly considerate of the corn crop, was making his way leisurely. , "Maweter above!" exclaimed the old man, with a grin that displayed his big white teeth. "Here you ceme tremplin de cawn lak se much pusley, an' gittin' ye' skin tanned up. 3Vhj'ntyeu satis- m i act in at gret mew, m m leeqr je wua bAwnr "I want te go wadinV Mid Mitt?. "I ain't gwan ter no branch," said old Gilbert, with decision; and before the child could recover from the surprise of her dlsappelnment, he asked with pa thetic eagerness, "la mawster hearn fum Mawse Nick lately, ex you knows enr "There, newl" cried Missy, angrily, "I was just fergetltn' 'bout Brer Nicholas! I ain't come out here for you te talk te me 'bout Brer Nicholas; it makes me all swelled just here." And Missy, with her slender hands across her heart, began te sob. "New, new, Heney, dean you go cry," old Gilbert remonstrated. "Ma wse Nich olas gwan ceme home one e' dese days." But the old man sighed. He was net se sure of his prophecy himself. "I want him today I I want him newl" sobbed Missy. "I de bcliore It'll be a whele crerlastin' year befe' I sec Brer Nicholas any me'; and me with no broth er and no sister, 'ceptln' only him." "Mawster drers de reins tee tight," murmured old Gilbert, communing with himself. "Hukkem he kin be te hard en his own flesh en bleed, en se easy wid dis pe' no 'count ele nigger?"' His "jie 'ceuntness" was a point much insisted upon by Daddy Gilbert, who cherished his slight lameness as a means of securing him as immunity from nny regular work. "I don't see as yeu're se no 'count," Missy objected. "Ye can de me' work than Tem Quash and Griffin Jim. They couldn't make round bottomed baskets, net if they was te try." The old man chuckled with gratified vanity. "And I am gein' with you no matter if you ain't gein' te the branch," she de clared. "Ne, you dean go 'long e' me, Missy," said old Gilbert, uneasily. "Hit's tee fur. Yeu jes' tete ye'scf back ter de gret house." "I'm tired of the house," Missy said, beginning te cry afresh. "New nln' dat a pityl" exclaimed old Gilbert, impatiently. "I'm s'priscd at Glory-Ann Ictlln' you run loose in dish yer sun. Yeu jes' go 'long back, Missy, en' I'm gwan ketch you a Melly cotton tall, or mobbe a squlrl." Missy paused, glowering from under her puckered brews. The house had no attractions for her while the sun was shining warm and bright, and the weeds were waving boughs of green. But sud denly the frown relaxed; Missy was in spired by a brilliant purpose. She per ceived that it might lie pessible te steal off te that dingy little dwelling in the midst of the plum thicket, en the ether slde of the read, beyond the cornfield, where she hoped te find Desia Furnival, a girl eight years her senior, for whom she entertained an immense respect. It mattered nothing te this daughter of the blue blooded Thernes that Deeia's father was a carpenter, and that her mother made dresses for the ladies of Tallahas see; Missy found her altogether admira ble. Fer Desia was gentle and patient; she assumed nene of theso airs of superi ority that rendered Flera Tlierne, the colonel's beautiful niece, se obnoxious te her little cousin. Missy had heard, a few days before, that Desia was net in Talla hassee; it therefore occurred te her that she might be found with the carpenter's kinsfolk, who inhabited the sorry little house at the bend of the Therno Hill read. Witli the colonel and Miss Elvira en the read te town, with Glory-Ann busy in the house, and Daddy Gilbert wending his belitary way te the weeds, Missy decided that she might venture te steal off for an hour or se, without risk of discovery. She turned her face towards home, but she had geno only a few yards, when she abruptly changed her course and began te walk rapidly across the field in the di rection of the read. But just as shu took this turn, old Gil bert was minded te leek back, and he instantly detected her purpose. "Hi-yi!" he called out, sternly. "Ge back ter de gret house, stret! Yeu get no call te toiler atter dem pe' white trash! De Thernes is quality; de ain' get no business wid de Furnlvals." "Yeu mean ele nigger!" cried Missy, stermlly. "I ain' gwan see no chile e mawstcr's 'seciatin' wid dem Furnlvals," said old Gilbert, unmoved. "Yeu tete ye'sef stret back ter de gret house, else I gwan tell Missle-Virey, mun." Missy, after a few irrcsolute moments, wiped her tears en the skirt of her ging ham sun bonnet, and went resignedly back te the gap in the garden paling, slipped through mid confronted Glory Ann in the latticed gallery between the kitchen and the main building. Glory-Ann was seated in a low, splint bottomed chair, with a bread, smooth beard across her knees, and a pen-knife in her right hand; she was making ready te crimp Miss Elvira's ruffled aprons that lay folded in a basket en the steel at her Bide. She paused in 'he act of lifting the npren from the basket, and . loekod ever her spectacles with an air of gravt rebuke at the flushed face of the child coming up the steps. "I'm bound you nln' made nethln' by ye' trip but two sheefuls e' sand," she said, set crvly. Fer