The record-union., 1894-12-01

until my face tingled with shame at the


endless garrulouS condolences.
There were two shadows thrown ath-
wart his sunny gatherings, two disclOS-
ures which, IN my location, where the
slightest hint or incident must be taken
into fullest account, at the time, filled me
with most unpleasant forebUdings.
L gathered that young Master 'Rastus,
who had. brought the package to Con-
verify Pines from the station, had been
something of a sad rake. Only within the
year had his course warranted his friends
In hoping that the heir to Converly Pines
would prove fitting success TO his proud
and chivalrous father. From the mo-
ment 1t was known that the package had
been rlfied, sadness, such as had never
been seen at Converly Pines, had come
into its owners kindly face. From that
moment, too, the son, recognizing this
silent distrust, had scarcely spoken to an
inmate OF the mansion.
Another matter revealed by Uncle
Ephe worried me unaccountably. The
young woman, Clara Braithwaite, now q
guest at Converly Pines, while a great
tavorite with the whites, had secured the
deepest enmity of all the house servants
and the hundreds of other blacks on the
plantation.
Uncle Ephe's account of the matter was
brief, f,eXpIIcit and bitter with Indignation.
Ill luck had come to ConVerly Pines
from the moment Clara Braithwaite had
arrived, Some of the hounds had sick
ened and died. The young tobacco crop
was giving them all more trouble than
in any previous year. 4 favOrite tilly
had broken Its leg when taking wall
that any picaninny on the plantation
could have leaped. Then the robbery of
the money package had come to light.
And, finally, as Uncle Epe related, with
almost vengetul Indignation:
''Dis POI New Yawk white trash done
1x@y .,lx
us colOred folk wiv takin' 'em. Hoop
cackled Uncle Ephe with inet1able scorn,
''ef dat particular no count white gal
want Miss kate's fren', fore de LaWd;
she'd git inter a collusion wiv my OF
woman, fore she'd gwine on diser way
long. Why, sence dater hoodoo New
Iawk gal come, de birds done quit sing
in at Converly Pines"
After what L learned from Uncle Ephe,
l am sure my own must have been the
saddest heart at Converly Pines as, after
being welcomed by Colonel Converly, L
was brought TO the supper table and pre-
sented TO the different members of the
family and TO their fair guest.
There was an invalid mother, smiling
tenderly through her pain; father sad
dened, as Uncle Ephe had truly said, but
still, true TO the grand hospitality of the
South, bravely relieving the stranger by
every artince of genlatlty from the keen
embarrassment OF his hateful position;
son, grave and courteous, but moody and
silent; and two of the most winsome
young women l have ever yet seen to-
gether in all my life.
Their beauty was almost startling;
their grace and vivacity were like glad
dening light in somber places; and their
affection Tor each other was apparently
of that perfect innocence and trust which
bestows on beauty two-fOld loVeiness.
One brought face to face with such con-
ditions judges quickly.
l saw IN Kate COnverly that poetic type
of Southern woman which no poet has
yet fifty sung; which no painter has so
tar truly revealed; which no novelist has
ever been able TO fully interpret; a woman
brave and strong as good man, exquisite
as Greek model in symmetry OF form,
innocent and loving as happy child, and
yet, shining through and from it all, was
that indehnable, ineXpressible glory Of
frank, free, self-poised womanhood.
Her friend and companion W as prod
uct of tenser moods and ways, supple
and 1.-the and all alight from the glowing
friction OF the schools, the cities, and the
travelled routes OF seeing and thinking;
gay, brilliant and line; but toned and
mellowed by inherent goodness, 1t seemed
TO me- which had lett a good woman's
soul shining out of clear and flashing
windows; or, STILL tempered by the
sweetness and innocence of her present
environment to the graces and tones
which strangely thrill
We were at last lingering over our
coffee in a most genial mood, and l was
determined that no reference to my mis-
sion should mar the tender spell, when a
casual reference by Miss Kate to some
clever prank of Henry Brice. impulsively
brought his note to her from my pocket.
She read IL quickly, broke into merry
laughter, gave the sheet an impeCuous
little kiss and tossed the note to her
father with.
"Just like Harry, dear fellow"
From that instant, for time at least, 1
was jealous of my old college friend.
'Ye es," said the Colonel with Il sigh,
"Harry telegraphed me when the pack
age left Atlanta and when it would ar
rive at South Converly." Then after
slight pause: I'VE thought it best not to
leave it there over night, and my son,
here, rode over and found it there but a
few hours after 1T arrived. Suppose we
let you now know all that we know about
the matter, MIR. Euston?"
felt myself the culprit in this fine old
Southern home, but answered him that L
would be glad to have the facts, if 1t were
their pleasure.
My son, will you begin?" asked the
father after painfnl silence.
''Hes, SIR" was the firm response
"Mr. Euston, my father directed me to
90 to the station and get this miserable
money; this miserable money!" he re-
repeated enphatically. 81 went on horse
back. / took the package from the agent
and receipted for it without leaving my
saddle. l returned home, dismounting
but once-at an old Scotchman's, about
eight miles from the Pines. 1 remained
at his house perhaps fifteen minutes. He
is i'll and in trouble. Then L came di-
rectly home. Sister Kate took the pack
age from my hands to father. That is my
entire knowledge of the matter; save that
L was present here at this table when
the package was opened and the money
counted"
saw that Miss Kate was eager to speak,
but asked her brother:
Ibid you notice the condition of the
seals?"
Il did not"
From Carrollton to Converly Pines 1
had not been able to secure the certain
recollection OF any other person on this
most important phase of the matter.
You see, Mir. Euston," began Kate
! Converly, Il had just come from the
stables where one of our very dearest
horses was suffering from an accident.
saw my brother riding up from the high
way, and as he passed me | took the pack
age from his hand. l went straight to
fathers office, where l had seen him a
few moments before in company with "a
neighbor. Not finding father, L laid the
package on his desk, aud began search
ing for him. Meantime, Miss Clara,
here" and her arm encircled her friend
lovingly, was looking tor me. She came
from the library into the office"
"Ye Yes," Interrupted Clara Brathwaite,
''to be more exact, from the sitting-room,
through the library, into the office"
Her head lay on Miss kate's shoulder
and l remember that her face looked
most engaging and pretty, half turned