Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-28
CHAPTER KY

CHAPTER XIV.
 Black Mammy was wrathful over Dare's going away.
 Pears ter me lik' marster done clean lose he min, hit do, now, tell ye, '' she said to Suse All de darter he eber had went erway i'm here rosy as de flowers an come back dead. Ye'd think now, wouldn' ye, he'd member dat an not let dis we're DO chile go rushin off ter 'struc- tion wid her aunt lik' DO Miss Margaret done. 1 ain't got not no consait CT dat Miss Townley nohow. Look lik' ter me she's made outen poplar bark an yaller dirt, so stringy she is, an all off de same piece, skin an ha r an eyes. Sides, i'm de looks CT dat dar ca 'idge an dem mules, dey mus be poly bad off fer money dar at her house, Exeter, dough I members twas CT fine place when young marster married is wife dar She didn' live wid 'er sister, but de TOwnleys wanted ter make CT splurgc over de wcddin. Metty proud dec wus ter git mixed up wid de OvcrtOns; but. shO's you's black, Dare better had staid at Ridgeley. I'm 'ston ished at marster. Dat oman ont do ter tie to-
 Dare had no such misgivings. Indeed it was the eager delight ill her eyes that had overbornc at the last her grandfa ther's scrupleS, his distrust of this so long neglectful aunt Then, too, Mrs. Townley's thrust had weight. Sure as Major Overton was of himself, it had reused deep down ill his consciousness a question as to whether he, who was so nearly through the burden and battle of life, had tho right by thus thrusting aside either surrender or compromise to make poverty the portion of his one grandchild Truly the claim had wasted his substance, drained his purse as it had his life. He had parted with every thing save a life interest ill Ridgeley. If he should die tomorrow, Dare would be homeless, pcnniless, except for the few hundreds her mother had brought, and which remained to her child. Somehow the old man had thought but little here toforc of the girls future. Indeed, wrap ped ill this legal coil, he had hardly noted her growing mp or his own whiten ing hair.
 It had come as q shock to him to find her a woman loved, asked in marriage of his enemy and showing that she knew what was due her race. He could not think of that day without glow at the heart. She had shown his spirit no less than his blood, this unregarded, unwel- come child, and he began to love her, to think pitifully forward as to what must be her portion.
 If she could marry, marry as became her station, not just yet, of course, but ill two or three years To do that she must know somewhat of the ways, the lives of other women of the big world outside that never came near her home She might go with her aunt for a little space Later he would take her to the capital, where it was likely he would need to spend q large part of the winter, and where a few faithful friends would make her welcome for his sake
 So, by the workings of most diverse causes, Dare was domiciled at Exeter, there to stay for the next three months. Though the outside was picture of weather beaten desolation, the inside seemed to Dare's home bred eye fine enough for a palace for the big square drawing room was hung with silk, and all the floors were laid with thick Per sian carpets i'll dull delicious hues Faded damaSk, silk lined, hung at the win dows over carefully nended lace draper ies, all and several mementos of the re- furbiShing wherowith EtOn Townley had made ready for his bride.
 Most of the rooms overran with heavy carved mahogany, but Dare's especial domain was free of its gloomy splendor. It was cool and white and dainty, with a bare polished floor and smother of fresh dimity over cverything-in fact. so nearly the counterpart of her owp room at Ridgeley that she felt at once at homo.
 She nodded pcrtly to her image in the odd little swinging mirror, saying, with head aside and uplifted finger:
 Miss Ovcrton, you must mind youl p's and as. If you disgrace your Aunt Mel, you'll be sent home tomorrow, and you know you want to see a heap more of this place. You look well enough that blue lawn is becoming. It would be quite more so if your face wasn't sc much less white than the throat it shows It's a pity you haven't got ribbon and lockct even, but be content with the roses for your hair and you1 J beyond you"
 A tap at the door was followed by Mrs. Townley's entrance, with rather an anxious brow.
 , 'I wondered whom you could be talk. ing to. heard you outside, D she said, with clearing countenance, going up to the smiling young figure that fronted her so full of eager pleasure.
 ''Oh, just to myselfl must talk some times, you see, and as had nobody but nanny and Suse got in a way of tell ing myself what could not tell any body else," Dare said, deftly encompass. ing white rose with clustered gerani. um leaves and setting it to show against her white skin.
 Mrs Townley looked her critically over and asked:
 ''Dare, who taught you to dress?"
 "The flowers, if I know how," Dare smiled. Really, Aunt Mel, do I look nice? I tried not to make you ashamed of me"
 "You have succeeded, " Mrs. Townley said sententiously, land am glad, fol we shall have distinguished stranger to sup with us, maybe to stay several days"
 "TndeedI Who is it, man or woman?'' Dare asked, her hands above her head, settling in place a refractory curl.
 Mrs. Townley half turned away as she answered:
 ''An English gentleman, one who will have special interest for you, since he is the leader of the men who are try ing so hard to buy what nobody seems to be able to sell-0 0verton's claim