The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-23


count of that Frenebman you might talk to
her; she'd listen to you because she'd know
you only did 1t out of business reasons.
And they're really business reasons, you
know l suppose you don't think
much Of my business capacity. colonel.
and you wouldn't 90 much on my
Reree longer tbsn soS snd hs t his
voice slightly and dragged his char nearer
CORTLAND, 81 don't like the looks OF things
here. There's some devllment plotting
among those rascals. They're only waiting
an opportunity. A single flash would be
enough to set them in a blaze, even if the
sparks in bale of cotton. I'd cut the whole
thing and clear out if didn't think it would
make it barber for Miss Dows. who would
be left alone"
You're a good fellow. Champney," said
CORTLAND. laying his hand on the young
mans shoulder with sudden impulse,
land | forgive you for overlooking the fact
that | could help chem. Indeed, he added.
with an odd seriousness and hall sign,
tits not strange that You should. But
must remind you that the BOWS are strictly
the agents and tenants of the company l
represent and that their rights and prop
erty under that tenancy shall not be inter-
feTed with by others as long as am here.
l lave o right. however" he added grave
~, to keep Miss BOWS from imperiling
them by her social relations.
Champney rose and shook hands with
him awkwardly. 1.-The shower seems to be
holding up" lie said, "and I'll toddle along
before il starts afresh. Good night! | say
you didn't mind my coming to you this
way, did you? BY Jove l thought you
were little stand-offish at first. But you
know what | meantp'
Perfectly. and l thank you" They
shook hands again Champney stepped from
the portico. and. reaching the gate, seemed
10 vanish and become part of the dark
ness.
The storm was not yet over; the air had
again become close and suff0cating. Court
land remained breeding IN his chair.
Whether he could accept Champney's nows
as true or not, he felt that he must end this
suspense at once. A half-guilty conscious
ness that he was thinking more of 1t in ref
eTence 10 his own passion than his duty to
the company did not render his meditations
less unpleasant Yet while he could not
reconcile Miss Sally'S condolences In the
cemetery In regard to the indifference OF her
people to Champney's attentions, with what
Chsmpney had just told him of the reasons
she had given him for declining them | am
afraid he was not panied by her peculiar
ethics. A lover seldom finds fault with his
mistress for deceiying his rival, and 10 as
little apt to consider the logical deduction
that she could deceive him also, as Othello
was 10 accept Brabantio's warning. The
masculine sense of honor which would
have resented The friendship of man eapa-
Die of such treachery does not hesitate in
accepting the love of woman under the
same conditions. Perhaps there is an i'm
piled compliment in thus allowing her TO
take the sole ethical responsibility, which
few women can resist
In the midst of this gloomy abstraction
CORTLAND suddenly raised his head and
listened.
."Cato."
Yes, sah."
There was a sound Of heavy footsteps in
the hall coming from the rear OF the house.
and presently a darker bulk appeared in
the Swallowed doorway. 1t was his prin-
cipal overseer-a strong and superior negro,
selected by his felow-freedmen from among
their number in accordance with Court
lands new regime.
ibid you come here from the plantation
or the town?"
"The town, sah."
81 think you had better keep out of the
town 10 the evenings for the present."
said CourtlaDd In a tone OF quiet but POSI-
tive authority.
Are dey goin' 10 bring back de ole pat
ter-rOllers', (d) sab ?" asked the man with
slight sheer
"a l. e.. the patron local police. who formerly
had the surveillance Of slaves
81 don't know" returned CORTLAND.
quietly. ignoring his ovepeer's manner.
but if they did you must comply with the
local regulations, unless they conflict with
the Federal laws, when you must appeal
to the Federal authorities. / prefer you
should avoid any trouble until you are
sure"
u reckon dey won't try any games on
CORTLAND looked at him intently.
l thought as muchl You're carrying
arms. CatOl Hand them over"
Ia Iuef Cd md
then unstrapped revolver from his belt
and handed it to Courtland.
Now, how many Of you are In the habit
of going round the town armed like this?"
only the men who'ye been insulted.
sab"
And how have you been insulted ?"
"MarSe Tom Higbee down in de market
reckoned il was high time fancy niggers was
drov' into de swamp, and l allowed that
loafers and beggars had better roost high
when workin' folks was around, and Marse
Tom said he'd cut my h'aht out"
"And do you think your carrying q re-
volver will prevent him and his friends per-
forming that operation If you provoked
them?"
You said it was to perfect ourseffs.
sah," returned the negro gloomily. What
fob den did you drill us to use dem rifles in
de srmory?"
$50 defend yourselves together if at
tackled. not to singly threaten with them in
q street row. Together you would stand
some chance against those men; separately
they could eat you up, Cato"
Il wouldn't trust too much to some Of
dem niggers standing together, sab" said
Cato darky. 'Dey'd run before de old
masters-if dey didn't run to 'em. ShuahV
A fear of this kind had crossed Court
lands mind before, but he made no present
comment 81 found two of the armory
rifles In the mems cabins yesterday" he re-
hot
again. They must not be taken from the
armery except TO defend II"
Yes, sah."
There was a moment of silence. Then 1t
was broken by a sudden gust that swept
through the columns of the portico, stirring
tue vines. The broad leaves of the ailantus
began to rustic; an ominous paltering fol-
lowed: the rain had recommended. And,
as CORTLAND rose and walked toward the
open window. its blank panes and the int
riOr of the Office was Illuminated by CLEAN
Of returning lightning.
He entered the Office. bidding Cato follow
and lit the lamp above his desk. The negro
remained standing gloomily but respectfully
by the window.
Cato. do you know anything of Mr.. Du-
mont-Miss DAVIS eousin?"
The negro's white teeth suddenly flashed
In the lamplight. "Yal hal reckon, sah."
Then he's q great friend of your peo-
ple?"
II don't know about dat, SAIL But he's
pow'ful enemy of the Reeds and de Hig-
beesw
"0n account of his views. of course"
Deed no." said Cato with an astonished
air Jess on account Of dc vendetta~
"rhe vsndettaY'
Eyes. sab. De old blood que'll OF lie fami-
lies. It's been goin' on over fifty years,
sab. De graDfader. fader and brudder OF de
Higbees was killed by de granfader. fader
aud brudder of de Do0monts. De Reeds
clipped in when all de Higbees was played
out. TO- dey was relations, but dey was
chewed up by some Of de Dowses, first
cousins TO de Doomonts."
What? are the Dows in this vendetta?'
mo. sab; no mo-. Dey's bin DO man in
de family since Miss Sally's fader died
OATS let de Bows out fo'ever. De lac
shootin' was done by Marse George Doo-
mont, who crippled Marse Tom Higbec's
brudder 30, and den skipped to Europe.
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