Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-27

pose. They are old family servants, and
we have supported them always. Their
children are dead; and they have no one
else to look to for assistance, and no.
where else to CO."
Anthony wkistled. "Thats all done
AWAY with" he said, "and mighty good
thing for the land owners, too. Every
tub stands on its own bottom now. They
are as free as anybody, and ought to
look out for themselves. You amt
bound to support them any longer. AS
to a place to 90, there's the poor house,
il they can't do any better. We all pay
taxes to support that, and 1t would be
unreasonable to expect US to support
the paupers Of the community outside,
too"
Mary knew that the feudal feeling,
the sense OF mutual dependence,
which had been so strong a tie between
her own class and their humble retain
ers, in the nature Of things was non-ex-
istent in his class, and possibly beyond
mis- comprehension. She cast about In
her mind how to make him understand
without reminding him ungenerously OF
their difference of caste.
"These old people are singularly des-
titute of friends among their own race
on whom they have a claim for sup
port.~ she explained. "As l told you
lust a moment ago, the children are
dead and their grandchildren have
shaken them off and moved away. They
are very old and much attached to their
home. They would't be comfortable at
the poorhouse.
"Oh, yes, they would" he contra
dicted, understanding her to mean In
the material sense. you're nightly
mistaken about that. The paupers are
well treated by the county; they have
good accommodations and clothing and
tirewood provided, and hardly any work
10 do. | rode over there myself the
other day to tell the .overseer to send a
wagon for old Patrick and to make ar
rangementS about them. / don't like
niggers; l never did. But I'm not a
brute either, and if hadn't seen with
my own eyes that the darkies were
comfortable and cared for, l wouldn't
have moved them"
ut isn't that" said Mary impatient
ly; ''it's the feeling they have about it.
They would die if they were sent TO the
poorhouse. 1t is their pride, the degra-
datiOn Of being considered pauperS, the
ignomiDy Of being on the county. Can't
you understand? It's the feeling that
made Dickens old woman run away
frcm everybody and die on the road
side rather than be taken TO the work
house."
But Anthony had never read line OF
Dickens in his life, and the parallel
which Mrs. Beverley had cleverly drawn
from his own class was utterly thrown
away upon him. What struck him was
the absurdity OF suppoSing negroes cap
able Of feelings and aspirations other
than those relating to physical comfort,
of imagining that they cared for any
thing outside of being warmed and
housed and fed without undue exertion.
This idea of hers appeared to him so
humorous that he threw back his head
and laughed uproariously.
Mary felt as though she could have
struck him.
"Well, WELL" he said, as soon as he
had got the better Of his mirth, you are
verdant, il you'll excuse me for saying
so, Mrs. Beverly. To think of the cum
ming old beggar taking you in like that,
and OF your believing him! He lied like
a thief all around. What he wanted
was TO stay in my house, and when he
found he couldn't do that, to spite me
by not falling in with my arrangements
for him. It's a shame that you should
be the victim, though, and I'll just let
my gentleman see that he can't get
ahead of me like that. I'll have the
overSeer OF the poor here after him in
side Of week"
Mrs. Beverley's eyes bIazed. "You
will do nothing Of the kind" she said
shortly. "You are taking a very great
liberty in interfering in my affairs in
this way. Those old people were brought
here by my orders and Of my own free
will, and here they shall remain. They
have lived on this plantation for up
ward of eighty years, and they shall die
on it. They worked for the Beverleys
in their youth, and the Bevcrleys profit
ed by their labor; now in their age they
look to the Beverleys for protection and
support, and their trust shall not be be-
trayed."
Anthony stared at her, light Of adj
miration beginning to glow in his eyes.
He enjoyed seeing a woman "tire up"
as he expressed it, and anger had given
To Mrs. Beverley's face beauty il did
not ordinarily poSsess-a beauty of
flashing eyes and scarlet cheeks, a beau
ty Of light and color. such as the man
opposite her could keenly appre-
ciate. Never had she looked so attrac
tive in his eyes as at this moment when
he was appearing utterly odious in hers.
He dropped his lids according TO his
custom and watched her color slowly
fade. 1t was a pity it should go, il was
so pretty. He felt suddenly certain
that he loved her, and that he wanted
her for his wife. When that should come
about-for even at this early stage he
admitted no possibility OF failure-she
should have her way in all things;
should support regiment OF paupers
If she liked, and believe all their lies if
il pleased her. He would build bar
racks for them and issue rations, or any
other toomfoOlery that she
might wish. He could stand it,
and such woman as this
was welcome to throw his money about
with both hands. IL was shame for
her to be imposed on now, as be still
felt confident these old negroes were
imposing on her; after awhile, when
she had a pocketoook at her back and
some one to keep it phethoric, it would
make no difference.
What he said was: you'll never
make buckle and tongue meet, il you
let people ride over you this way. What
you need is somebody to look after you
who has got the right and the means to