The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-04-05

h.i accused him unjultly Of trahpiin-
down t1s tnlipz IN he rnrdsns ard h,i
taken The word d : little ncrro how
who was really the guilty party. in prcf-
ercnce % his own. The race prejudice
between the poor whites and negroes az
the south is thing Of wonderful
strength, their mutual contempt Inn
mense: and to have negro believed b.
fore him. and that. too, when he was
speaking the truth and the negro was
lying. was an insult that was likely to
| live and rankle.
The grudge was added to by little
scene which occurred about two weeks
after Anthonyis introduction to Mrs.
Beverley. He had called several times
and had established quite an intimacy
with the boys. having some fondness for
children and decided partially for
those OF his own sex. Miss Corneiia had
been absent or otherwise engaged at the
time OF his visits; 50 that the pair had
never met since the tulip episode. so
fresh In the memory Of the one, 50 com
| pletely obliterated from that Of the
other.
They had all como out for 4 walk
Mary, the boys and Miss Cornelia. A
splendid dam OF sticks and stones and
mud had been constructed across the
creek In the ravine which separated the
| two portions Of the estate, and the little
engineers. wild over their first success.
had scampered to the house to entreat
their mother to come ont and inspect il.
In the hall they were joined by Miss
Cornelia. whom the children in their
glee invited to accompany them. II was
Hector that preferred the invitation,
and as he was the old lady's favorite she
readily consented.
The party proceeded on their way
pleasantly, little Hector helping his
aunt over all the rough places, as his
mother had taught him. At the pond
made by the damned upstream they
were joined by Anthony, who had seen
them from his window as they left the
yard
Mary introduced him to her aunt, who
had heard Of his wealth and was prepos-
sessed by his appearance and therefore
disposed to be gracious to him. She
even gave him her delicate old hand
TO shake. although the nod and the slight
motion Of the hand toward the hat with
which he had acknowledged the intro
duction was not the mode Of salutation
70 which she had been accustomed. She
talked to him also and made herself
pleasant, In spite Of his careless replies
and the fact that he addressed most OF
his remarks to Mary and the boys.
1.-THE old girls broken all to pieces"
was Anthonys inward comment. .sShe
used to be good looking woman, re-
member. but I'll DO damned II she's good
looking now; her nose Is regular par
rot's beak. wonder II she thinks I'm
fool enough to bother myself doing the
civil to an old squaw like her when there
IS metal more attractive at my elbow.
don't pan sorry grit when / can get pay
ing rock"
He made himself agreeable to the chill
dren. however, showed them how to
strengthen their structure, promised to
bring Ratchet and some bits Of plank
the next day, and help them to secure 1t
against all possibility Of the waters
washing 1t away, and finally suggested
getting Q bucket of carp for them to
stock the little pond.
They assembled the side Of the ravine
by path good deal higher up the
creek than the one they had used in
coming down, Mrs. Beverley walking
first, with Anthony close beside her, and
feeling tribe annoyed because Of his
neglect of the proper observances and
the knowledge she had that Miss Cor
nelia was being sighted and most prob
ably growing resentfuL Had she been
sure of the man beside her she would
have hidden him remain behind and
help her aunt; but she was not sure Of
him.
As likely as not he would have de-
clared that the old lady was as well able
to mount the slope unassisted as any Of
them which would have been the
truth. since Miss Cornelia was hale
and singularly healthy woman for her
age, In spite of the complaints she con-
tinually made Of untold suffering from |
maladies, and her assump- |
ton, upon occasion, Of the airs Of In |
validism. Or, If he should do her be- |
hest, it might be in fashion that would |
matters further. Mary was
afraid to take the risk, and walked on
grayely, scarcely answering him by
more than monosyllables, which, how
ever, proved in no way disconcerting, for
Anthony was full Of the new house he |
was about to build. and quite willing to
do the talking.
half way up the side Of the slope
branch from one Of the trees had fallen
across the path, obstructing it little.
Most men would have kicked il aside, or
else have rendered some assistance
Anthony did neither, from the simple
fact that neither occurred to him. He
stepped over the branch and went on
talking, letting Mary step over 1t as he
did. A few steps further ON Mary
turned instinctively to see that her little
boys performed their devoir, and An
thony turned with her. Ran had laid
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