answer, Missy sat down en the fleer, threw her bonnet into a corner, and pulling off her shoes, emptied two little piles of sand at Glory-Ann's feet. "Yeu gwan 'pent of all dis trapesin' In de brihu'sun,enc e' dese days," Glory Ann proceeded remorselessly. "Downy you gees en is enough ter Bet dem freck les fur ever 'n' ever." Missy put up her little sunburned hand and meditatively rubbed her cheek. "My cousin Flera has get freckles some," she said. "None ter hu'tl" retorted Glory-Ann. "And Desia Furnival ain't get ene; sIie'b prettier than myceuBin Flern, nny nny hew," Missy proclaimed, with defiance. Glory-Ann Mopped her work, and clutching the two ends of the lap heard while she straightened herself up, do de manded: "Is you been terdemFurnivnls, Missy? Is you been?" "Daddy Gilbert wouldn't let me," Missy pouted. "Tubbe she," said Glory-Ann. "What's a Therno getter de consertin' wid a Fur nival. which de Thernes is quality?" "Dosie is mero nicer than my cousin Flera," said the unrepentant Missy, stretching herself out en the fleer, face downwards, resting en her elbows and supporting her chin In her hands, ns she gazed up serenely nt her admonisher. "She don't snap ine up, ever." "I'd lak ter bee her try hit!" cried Glory-Ann, her very turban bribtliug with insulted family pride. "Miss Flera is a Therno, en' u Therno kin snap at a Therno; but nFuruivnl pe'whltutraslil" And Glory-Ann made an emphalic pleat in Miss Elvira's ruffle. "Don't leinme hear no me' sech talk," she commanded, with all the authority vested in bur title of Mem Bee. Then she lifted up her voice and called sharply: "Amiiy! you tritlin' gal, ceme here stret, en' put en dis chile's shoes." Amity, a girl of fifteen, in training for Miss AVinifred's maid, was seated in the shadow of the Chinaberry tree, beguil- Ilng the tedium of towel hemming by building sand houses ever her feet. She started guiltily when she heard herself called, tumbled eir the upturned cotton basket that served her for n btel and darted te the irallcrr. where bhe bet her- eetf at met te obey Otery-Aaali behest. Missy offered no resistance: but m she did net cheese te change her position, it was a work of some dexterity and no little time (e put en the shoes and lace them up; at Therno Hill, however "time was plenty," as old Gilbert used te say, and Amity was in no mind te hurry. "I'm gwan en 03 year," pursued Mem Bee, boastfully, "en' I has alters b'lenged in de Theme fam'ly. 1 wuz bawn in de fam'ly, I wuz raized in de fam'ly, en', praise de Lawtt, I 'spects ter die in de fam'ly. Yeu is bound ter pay rcscc' ter my words, Missy, fur you en' Maws. Nick ain' de only ones I has fetcb up. I had a ban' In Missle-vircy's raisin', en' dcre ain' nobody kin fault her manners. En' Missel-vlrcy, fhe knows what a Therno dean b'leng 'long of a Furnival, en' a Furnival dean b'leng 'long a Therno. Hukkem you ain' patternin' atter Missel Missel vlrey?" And Glory Ann looked at her charge ever her spectacles with stern, re buking eyes. Missy, freeing herself with n jerk from the hands of Amity, wheeled ever, and sat belt upright, inspired by a sudden and comforting recollection. "Mem Bee! whey is that ginger pone?" she demanded. CHAPTER II. THE COLONEL'S BON. -&Z- .C' When he had fingered hit wealth te his $at $at i'factten. Old Gilbert climbed the high rail fence surrounding the field, and, having crossed the beaten path that led down te the spring, plunged at ouce into the weeds, where the trees grew tall and close, and where the wild grape vines and the eparkleberry bushes continually inter cepted his advance; but with such ob stacles he was accustomed te deal, and they did net deter him. He had n secret errand in this weed through which he made his way as if by instinct, for path there was none; but this ancient child of nature was nt home in the wilderness; he knew nil the trees that grew, and all plants that were for healing, and all noxious things te le avoided. He came at last te a little dell, shut in en evcry slde by abruptly sloping ground, and almost impenetrable te the sunshine Here, when he had rested awhile upon a lichen grown leg, he knelt down, and, pushing aside a brush heap, laid bare a nole in the ground, wheieiu was set a wide and deep iron pet, protected by an iien lid, en top of which was a tin plat ter that covered a fraclure large enough te admit old Gilbert's hand and arm. This was the bank te which he confided the dimes he received for chickens and eggs and tke skilled labor of his hands, for old Gilbert was master of many crafts by which meney was te be earned, and for all his jeb3 he was paid in geed hard coin, an unconquerable prejudice leading him te refuse what he called "limber money." Aslie had the privilege of selling his manufactures off the plantation he com manded what might be termed a wide market. Often he bent his wares up te town; sometimes even he condescended te dispose of a mat or a broom te the de spised Furnlvals across the read. What he did with the money thus earned he told no one; what he meant te de with these accumulated small earnings of mero than fifteen