Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-03-16

for love of our ugly name. The idea is
fanciful, and don't consider it orthodox:
but it's pretty and like it. Miss Poca-
hontas the ninth, you and / must walk
with circumspection, not to grieve the
good ladies mp above who are kind
enough to take such interest in Us"
Pocahoutas Knocked at Cruces idea,
but it pleased her all the same. and un-
consciously it influenced hcr more than
she knew. She loved the legends of her
house, delighted in the fact of descent
from brave men and true women. The
past held her more than is common with
the young people of the present day, and
she sought out and treasured all the rec
ords Of the six women who had borne
her name, from the swarthy Indian
princess down to the gentle, gray haired
lady who held the place Of honor at the
Lanarth breakfast table.
Princess" said Mrs. Mason, as she
distributed the sugar and cream, 81
wish you'd ring the bell. Rachel must
have breakfast ready by this time. and
hear Berkeley's step outside"
Princess rang the bell quite meekly.
The pet sobriquet was in as familiar use
among them as her real name, but her
touch on the bell did not suggest the
imperiousness of royalty. Aunt Rachel
was an old family servant, faithful, fat
and important, and Aunt Rachel hated
to be hurried. She said sit pestered
her, an made her spile the vittles." She
answered promptly this time, however,
entering with the great waiter of hot
and tasty dishes before the bell had
ceased its faint Naturalization. Berke-
ley, a tall fair man, whose right sleeve
was fastened against his breast, entered
also.
''I saw Jim Byrd this morning." he
remarked as he seated himself after the
customary greeting to his mother and
sister. "He called here on his way over
to Roy Garnett's, where he was going to
bid goodby. asked him in to breakfast,
but he couldn't stop; said he had prom
ised Grace to take breakfast with them.
He has to make farewell tour, for old
friends feelings will be hurt. It's rather
awful and hard on Jim, but he couldn't
bear the thought Of the neighbors feel
ing slighted. l suggested a barbecue and
a stump speech and bow, but the idea
didn't seem to appeal to Jim. Poor old
fellowr'
Couldn't he contrive to hold Shirley,
Berke?' questioned Mrs. Mason as she
passed his cup. "He had retained pos.
session so long there must have been
some way to hold it altogether"
mo; the thing was impossible re,
piled Berkeley; "the plantation was
mortgaged to the hub before Jim was
born. The 3yrds have been extravaganza
for generations and a crash was inevita
BILE. Old Mr.. Byrd could barely meet
the interest even before the loss of Cousin
Mary's money. During the last years Of
his life some of it was added to the prin
cipal, which made it harder work fol
Jim. But for Jim's management, anC
the fact that the creditors all stood like
row Of blocks in which the fall Of one
would inevitably touch off the whole
line, things would have gone to smasl
long ago. Each man was afraid to move
in the matter, lest by so doing he should
invite his own creditors to come dow
on him. Until lately they haven't both
cred Jim much outside of wringing al
the interest out of him they could get
| While his sisters were single he wa
obliged to keep home together TO
them, you know. Nina's marriage las
spring removed that responsibility, ant
| reckon it's relief to Jim to relinQuisl
the struggle"
what pity old Mr.. Byrd per
suaded Mary to sell out her bonds ant
invest the money in tobacco during tn
war;" observed Mrs. Mason, regretfully
cit would have been something for IT,
children if she had kept the bonds.
was too bad that those great warehouses
full Of tobacco, belonging to the Bryd
and Masons were burned in Richmon
at the evacuation. Charlie Mason pei
suaded Mr.. Byrd into that speculation
and although Charlie is my own cousi
and Mary's brother, must admit tina
ne did wrong. Your father always dis
Approved of the sale Of those bonds"
Tho speculation was a good one, anC
would have paid Splendidly had events
arranged themselves differently; even a
the worst no one could forsee the burn
ing Of Richmond. Cousin Mary's none!
couldn't have freed Shirley, but if thing
had gone well with the venture, tina
tobacco would have done so and left
handsome surplus. Charlie Mason is
man of fine judgment, and that he failet
that time was through no fault of his
It was the fortunes of war"
Mrs. Mason sighed and dropped tn
subject. She was unconvinced, and con
tinued to feel regret that Mr.. Byrd ha
been allowed to work his speculativ
will with his wife's little patrimony.
would have been a serviceable nest eg
for the children and a help to Jim i
his long struggle. All of her life sh
had been accustomed to seeing husband
assume full control of their wives prof.
erty, using it as their own, and she ha
taken little thought Of the equities Of til
matter. To her it appeared natural tbs
wife's surrender to her husband shoul
embrace things financial as well &
things less material, but in this case sh
had always felt it trife hard. 1t woul
have been such a pleasant thing for Jill
to have had some money and been abb
| 49, ho1d El,;rIaHy