The times., 1898-04-24
pie as the language is. it is all the finer

ing Little River, nearly mile away, heard the
chase and paused to listen. lie thought he knew
the voices of man and dog, but he was not sure,
50 lie lifted hand TO his and frowned as he
listened There could be doubt about it. He
was caught He looked all around the horizon
and up at the glltterlng sky There was no way
of escape. So he took his bundle from the
end Of his cane, dropped it at the foot of a
huge hickory tree and sat down.
Presently JEFF came in sight, running like
quarter-horse. Uncle Shade thought if he could
manage to kill the dog, there would still be a
chance for him. His master was not in sight,
and II would be easy matter to slip down the
bluff. and escape But no the dog was not 10
be trapped. His training and instinct kept him
I out Of the old negro's reach. JEFF made wide
circle round Uncle Shade and finally stopped and
bayed him, standing far out of harms way.
/ The old negro took off his hat, folded it
and placed it between his head and the tree
rs a sort OF cushion. And then the colonel came
gaopmG up his horse in lather
Of sweat He drew rein and con-
fronted Uncle Shade. Fer moment
/ he knew not what to say. II seemed as though
his anger choked him; and yet it was not so.
He was nonplussed. Here before him the OBJ
! lect OF his pursuit. the irritating cause Of his
/ heated and hurried journey. There in the
/ spectacle that which drove the anger out of his
1 heart. and the color of his face Here he
saw the very essence and incarnation of help
/ lcssness- an old man grown gray and well nigh
decrepit IN the service OF the family, who had
witnessed the very beginning am birth, as it
were, of the family fortune.
" hat was to be done with him2 HIRE in the
( forest that almost wilderness the spirit OF
justice threatened to step forth from some con-
vcnient covert and take possession Of the case
But the master had inherited obstinacy, and pride
had added TO the store. Anger returned TO her
throne.
What do you by defying in this
wayY' the colonel asked. hotly. "What do you
mean by running away and hiding in the bushes?
Do you suppose ! am going to put mp with it?'
The colonel worked himself up to a terrible
pitch, but the old negro looked at his master with
level and disconcerting eye.
We'll, suh,' replied Uncle Shade. fumbling
with pebble in his hand, ''ef my mistiss wuz
'bove groun' dis day I'd be right whar she
alright dar doin' my work. des ike | uscn ter.
Dat what mean, suh.'
DO you mean to tell me, you impudent rascal,
that because your mistress Is dead you have the
privilege of running off and hiding in the woods
every time anybody snaps finger at you? Why,
If your mistress was alive today she'd have your
hide taken Off
she never is done it yet, sub, an been live
wild 'er in about fifty year"
"Wel, I'm going to do it," cried the colonel,
eXcitedly. He rode under a swinging limb and
tied his horse. A leather strap, fixed a wood
en- handle, hung from the horn of his saddle.
Take off that coat" he exclaimed curtly.
Uncle Shade rose and began TO search in his
well. sub. he said. '"fo' does dat I got
Sumpn here ! want you to look at
Il want to see nothing" cried the colonel.
I've put up with your raseality until I'm tired.
OFF with that coat!'
But | got Il letter fer you. sub, an dey tol' me
to put it in yo' han de fust time you few'd up
and got mad wild me-"
1t Is a short jump from the extreme Of
tion 10 the extreme of another The simplicity
and eamcstncss of the old negro suddenly ap-
pealed TO the colonels sense OF the ridiculous,
and once more his anger took wings. Uncle Shade
searched in his pockets until he suddenly re-
membeTcd that he had put IL in the lining OF
his hat. As he drew il forth with hand that
shook little from excitement it seemed TO be
bundle Of rags. Its his Conlure-bdg, the col
onel said 10 himself and at the thought of it
he could hardly keep his face straight.
Carefully unrolling the long strip Of cloth,
tfg1, Yh. ,izaH
part OF q dress his mother used to wear, Uncle
Shade presently came to a yellow letter. This
he handed 10 the colonel, who examined il curl
ously. Though the paper was yellow with age,
and creased. the ink had not faded.
What Is this?'' the colonel asked, mechanic
ally although he had no difficulty in recognizing
the writing that of his motheT-the stiff, up-
compromising, perpendicular strokes Of the pen
could not be mistaken. "What is this?' he re-
peated
Letter fer you. suh." said Uncle Shade
'Where did you get t? the coonel inquired.
q tuck il right outn mistss' han, sub,
Uncle Shade replied
The colonel put on his spectacles and spread
the letter out carefully. This is what he read:
MY Dear Son--I write this letter to commend
The negro Shade TO your especial care and pro-
lection. lie viii need your protection most when
it comes into your hand have told him that in
the hour when you read these lines he may
surely depend YOU. lie has been faithful
servant 10 me-and to you. No human being
could be more devoted to my interests and yours
than he has been. Whatever may have been his
the estate and even the homestead would have
gone to the sherfs block long ago. The fact
that the mortgages have been paid is due to his
devotion and his judgment. am grateful to
him, and want my gratitude to protect him
as long he shall live. / have tried TO make
this plain in my will, but there may como
time when he viii especially need your protec-
tion, he has frequently needed mine. When
that time comes ] want you to do by him as /
would do want YOU 10 stand by him as he has
stood by us. To this hour he has never failed
10 do more than his duty where your interests
and mine were concerned. 1t viii never be ne
ccssaTy for him to give you this letter while |
alive; il will come 10 you a message from
wish of your MOTHER"
The c6lonel's hands trcnbled little as he
folded the letter, and he cleared his throat in
somewhat boisterous way. Uncle Shade held out
his hand for the letter.
NO nor' the colonel cried. at is for me-
need it great deal worse than you do
This is a good specimen of Mr.. Harris
way of telling a story and the kind OF
story he tells. There is another half
comic, half-pathetic piece Of character
drawing in the old negro nurse in THE
Ambuscade" Mr.. Harris is at his hap
piest when dealing with negro life and
with the plantation owners of Middle
Georgia. He can. however, do full just ce
TO the queer characters which are the fiot-
sam and jetsam Of a great military move
ment as seen in "A Baby in the Siege
and The Babys Fortune" bit of
folklore which will interest folklore stu
dents is The Late Mr. Watkins of Geor-
gia" How WhaIebone Caused Wed
ding is one Of the best foX-hunting
stories ever written in the South, and
brings the hearty, hospitable life of old
plantation days wildly before ones eyes.
"A Run of Luck and some other stories
will be remembered by readers of the
current magazines. Altogether, Uncle
Remus latest book is one calculated
TO make story-lovers happy
Boston: Houghton, Mifiin & Co.
Washington: All booksellersl