The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-12-27
YELLOW JIM.
By MARTHA M'OULL0OH WILLIAMS.
Copyright, 1895. by the Author.l
CHAPTER III,

long. Only the Austin slaves followed
the coffin that was thought to hold the
last Austin. Yellow Jim, of course,
took charge Of everything. Mrs. Austin
was too.much Frustrated by the horror
of it all to think of leaving her room.
She kept it indeed until the new master
came and she was summoned to hear
the reading of her husbands will As
she left her chamber she found herself
face to face with Jim and started back,
crying out:
"How dare you come in my sight?
! Carroll is dead. hate the look of you
I will not have you gaze at me with his
very eyes"
caro- you glad he is dead, Miss Lis
ette?" the man asked, looking down.
She gave herself quick impatient
shake.
''It was the one thing for him." she
said querulous]y. latter he had been
SO foolish-so wicked, indeed! He never
cared for me, am sure of that, or he
would never have put me in such po-
sition. To think how it might have
been! Why, if he had not died as he
| OluS PCOP1C WOulo AllNO uAaWA away
from me always. Nobody will counte-
nance a woman whose husband has
been'-
''Please, ma am, they are waiting for
you in the library" Jim said respect
fully, still without raising his eyes.
But they burned after her as she went
down the stairway, picture of grief,
decorous and beautiful in her trailing
Grape covered sable robes.
The heir of Summerlands, Austin
Reid, thought he had never seen
woman who bore herself SO thorough
bredly through such trying conditions.
Though she said her husbands will
gave her less than she had right and
reason to expect, she would ask, would
take, no penny beyond what it allowed.
She had been obedient in life. She
could do no less than accept his wishes
now that it was no longer possible for
him to modify the expression Of them.
She was very grateful for all his Cousins
generous offers, but she must go away,
back to her own people. With them she
would find safe shelter. Yes; she would
take her own maid, Julianna. whom
she had brought with her when she
came to Summerlands a bride. As for
the rest of the black people, she would
only beg Cousin Austin to remember
that they had belonged to Austins al
ways and loved the name. Jim-Yellow
Jim--might perhaps be little insub
ordinate. He had been spoiled all his
life No doubt, though, he would come
after awhile to recognize the changed
condition of affairs.
Mr.. Reid besought her to change her
mind-to keep Summerlands as her own
for SO long as she might choose. She
ful, wintry smile, infinitely pitiful,
and took herself out of his life as early
as was possible. He was a generous fell
low, of gentle nature and the finest nur-
ture. Naturally the fact of her absence
raised her in his mind to something
very like an i'll used saint-a some
thing too high and sacred for common
speech.
Though he was already rich, he was
also landless. Hence it was natural that
he should make Summerlands his home
| dO 1OfOu tIC pluSO 4ldCCd AAO4O tAu1
even Carroll Austin had done and set
about making it the model Of the coun-
tryside He mixed but little with his
neighbors. The shadow OF appalling
tragedy seemed to fall between when he
came to casual speech with them. But
rumors got about of the wonderful
changes not less than of the fast friend
ship between Yellow Jim and his new
master, who, 1t was said, made more of
him, gave him greater authority and
liberty than even the Austins had done.
There were times indeed when he
had sole charge of everything. Mr.. Reid
made journeys somewhere that took up
weeks and weeks. But none knew more
than the fact OF his absence, though
speculation ran riot as to its cause,
Charley Clayton died In midsummer
At Christmas, two years later, the coup-
ty was agog. Summerlands was to be
opened again with great ball. Cards
for it had gone faF and wide, and every
body was firmly resolved TO see its new
splendors. The night fell clear and chill.
Midday had been springlike, but at SUM-
down a nipping wind sprang mp. By
moonrise there was powdering Of frost
on the turf that gave all the fields a
ghost dim radiance.
Within every door stood wide. There
were such log fires burning upon all ths
hearths as made midsummer warmth in
spite of it, particularly in the big hall
upon which the parlors gave. The en-
trance door led into it likewise, and
there the thronging guests massed them
selves to await the coming of their host
Yellow Jim had met them with news
that he was unavoidably delayed, but
would surely reach home before 50
O'Clock.
As the clock was upon the stroke a
carriage rolled to the door, Four black
horses drew it, brave in gold mounted
harness. The driver sat proudly upright
The lackey beside him had SO lost his
dignity as to grin at the groom, WHO
had rushed to the teams head. But
mighty few needed that. Austin Reid
had come among his guests with slen-
der woman upon his arm, saying as he
wrung the nearest putheld hand;
'How thank my friends, one and
all, for coming thus to welcome Mrs
Austin Reidi'
An electric thrill went through the
onlookers. It was Lisette Austin who
smiled at them from her depths Of silk
and fur. Before the readiest could frame
his lips to speech, there was a heavy