The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-06-10

persons skin is prejudice2" he asked.
"You are at liberty to call it that or
anything else you please" she an
swered, with chilly preciseness, "and
there is nothing to prevent your put
ting yourself upon an equality with our
servants if you feel so disposed"
"I'm sure l don't wish to do that,
though I'm quite as certain that the
question of color or race would not pre-
vent me. l 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 andflushed cheeks,
and he forgot all about the argument
in his admiration of her superb lowell
ness. THAT'S just i'll" she exclaimed;
you all are quite willing to let the ne
groes take their chances in the north,
but you try to compel us to accept
them as equals, without regard to class,
whether we want to or not"
1t was not their first difference, and
Ringbrand smiled. "You are of the
south, aren't you, Miss Hester? wish
YOU would teach me how to be enthus-
iastic," he said, mildly.
"It would be hopeless task" she re-
piled.
''I'm not so sure about that. l 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
ne" she added, with feminine incon-
sistency.
Ringbrand smiled oomplacently. "I
like that" he said. 81 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
I was inhospitable and rude" she said,
speaking softly to herself; "but he
doesn't know how his cool way of as
serting 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. l wonder-but that
would be ridiculous; he ought to mar
ry Vassar girl at the very least; some
body with calm gray eyes and 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'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-"apd 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 Hester's must have been a very
Ananias of looking-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 ignobIe arts of deceit and subter-
fuge.