years amounting new te qulte a respectable sum he himself did net knew; but haWng nowlfe nor child, nor any kindred whom he cared te honor with gifts, the greatest satisfaction he could find in his money was te count it ever. This ceremony he jicrfemied by an ingenious process of his own inven tion, that did away with the necessity of abstracting the coin when once, it wns deiwsitcd; each deposit being made in sums of $5 securely tied in a bit of osna esna burg, the whole amount could lie pretty accurately reckoned by touch, the ac count being kept upon a tally stick, which old Gilbert always carried with him. When he had fingered his wealth te his satisfaction, Gilbert carefully read justed the platter ever the tin broken pet lid, raked the leaves ever the spot, and skillfully heaped tip the brush. "Ole nigger gittin' stiir, tubbe she'!" he said, rising with a grunt. "Time I wuz flxin' up 'nether bottle e' white ash belt en' whisky. I git de bek en' Mlssle virey gimme de whisky. Hit ain' tee late for babsyfnc, nuther. Little Missy allers henin' after sassyfae tea. I gwan tete her a bundle e' sassyfae ter de gret heuse dis night, t-cein' I wuz 'blcged ter spite her 'bout dem Furnlvals." Old Gilbert leek his way home by a roundabout route, through an old field known as the berry patch, where older elder bushes and sassafras saplings grew rank In the fence corners, hedged round by little thickets of the odorous horse mint. Hcie the old man set te work; down en his knees, by the aid of his ready jack knife, lie was deftly extracting the roots whute rich aroma dilTubcd itself nreund, when his trained car caught the Bound of steps approaching. "Wha dat?" he whispered te himself, with palpitating heart, lifting his head te listen." "Rabbit?" A yellow cur, with cropped ears and barely thrce inches of tail, jumped upon a leg en the ether slde of the fence, ut tering a hhert, sharp bark. OKI Gilbeifpeered ever the fence te right and left of him, along the bridle path that skirted the field. "Whey you ceme fum, you oudemnnd eudemnnd ed bcas' critter?1' he baid, bcernfully ey ing the cur, which he recognized as tha property of "dem Furnlvals." The deg answered with a yelp, Jumped off the leg and ran across the bridle, path into tbe weeds, tint presently returned at the heels of a lank, bandy haired, sallow youth, clad in faded jeans. Old Gilbert's heart knocked at his ribs as he thought of his treasure in the hol low of the weed; but "manners" de manded that bome greeting should be given, and jielicy dictated a certain ol el ol sequieusucsd of tone, but the old negre bade the youth "Geed morning" with a bow very many degrees removed from the respect he would have accorded te "quality." The lad responded with sullen reluc tance. "Whlcherway Is you ceinln' fum?' old Gllliert asked, insinuatingly. "I dunne cz hit's any e' je' business," was the surly answer. "I ain't no furei from home then you, en' I ain't a nigger. I'm a-huntin' of a liawg, en' ef you ain't tolled hit ter ye' pen, you ele prowler, maybe yeu're fur gittin' enter hits tracks." Old Gilbert's heart waxed het. That he should lie accused by this "pe" white trash" of telling away a lean and scrubby old hog! "De Ler'-a-raighty!" he exclaimed, with a sort of persuasive indignation. "Dean' you en' ye' folks knew what I have get hawg ev'y blessed year fat tenin' cawntinual? I cuercs my own bacon, en' is lieeii delu' dat mm vi tS In,' year eat, g Wan en fo'yeu wiui bawn, If s prised at ycl ' "Wall," drawled the boy, measurably subdued by this reminder et a fact with which he was well acquainted, "1 'plclencd as ye're allers reun' these weeds" "Me?" interrupted old Gilbert, with an uneasy thought of his buried treasure; then, recovering himself, "I ain't often ew Ian'," he said, with significance. "Loek a-herel" shouted the boy, ad vancing mcnaclogly.whlle the cur growl ed and showed his teeth. "En' I b'lengs ter Kernel Jasper Therne," continued old Gilbert, with In flated superiority. "I'se a gemman's nigger, 1 is." "I dean knew ez that's anythin' te me," said Jcsse Furnival, with sullen abatement of his wrath. "But, ceme, new ain't you seen nethin' of ew ele white sew in ye' cemin's en' geln'e? I ain't inquirin' what ye air up tee." Old Gllliert had dropped en his knees again and was tugging at the sassafras roots. "I'se ceraln' en' going en my own proper arrants," he grumbled. "My own ers deselvcs dean hoi' me ter 'count 'bout dat, Howsemedovcr, I did see a lean ele white sew cz I ceme along." "Whicherway?" The eagerness of the inquiry was as fuel te the flame of old Gilbert's suspi cions. "Side of de bridle path, follewin' de weeds," he said, avoiding all refer ence te the route by which he had come. "'Spect she was gwan ter de branch. Whyn't you keep her penned? De ain' nethln' In de weeds dis time e' year ter feed her." "Yeu 'ten' ter ye business en' I'll 'ten' ter mine," retorted Jesse Furnival. "Prewlin' reun' these weeds lak a free nigger. Ef the kernel ain't get nethln' bettcr'n root diggin' fur yeti ter de, wliyn't he Bend you ter keep track e' that racketing son e' his'n? Nick Therno have been in a fix, I kin tell you, ever yandcr ter Eden." "Wha' dat?" old Gilbert asked, in quick alarm. 