The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-10-02

Well, well, my dear. 1t doesn't
do to be too energetic" said the
Squire. They eve had q chance.n
He was aroused, however, to men
tion Black Lane at a meeting OF the
town burgesses that day.
Something ought to be done, or
we shall have typhus among us" said
he.
"~something has been done,n said
Judge Paule. 81 came through the
lane this morning, and 1 hardly knew
1T. There has been u general draining
and cleaning, the cabins are white
washed. n the women, ome of them,
have actually washed their faces.
What has happened ?" asked the
Squire.
81 heard the sound of children's
voices singing in one of the cabins,
and the mon told me that it was Miss
Mays class. Some good woman has
been ut work, | suspect
miss Mary ?n-the Squire's face
grew red, his eyes flushed, but he said
nothing more.
Going home, he met Polly coming
to meet him., He looked at her with
the eye of a judge.
Are you tho good Samaritan ?
Have you been in Black Lane, my
dcar":
She blushed, laughed and stammer-
ed:
"Oh, that was the most natural
thing in the world, father. You know
L was brought up among colored peo-
pie | know how to deal with them.
1t was only u ditch cut here and there,
q few panes of glass and some bushels
of lime. They are good, affectionate
creatures, and anxious to learn"
The matter was driven from the
Squire's mind before he reached the
house, for he saw Tom skulking
around the stable door. He had re-
turned that day, and u dull weight of
misery fell, at the sight, on his fathers
heart. Tom did not enter the house
until late in the evening, when the
family wore gathered about the table.
He came into the room with a
unshavcn, his boots reeking of tho
stable.
son purpose to mortify us" thought
Grace, bitterly.
81 came to sec Joo's fine lady wife,"
he said in q loud voice. "Unlcss he's
ashamed to introduce his ~scapegracc
brother"
MARY is not here" said Mother
Demming. "Whcrc is she, Grace ?"
I'm Uncle Ben's room. She reads
the New York papers to him every
day now. They play backgammon
together, and they have one of those
silly books of Artemus Wards. [
heard him laughing, and probably
swearing harder than ever SO he must
be pleased. | wonder she can stand
it,"
cts hard to understand her" said
Isabella, dryly. MARY is not as care
full Of her associations as she should
be-"
Tom had been listening eagerly.
" Enough said :" he broke out, with a
thump Of his fist on the table. eff
Joe's Wife can take thought Of that
lonely. old man up there, there's better
stuff in her than | expected. III go
up and make her acquaintance"
Several times afterwards Toms
voice was heard joining in tho jokes
and laughter hat came out Of Uncle
Ben's room.
MARY seems to have enchanted
them both" said Grace.
TON is clean and shaved to-day,
and looks like IL human being" said Joe.
hut even he was startled when
Mary came down that evening for Il
walk. aud nodding brightly to Tom,
asked him to GO with her.
my escort"
Tom followed her slouchingly to the
gate. He stopped there. Shame. de-
lance, misery looked out of his eyes.
$ here, Mrs. Dcmming, | reckon
you don't know, OF you wouldn't have
asked me to go with you :"
Polly's tender, steady eyes met his.
Yes, know
Dye know Pm Il thief? / was in
jan at Pittsburg for Il year"
Polly drew her breath hard. a
prayer to God for help went up from
her heart in that second of time. She
held out both hands.
"Ics, Joe told me-. But that is all
over now-all ovcr You have begun
new again, Brother Tom. Come :"
She put her hand in his arm as they
walked down the street. He did not
speak to her until they came back.
Then he stopped her again 1T the
gate.
My sisters have never been seen
with me in public since | came back.
III never forget this of you, Mary,
never!"
A month later, the Squire said to
his wife
did you know Mary was going
over his mathematics with Tom :? Re
gularly COUGHING him. That little
girl has the clearost head for ligrr-
ing ever knew. But what can she NC
doing it for?"
Mrs. Demming cleared her voice be-
fore she could speak.
She has applied to some of her
friends in Kentucky to give Tom IL
situation. Father, | think there mny
be u chance for the boy. He wants TO
begin his life oven again among
strangers"
God help him ~ muttered tho
Squire. He surprised Polly when he
mot her again, by taking her i'm his
arms and kissing her with tears in his
eyes.
In the spring Tom went to Kentucky
and bagan his new life. He has not
broken down in it.
1t was in the spring, too, that Uncle
Ben began to fail. The old man was
SO fond OF Polly that she gavo up most
of her time to him: so much OF it.
indeed, that Joe complained.
Don't say a word, DEAR she said
Fl" he has such q little while to stay.
Let me do what | can"
Il say, Polly, was that the Bible
you were reading to him to-day"
Yes he asks for it often"
Joe began to whistle. and chokcd
1T down with a sigh. Uncle Ben had
been such Il goddess reprobate in his
youth that it had never occurred to
any OF the Demming's hat there was
any way to reach his soul. Ho lived
until late in the summer. Tho SUNDAY
before his death he sent for Mr.. Floyd,
and talked to him for a long time.
When the young minister came out
nf tho 1uinu mon's pnn,n hn urn, ,,,io