The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-03-12

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tcopyrlght 1905. by J. B. Liprineot Col
milton of the negroes" She said mig
gers" but the provincialism bore no
ccntemptuous accent.
The remark caught Ringbrand off his
guard and he said: "There is room for
reform along that line, isn't there?"
"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"
lie was besotted 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
apersons skin is. prejudice?" he asked.
"Youtare 'at liberty to call it that or
anything else you please" she an
swered, with chilly preciseness, "and
there is nothing 10 prevent your put
ting JourscE, upon an equality with our
servants if You feel sodisposed." y.
I'm suFe T don't wish to do that,
though I'm quite as certain that the
question Of color. or race,would not pre-
L@aat me. I think the negroes in the
/. forth are given all the social rights
t'lcy expect or deserve; they are at
+ lga3t The social equals of white people
in their own class" .f.f 4
Hester rose and stood before him
bpyita sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks,
"ad he forgot all about the argument
SEif his admiration OF her superb lowell.
ness. That's juptit!" she exclaimed;
you all are quite. wiling to let theme
groes' take their chances in the north,
but yea tly to compel us to accept
item as equals, without regard to class,
twhetlleg yves want toor not"
A. It was net their first difference, and
ItingbranG smiled. you are of the
south, aren't you, Miss Hester? wish
you would teach me how to be enthus-
iastic," he said. mildly.
ut would be hopeless task,1 she re-
Piled.
I'm not SO sure about that. / think
1t would depend upon the teacher"
"But you would be 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 -complaceptly. 81
ike that he said. IL shall try here
after to lie 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. IL hope he didn't think
| was inhospitable and rude" she said.
speaking softly to herself; "but he
doesn't know how his cool way of as
sorting 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
~ Vassar girl at the very least; some
body with calm gray eyes and fluffy hair,
girl with advanced ideas and all that,
and with plenty of intellect, so she
could help him in his work. That ism
much like You, is it?' speaking to the
reflection in the mirror; you're 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
tnrc of Beatrice in the big Shakespeare
Enthusiastically she's pretty and
you're not"
Mirrors do not always tell the truth.
and Hrster's must have been a very
Ananias of a lookng-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 ard purity. and it was the pride
that abhors mean things and scorns
the ignoble arts of deceit and subter-
fuge.