'Ain't the kernel hearn hew Nick Therno wuz nigh en' about cut ter pieces in a row with Marcus White? Over a game e' poker." This was about all that Jesse Furnival knew of the affair, but he hoped te learn mero from old Gilbert. '.'De gret mawster!" exclaimed the old man. "When wuz dat?" "Oh, ever en' abeve two months age. Ain't hearn nethln' 'bout hit?" "Loek-a-here, boy," said old Gilbert, "dere ain' dat knife made what kin cut Mawke Nicholas ter pieces. Dean you gotele no sech lie areun'. Who done hit anyhow?" "Much you knew!" sneered Jcsse Fur nival. "I done tel' you hit wuz Marcus White done hit, what is sorter kin terus all, be in' he is second cousin ter Unde Jeb's wlfe." And swelling with pride iu the prowess of this family connection, the youth spread his feet wide apart, stuck his thumbs into his "galluses," and oyed old Gilbert defiantly. "De law gwan hoi' him 'countable," said old Gilbert. "Ef the law kin git him!" retorted the boy, with exasperating laughter. "Mar cus White is dene put all Texls 'twixt him en the law." Then reverting sud denly te the object of his search, "I dean bee no tracks," he said, inspecting the ground. "Ne; she wuz travelin' the nidge of de weeds," said old Gilbert; "in amongst de leaves." The boy glanced towards the weeds, called te his deg, and walked en. "Pe' white trash ain' get no manners, nohew; sassy In' of a gemman's nigger," muttered old Gilbert, glowering nfter him. "Quality dean nuver talk te nig gers dat-a-way. S'pose I is prewlin' 'bout dese weeds? Hit's ew weeds! Lawill Lawdt I wen'er is ever he Bced me down in de holler? I'se tel' a monst'eus lie; I ain't need nalre old sew. But I wuz jes 'blcedged ter sesse. Drat her! I pintly dean bulllove she's get meat 'nuff enter her bones ter feed de buzzards, dat ele Furnival bow, but I'm mightly skeercd she'll have the stren'th ter go tiesln' reun' dat speshul brcsh heap. En' I'm 'sturbed in my mill' 'bout Mawse Nick. Dat boy ain't stiddy ez he meught be, bless Gawd!" The thoughts of all hearts at Therne Hill were revolving around Nicholas Therno at this time. On account of seme irregularities at cel lege he had been ban ished te "Sunrise," his father's most dis tant plantation, partly by way of pun ishment, partly by way of keeping him out of temptation. The friends of the family did net think this the wisest course te pursue with a young man of Nicholas Theme's temperament, but tbe colonel was net a man te be ndviscd, and Nicholas had been at Sunrise planta tion since early in January. Ne hint of the quarrel with Marcus White had reached Therno Hill as yet, hut the col onel was secretly fretted that his son, in all this time, had never ence sued te 1m recalled, and Miss Elvira's deepest anx iety had licen aroused by a nole received a few days before, which had been mail ed at Eden, the nearest posteflico te Sun rise, and was worded as follews: "Miss Therno. "Respected Madam: I am a Ged fear in woman, and I feel it en my koriBcuuce te warn the famly of Mr. Nick Therno that Sunrise Plantation is a lonesome place for a young man of sperrits and ift no are net speedily removed out of harms way great trouble is in waitin and be no mero from yours respectful, "ROXANNA WlIITK." Miss Elvira, net daring te show this nole te her brother, lest it might widen the breach between him rind his son, had geno up te town te consult her cousin, Mrs. Hcrry, In whose judgment she placed unbounded faith, though she had netnlwnys the courage te fellow her ad vIceT But Mrs. Hcrry was en n visit te her plantation iu Jeffersen, nnd Miss El vira had returned still burdened with tha afflicting nete, which she was always poring ever whenever her brother was out of the way. She liegan reading it furtively nt the tea table as seen ns the colonel retired te Ids musings en the front piazza. Missy, why had ceme in late te her eupMr, was eating waffles and honey with a leisurely gusto that had driven Grillin Jim te n steel in the kitchen, witli the remark, "Fe' legs is bctter'n two legs ter wait en Miss Wini fred's delays," and thus Mihs Elvira and her little niece were alene together. Winifred improved the occasion. "Aunt Elvira," said she, "don't you think it's time Brer Nicholas was let te ceme home? He's been geno ever since befe' corn dreppin'." Missy's calendar was of the plantation. "Oh, Winifred, I'm afraid Nicholas Isn't always well conducted," Miss Elvira stammered, net knowing what te reply. "It ain't no dilfereucu te me if lie is had or geed," suiil Missy sturdily; "he is Brei Nicholas. Only I don't belleve he ain't just as geed as can 1." "But he ought net te disappoint his father as he does," sighed Mits Elvira. "Well, I lerkeu ,?yV?: --' him 'ome," Miy0t its cieus direwdnesv xJ-"u- Y 11 don't V '. ." P'i parv of lnht sea- Miss Elvira, & I ' reu"T ,"y ir .1 . i.V7' A signed by In- self that ilfey ils0 'wUh thii child. K'-vF cV-SViri?,. l,reul And Miss .e?jy 0 ' ijmlderabIe vocabulary. V J C " 1-1 - - A." I 5..?.c ' .rel of the fctmntrLl lj