Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-06-18
(Copyright, 1895. by J, B. Llppineon Col
""v~

milton of the negroes" She said mig
gers" but the provncialism bore no
contemptuous accent.
The remark caught Ringbrand off his
guard and he said: "Thcrc is room for
reform along that line, isn't thcre?"
"That depends very much upon the
point of view" Hester drew herself up
and a shade of austerity came into her
manner. I'm not quite sure how you
regard it in the north, though papa says
you make no distinction-or, at least,
not very much. With us the question
has been definitely settled for long
time"
He was bcsottcd enough to try to
argue the point with her. "Don't you
think that much of the objection to so
cial equality on the score of the color of
n persons skin is prejudice?' he asked,
You an, at liberty to call it that or
anything else you please" she an
swcrcd, with chilly prcciscncss, "and
there is nothing to prevent your put"
ting yourself upon an equality with our
servants if YOU feel so dispoSrd.'
"I'm sure ! don't wish to do that,
though I'm quite as certain that the
question of color or race would not pre-
vent me. ] think the negroes in the
north are given all the social rights
they expect or deserve; they are at
least the social equals of white people
in their own class.
Hester rose and stood before him
with sparkling eyes and flushed checks.
and he forgot all about the argument
in his admiration Of her superb lovrli'
ness. "That's just it," she exclaimed;
you all are quite wiling to LET the ne
grocs take their chances in the north,
but YOU try to compel us to accept
them as equals, without regard to oclasr,
whcthr we want to or not
1T was not. their first difference, and
Rngbrand smiled. "lou are Of the
south, aren't you, Miss Hester? | wish
YOU would teach me how to be cnthus-
iaStic," he said, mildly.
at would be hopeless task she re-
piled.
I'm not so sure about that. think
it would depend upon the teacher"
"But YOU would he enthusiastic on
the wrong side, if did
"Perhaps you might convert me in
the process
81 am afraid that isn't possible; and
then it wouldn't be honest of you to let
me-" she added, with feminine incon-
sistency.
Ringbrand smiled complacently. 81
like that" he said. Il shall try here
after to be both enthusiastic and loyal
to my section
Thinking about this conversation
when she was braiding her hair before
her mirror that night, Hester blushed
when she remembered how emphatic
she had been. II hope he didn't think
l was inhospitable and rude" she said,
speaking softly to herself; "but he
doesn't know how his cool way of as
scrting himself irritates one. And |
was almost angry, too; I'm sure was
going to say something spiteful; but
there was look in his eyes that said
no, just as plainly as could be. He al
ways looks at me that way when I'm
about to say something mean, and then
| can't go on. | wonder-but that
would be ridiculous; he ought to mar
ry Nassar girl at the very least; some
body with calm gray eyesand fluffy hair,
a girl with advanced ideas and all that,
and with plenty of intellect, SO she
could help him in his work. That isn't
much like YOU, is it?" speaking to the
reflection in the mirror; "you'rc moth
ing but an enthusiastic, impulsive coun-
try girl, with coarse black hair'-she
drew one of the shining braids over
her shoulder to look at it--"and eye
brows that make me think of the pic
ture of Beatrice in the big Shakespeare
downstairs-only she's pretty and
you're not
Mirrors do not always tell the truth,
and 1Iester's must have been n very
Ananias of a loolling-glass if it reflect
ed any such distorted likeness of the
embodiment of sweet, wholesome wom-
anhood standing before it; there were
strength and pride in every line of the
beautiful face and perfect form, but it
was the strength that harmonizes with
grace and purity, and it was the pride
that abhors mean things and scorns
the ignoble arts of deceit and subter-
fuge.