VS& -r-V , .. ..1. !, W .. L tin " "U-t hiif tamea, Mia Missy, promptly. This was Mrs. Hcrry's advice also Mrs. Hcrry, who reasoned from a sound judgment, and her own deep experience in a like case. But te advecate Cousin Myrtilla's opinion openly was mere than this student of Bishop Ken could venturs upon. Her strongest hope was that Nicho las might be tamed by a marrlagn with his pretty cousin Flera Therne, who had the merit of pleading the colonel. That the colonel should lw pleased was the all im portant point, In view of which Miss Elvira ignored the fact that she herself had net found Flera flaw-less. But this was net n subject te be discussed with Missy, and she felt relieved when Glory Ann Interrupted with the anneuncement: "Missle-virey, here's ele man Gilbert. Dunne 'm what he want. He mek gret parade e' secrecy 'bout what he get wrapped in a piece e' cloth; but nese kin smell sassyfae anywheres." "Pummel" shouted Missy, and darted from the room. "Jes' hear dat!" grumbled Glory-Ann,' In jealous resentment, as she followed her te the back piazza. "Hukkem she gees utter ele man Gilbert, stidder re hiln'ln' me 'bout sassyfac." "Hewd'ye, Mlsscl-vlrcy; huh you de?" said old Gllliert, rising te bow and scrape, is she came out en the piazza. Thank you; prclty well, Gilbert. Hew de you de?" "I'm ter say tellable, bless Gawd; Missle-virey, I 'lowed ter bring a dozen alggs fur a 'membrance, but de ain't all laid ylt; an I knewed Missy wua gwan be glad e' Bome sassyfac, se I jes come 'long se." "1've plenty of eggs just new, I'm much obliged, Gilbert." "Tubbe shot" said the old man, and paused and scratched his head. Then, with a despcrate abruptness, "Missel vircy," said he, "when you hear fum Mawse Nicholas?" "About a week age,! said Miss Elvira, hesitatingly. "She ain't heerd 'bout dat cuttln' scrape; 'blcedged ter let en ef she had," old Gil bert argued te himself; then aloud, "Hit de 'pear lak Mawse Nicholas erter b'leng ter Therno Hill, Misslo-virey." "Yes, he ertcrl" Missy declared. "He's gwan en 21, Mawse Nick Is, ceme Bome day de las' e' dis month. He erter be glttcn' married." "Ne, he erten'tl" Missy objected with violence Old Gilbert was doubled up with silent laughter when the colonel came out en the piazza. The colonel was a handseme man, though past fifty, tall, erect, with clear cut features of a somewhat stern and melancholy cast. He was formal and precise in bearing, perhaps even n trifle pompous, but he could unbend oc casionally, nnd with this favorite old slave he was always disposed te be jocu lar. "Helle, Gilbert!" he said. "Any bas kets te Bell? Yeu must be getting rich?" "Dullaw, mawster! Dis pe' ole no, 'count nigger gittin' rich? I ain't sellin' nalre baskit ler-nlght, suh; I ceme ter 'qulre 'Unit Mawse Nick. En' I been a-studyln, mawster, det bcln's hew dere ain't no odd jobs In 'tickler jes' new s'pesln' I wuz ter go down ter Sunrise, en' leek atter Mawse Nick a little?" "Yeu call him an odd job, de you?" said the colonel, net witiieut bitterness. "New, mawster, you is comical, tubbe shel Hit's gwan en nigh two years eence Mawse Nick been home ter stay, en' I in gittin' ole. I hankers ter see dat boy what I mes'ly raised." "Laws-massy! Hear dat, new!" ojao ejao ojae ulatcd Glory-Ann iu the background. "Hew long de you mean te stay?" the colonel asked, net unwilling te make in direct overtures te his son. "Hit's a matter of thutty mlle en' bet ter," said old Gilbert, meditatively rub bing his forelio.nl with his horny foro fero fore flnger. "A day ter go and a day te ceme" "Suppose you go te-morrow?" the col onel suggested, with secret" strong ap proval. "Yeu can take the ex cart." "Yes, suh," replied old Gilbert, with a hesitating thought of the hollow in the weed wheie his treasure was buried. "I ha' ter start 'fe' sun-up." "Very well. I'll write you a pass. Nicholas can write you another te return with." This meant unlimited lcavoef absence. "Thankee, suh," said Gllliert, with his leWCbt llOW. Glory-Ann Immediately bought Daph Daph ne, Miss Elvira's maid, for the satisfac tion of oxprebsing her mind. "Jes' you erter hear dat succumstan tfal ele nigger clalmln' dat he raised Mawse Nicholas!" said she, In high dudgeon. "Whey wuz me, I'd lak ter knew? En' whiles I'm n-raisln' en' n mindin' of Missy, here he Is cavort In' of hlsscf 'Ixmt de ken try In de yex uynrt. When she gits crewed s'pose he'll he layln' claim ter her raisin' en' cxactln' privulliges 'cerdin'. CHAPTER III. AMBASSADOR KXTRAOItDINARY. At break of day old Gilbert set forth en his journey in the jolting little cart, drawn by a small black ex that went a plodding gait. The old man, with a view te doing Mawse Nicholas honor, wa.1 attired in his Sunday best a blue broadcloth coat with brass buttons, and a black satin vest, ence the property of Cel. Therno's father, a pair of nankeen pantaloeni, and n white hat, Btifl and tall, discarded by the colonel. He sat ujien a plank across the front of the cart, with Ids feet dangling outside. The plank was cushioned by a blanket in which was folded his every day suit of homespun. A box that held a contribu tion te Nicholas' larder, from Miss Elvira, was safely bestowed In ene corner, at the liottem of the cart, where a wallet con taining his neon refreshment lay beside a dingy umbrella, the cherished posses sion of twenty years. Uite in the afternoon, he came te an ex pante of plnu barren; vast, helcmn, Bembrc, it stretched in every direction, thurajsef thesinUngBiiu shilling faintly athwart the uiultitudineus, tall dark tlt.es, whose boughs, swaying In the up per air, maintained a continuous busurrus that emphasized the silence. Himself and his ex were the only living creatures via. ihle in this solitude, save mi occasional bird that darted abeve his head, as if in haste te cscape te a mero genial wed; -;! old GilU-rt, te keep himself in heart, jilenl ,0 bi-"K llis ''J'mns. Lifting-up his ceniit'''0 '"ado the selitude resound te a that d?;. In harmony with the sigh serfcuw iltyines; Yerk Atb(' humble, bumble, buuible, for none nt tiurabla, da bell dena tslil u lnnL ...1 . --??2S3sa. deatthucvliriX e icj neml The sun was down, and the moon met yet risen, when he came out en the ether slde of the barren, where he ceased his singing, liclng new near his Journey's end; for at the feet of the slepe was the large red gate that gave entrance te Sun rieo plantation. Old Gilbert dismounted, with seme rheumatie grunts, te open this gate. A whlppoerwill was calling in the grove through which he had te drive te the heuse; and ns he climbed back upon the cart, a screech owl uttered its uncanny cry. "Drat dat critturf the old negre mut tered, in fear and anger, as he steeped with haste te pull off his left shoe. "Hit's etch a bad sign ter hearn screech owl; but de de ssy, ef you put off ye' left shoe, ye' put oft de bad luck, Lawd, sen' no bad luck ain' gwan fall ter Mawse Nick, 'long e' dat 'sturbance what dat Jesse Furnival named ter me. Lemme clt euten dishyer greve quick cz ele Brandy kin tete we." But old Gilbert had te endure the sere nade of the screech owl yet Bome minutes longer, liefore he came te the second gate in front of the heuse of hewed legs, which was neither a cramped nor a com fortless dwelling, though It moved the scorn of the old negre fresh from the grandeur et Therno Hill. "SIch a place fur Mawse Nick!" he ejaculated con temptuously, as he halted his ex. A vociferous chorus from the dogs greeted his arrival, and Gilbert prudently kept his perch en the cart, shouting lustily, "Hellel" "Helle, yourself!" nnswered a voice through the dusk. "Dat's him, bless Glory!" the old man chueklcd, as he clambered down from the cart, while the same veice was heard silencing the dogs. Nicholas was standing en the piazza dimly outlined In the uncertain light et the new risen moon; a goodly young fol fel low, tall, bread shouldered and straight as an arrow; his great brown eyes, his curling dark hair, his straight nese and rounded cheeks, his bread forehead, and his mouth nnd chin with the silky, red brown beard of early manhood, old Gil bert knew by heart. "Hew d'ye, Mawse Nicholas! huh you de?" he shouted, with a chuckle of ex uberant delight, as he stumbled up the steps of sawn blocks. "Why, where In thunder did you come from?" cried Nicholas. "Anything the matter nt home?" " Ne, Mawsb Nick, dean you be un easy. De is all peart. Hit's jes' me, ceme fur change." "Aha I ceme n-ceurtln't" Nicholas returned with a laugh. " Can't feel me; yeu're gotten up te kill." " New, Mawse Nick I Pekln' fun at dis ele nigger t I ceme a-puppose te see you. 'Pears lak hit's se lonesome ter de Hill, deutcn you; en' Missle-virey, she sent you a box e' goodies. I'll jes' step back en' fetch cm euten de cyart." But Nicholas forbade "Here, Virgil, go bring iu these things," he commanded a negre boy who was hanging nlieut the piazza. "Hungry and tired, I reckon you are, old man?" "Ne, Mawse Nick, I ain' se hengry; but rldln' is pew'ful Btiffcnln', en' ef you please, suh, I'll jes' drap down here en de steps. Hit's a mons'teus geed sight jes' ter leek nt ye, Mawse Nick." "Well, I'm net sure but the sentiment Is reciprocated In my own personality," Nicholas responded sonorously, "Wha' dat, Mawse Nicholas?" "What I mean te say," replied Nicho las, with due gravity, "is, that the visual perception of your material essence awak ens a sensation in the cardiac region that completely eliminates any inclination te despendency." "Mawse Nicholas," said old Gllliert, in solemn admiration, "you erter go 'bout de kentry talkin' politics, you ertl You'd git 'lected ter nomethin', she' cz uhoetin', But min' new, Mawse Nick," he sudden ly interrupted himself, starting up, "dat hey erter be mighty kerf ill hew he han'les dem tings, he nieut bus' de bottom euten dat box what Missle-virey put de goodies In. En' dere's my rumlierlllal'' he ex claimed, excitedly, as Virgil staggered through the gate. "Min' hew you tete dat rumberllla, you plantation nlggerl Han'tchcrl Yeu gwan brek dem ribs, en' den what? Dishyer rumberllla is elder den jeu is, Mawse Nick," he ex plained with prlde, ns he spread it open te satisfy himself thnt it was unbroken. "Hit was ye' gran'paw gin' him ter me, en' 1'be toted hit ever you tnany'sde time, when you wuz a baby. We dean see no sich ev'ry day," he declared, shut ting the umbrella with a snap, and turn ing te caution Virgil nlieut the box. "Missy charged me te tell you dere in a sugar heart iu dat same Ikix she sent you, Mawse Nick, dot she kissed It when bIie wrapped hit up." "Dear little blstcrl" Nicholas sighed, half te himself. "Hew I wish she were nearer my own age." "Dere's Miss Flera, you knew," said Gilbert, insinuatingly. "She's gwan en 10. Gleryl Mawbe Nick, you jes' erter see Miss Flera sense she come home euten school. De w-n-y bIie can clatter de pl anner, tubbe shel En' she's ez pretty cz pink." "Red head and freckled face?" said Nicholas. "New, Mawse Nick! 'ou ter be jekin' dat way, when you knew Mis3 Flera, is get hair lak de inside e' a chincapin burr, en' her face Is lilies en' roses, en' her eyes de is stars," "00 en, pecta naaciturl" Nicholas cried gayly. "Tell you what's a fae', Mawse Nick, you erter be bcttin' up ter Miss Flera yat new." "Hum!" Baid Nicholas. "Hew many times a week de you think I could ride back and forth, these thirty miles, for her sweet sake?" Old Gilbert rubbed his forehead in deep thought befere he said; "Yeu meught straighten hit wid mawster, en' git ter be at home." "Ne. I'll be hangedl Here was I sent, and here I mean te stay until I'm invited home ngainl" Nicholas declared, almost with fierceness. "Hut you see, Mawse Nick," old Gilbert remonstrated, "folks uln' blin', en' dem what leeks at Miss Flera enct is mighty apt ter leek "gin. Dere's n let of young Kcmmen buzzin' reun' her same ez a Juny bug after a fig bush." "Did my father send you down here te preach my cousin Flera te me?"' Nicholas demanded, sharply. "Ne, Mawse Nick. I'm gwan te tell de bottom fae'. Jew' ycatiddy down by de licrry patch mu 'n' dat Jcsse Furnival swapped bome words; en' he let me knew hew you had teme 'bturbance down here ter Eden, en' hew dat low- white trash Marcus White tried ter Bteb you. I 'lowed hit wuz all a lie. Marcus White is kin ter de Furnival 1, en' w hat is de ter mix 'long e' you? But I was dat eucasy in my min', ceme dark, 1 went up ter de gret house." "And told my father?" interrupted Nicholas, angrily, starling up. "Ne, Mawbe Nick, I ain't let en ter no body; I jes' ceme new t r see fur myee'f, dat you is bafe en' been'." Nicholas was much moved; he turned away.and walked up and down the piazza several times. When at last he sat down, "Gilbert," he said, with an effort te speak lightly, "you have the teul of a gentle man. "I'm 'bleedgwl ter ye, Mawse Nick," laid the old man, getting en his feet te bow hU acknowledgments. "Yo'gran' "Ye'gran' uaw en', win iiaiv wm umuiiim) m' ''" bieugea te 'em nor. 1 ain' nuver nted mvfte'f wid no' while trsh." -..". . j ' '' 'A "... NIMinlna lATtblM at l,lm lth .. Al""'S kmlln. .ivlnrf ftlnwlv. "I'vn tnmiul rtmmm ' new leaf. I'm net going te be a bad boy y nny mero. Yeu can carry that newt ? home, If veu llke." 2', "Blesa Gawd!" ejaculated old Gilbert. '. "That affair between me and MarcM i White happened seme time age; it's all ever new, nnd my father need knew nothlng'nbeul it." "The Ler'-a-mlghty, Mawse Nlckl HM win iln trnef. den? Wav off hern an! M .. -, ,- tinnn lull: nltrper pu' Aa nliflrjifwr tjir- tb . keer en veu?" iCtfS "Oh. I was well attended te," Nicholas ,.; a.1Im.1 nltHetrnlt "ftlt tTCiintf trt til M .!' VI'lllV. W...O..W.J. B-'n -.- -imm w i steady Ufa in future; se this affair may, I as well he forgotten." &) "De Lawd be praised! Netbutwhatl - I....... ,.1 - t,' ..fttllti M ma?' chances ter have young felkses fun, if Mawse Nick." But old Gilbert had net been three; days at Sunrise plantation before he learned that it was Nicholas' InvariaWa' ; habit te ride away as seen as he hedV ";;.; eaten his 0 e clock supper, and It was .jrf nlways late before lie returned. ' n "Dat boy de tee much prewlin' by " nhrht." tin old man crumbled. "MawM .' J Nick erter bu home lly in' reun' Miss Flera, Vsj en' me erter be home mindin' my own 4$ r -ma. lint I re Veered da ber k rfs mtxeNpJ-.yld tt bad crowd I'm 'bleeged jfi ter stayv ar(re''ln tek my observation." ift'-j Andlnorderte "jjinsoDservauene,' nil! mlluirf linil In rnnfr' A n tllen..-. "I dunne whey Mawsoreck kin bja gwine se stiddy," he argued, "bedeutea a mt s uai piace ue cans ricn, wnai am -i; 3 irieu uese Berne years icr no a wwu. , n ste' en' n meetln' house, en' a han'fnl rfi'j little ennaluted dwellln's, sich ez meuM ii j suit de Furnlvals. I getter git Mawat KICK giuiuiu me n pan ler eaiuij. jrew- -a linine- fe1 hlta will me in case e' need." . - ntiinillieri.ilrn-v frnm hisnecket alena .V, black plug of "tobacco, which he looked S at affectionately. "Hits wutnaiie- two - I. It. XI... . .1.1 ,-n.l Inl.n.l. HKllf 4lnlMB '' lilir, uunum, ..II.. r,.h..t,., uu. uw...Ba (.j, is a chu'eh member In full standin', en' I ain' gwan tell no He, lessen eatan gil J$ me." ,7 He laid aside the harness he was patch- Ing, and went out into the grove, where, nfter assurine himself that there waa M Sk 1,1,1 A U1UIIKI1, ww ji, w. w.wa.mi., w m .; jv ene te see him, he shut his eyes, whirled h 1 .1.1 .. 1 HMn, ft ka seM fM l.'-J lit) WUIU BUIIU It. "n 1 we - nlntii rtllt T If Itt V fill fUMM tT atO 4sttvkV Eden. Hit's my lieunden duty ter loei A vm atter dat hey." &i liiu piisn wiw rvuuiij giiivu, msw 4 while yet the sun was high in the eky 0111 uiuicrc set ienu, aivireu 10 iu biwij-, with the shadow of the cherished wav'.-S brcl a ever him. V "Hit's two hours be sun. Mawie Nick.' ... ";".."". ... " ' j .1.- -I. : .feP no nam ciieeruy, us no )hmscu hid yunj, V)--,,.. t i.t ....... t.n.HA i.w Ja Ilw1f a1 Am? I'll 1 Kill VUJIU IIVJIUO lJ 0 S.MW w -mmrc- moon. I'se treed tee many 'possums cat ? Ntnlinlna InilP hpd tn himself with tha , ' -; unspoken thought, "I verily believe aHl- ' tlie old cnap wnnieu was a cuance raenn n that umbrella." O i It was two miles te Eden, ana en:'. Gilbert, as he trudged along, had no mera idea than n child hew he should proceed $1 in order te learn the secret of hia yoeM-L- master's nightly rides, but with aflrmbJff j lief In the righteousness of hie unday$&j J takine. he honed for tne guidance Of aafe ', snccial nrovidence. ' ? "Maybe I ain' gwan On' out nethtafJi but I gwan te de my besyne eaia wjji,' himself. "Hperrctca young gemmene trnM my Mawse Nick Hs sartln she' ter fei talked about, en' I meught hear sesaa- iiung, un i ineugnii gii sign u uMr, black hawse e' hls'n." Jf He readily found the one store whaw the scant retail trade of the place' WM3- transacted and entered with hie MM W-t his hand. ' "W The storekeeper, a tall, lanlr, mBtm,?& ulneii shouldered man with IetMC haitv f ..! n l.nnnv lutlir.l if fUnW llllll. MAftLA, u..u....i...j ..... -e, "--" J!, ever the counter, ana eying eia unnerve .t . . .... ..i.l Tn- .-.t..i ffH."- Iirass uuueiih wiui a biiuic, icuhhui, jkk. "IOU uiusv uv vuuiw Hum w V? tropeiisr NSfc, "I'se fum Tallahassee, BUh," said OU !rt, dolling his hat. "Cel. Thant,i: bcrt, man Gilbert, come ever ter de Suariet slnnfntlnn An' lint-A ITIV tlftJU. Mltl." r " X. ''"I "Anything you'll haver' said tha tctf keener, glunclng at the paper and bm&-''. Ing it back. isS? "Twe bits wuth of terbacker. yett-'M:-' please, suh," old Gilbert made anewer, . producing an ancient leathern puree.1 "Ye' town's a-grewfif, suiif ne saia, UKgy gratlatingly. ,M "Hlewiy, siewiy, was me tunwrnr. fi "We 11 have a rallreau te tne moon amis ;y v the year 1000." Un This jnke was beyond old Gilbert'! comprehension; but the little crowd loaf leaf ing around set Up a perfunctery about, for the storekeeper was the local wit. The talk that followed had no bearing whatever upon the affairs of Nicholas Theme, and Gilbert went out and sat en LlheBteivi a little disheartened, ue had fancied that evcry ene weuiu ee amine of his young master, but Therne Hill was Binallcr than old Gilbert dreamed, and even this Insignificant world of Eden turned upon a pivot of its own. As tliedusk deepened, and lights began te show in the windows of tuftf1 houses. C"Lzii i ipse nnd-eCFsy the leaelv and desertiS! street; for night came early te these primitive folk, who were new nt their evening meal. "Call dishyer Eden?" he muttered, In deepest ncern. "Better nnme hltChaney lierry. Nuver seed sich a many Chaney berry trees in all my time. En' de ain geed ter eat, nuther. Ef hit wuz Talla hassee new, ninny's de kitchen whey I neught git invited." He wendeied en aimlessly te the end of the straggling ftreet, where a house, guiltlesi of paint, llke nil the ethers, loomed up in the dusk, isolated, upon the edge of an old Held. A prey te homesickness a suffering unknown In his experience hitherto old Gilbert sat h'm down en the stump of a neble oak that had been felled te make room for the overrated China tree. "Wish I wuz back ter Therno Hillhe sighed. "Sich a supper ez I could eatl What straits you is brung dis pe' ole no 'count nigger ter 'Bperlunce, Mawse Nickt I gwan tell you 'bout dis when you en' Miss Flera gits married." But the clatter of a horse's hoofs pres ently created a diversion in his thoughts and made him forget the pangs of hunger. It was Nicholas, who rede up te the gate In front of the lene house, dismount ed and hitched his horse. Continued next Saturday SPOKES FROM THE WHEEL. Richard Hewell, the great English pro fessional bicyclist, who is as ponderous in stature as ha is In racing, has been matched against A. H. Rebh for 1500, te ride one mile liefore June 14. Each man will ride by himself and be timed by the referee, and the rider doing the festet ttma te receive the stakes. Rehb holds the ene mile pro fessional record for an ordinary wheel, 'J min. S-1 4-A bee Hewell weighs 193 peu DtU iu racing trim, and he rides a nine teen pound wheel. The reappearance in racing of Willie Wiuille, the great bicyclM who was dls nuulifled lint year by the League of Ameri can Whi- iiuen for IwiiiK in the pay of a blcycle hoiiie.bliews that his enforced idle ness has net lutc.-fered materially with his peed, llu wen the two mlle handicap rute til the recent Berkeley games from scratch in 6 min. 47 4-0 sec, j j .; A-. k f
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