Evening star., 1900-11-17

Mr.. Malloy that the policy Of wisdom was
never to pay an Ethiopian in advance-he
was apt to spend the money and have his
fling before giving heed to his errand. But
the answer was prompt: The negro wished
to hire a mule. and could not without
money, which was how the guileful bonds
man secured his fee In advance. To his
fathers guest Norman would make no sign
OF the suggestion that occurred to him on
the spot. The negro must have been an
allen and stranger who could not get
mule to ride to hospitable Belleview. There
wasn't darky within a radius Of a dozen
miles that wouldn't jump at the chance Of
going, even afoot. for never came messen-
ger black or white, to Belleview's gate
that went away unblessed. untitled. Aunt
Chloes kitchen was famous for it's good
cheer-famouS as the doctors sideboard.
The story about the messenger might be
true, but there was one man too bitter and
too jealous to believe 1t, yet too true a son
of his father and of his state to express
doubt of his fathers guest.
Through a maze of narrow tracks ana
crooked trails young Holt had led them to
the light, Malloy talking volubly, Miss Lane
silent and disturbed. Once in the open.
southwark fields Norman pointed out cross
country roads for them to follow through
various plantations and estates and bade
them gallop on, but again did the Clncln-
NATHAN take the wrong turn and twenty
minute detour. Again did the trio come to-
gether, Daisy by this time almost tearful
but Malloy as buoyant as ever. Again dio
Norman start them on the snort cut TO
the pike and wave them on. grimly setling
his teeth and towing poor limping Nellie
through the stubble, but now who knows
what wayward impulse seized upon the
girl? Was 1t to punish one lover or to en-
courage another? Miss Lane declared ner,
self too tired to gallop and half distruSttui
of her escorts Typographical sense m
not going to lose the road again.. said sne
in so many words. st mean to stay right
here by Mr.. Holt. If you are In hurfy'
Mr.. Malloy ride home and tell them wei
coming"
ilI-considered speech, and the effect 1t had
on each Malloy's keen face turned almost
white, and strange glitter leaped INTO ms
steely eyes. Norman Holt flushed to the
very brows, but for moment neither
spoke. Malloy gazed out over the rolling
landscape to where Belleview's tower was
glinting in the slanting sunshine. until ne
ly enough replied: I'm not skilled in back
woods tricks. Perhaps it will be just as
well to take no more chances"
"Why. 1 believe Mr.. Holt could guide us
home If 1t were pitch dark" impetuously
spoke the lady. Couldn't you. Mr.. Holt?'
.I have guided a lost party to Beleview
on a black night" was the reply. ~ ou
see I've known these trails almost from
babyhood. l dare say IL l had to L could
do it again.
She was thinking of that homeward ride,
and of Normans words, and not of Malloy
or of his exploit of the previous evening,
lamenting. She sat there by her mothers
side, strange contrast to the girl who had
been so radiant the night before, refusing
now every invitation to dance. She was
still tired, she declared and unaccountably
stiff and sore. She had been so little in
saddle since the spring. ''If you dance to-
night with one her mother had said you
cannot refuse others and Mr.. Malloy will
be sure to ask for all you can possibly give
him" Daisy was playing wall flower, a
role to which she was utterly unaccustom-
ed. but men swarmed about and persisted
in their opportunities. especially Malloy.
Norman Holt alone did not repeat his re-
quest for a dance. Even as midnight ap-
preached the hour at which all were to
join in one cup of wassal to the honor of
Father Christmas, there We're men who
hovered about her chair and begged that
she reconsider. Seeing this, with an odd,
semi-possessive manner, Malloy placed him
self at her side, and, despite averted looks
and decidedly cold shoulder, hung there
undauntedly. a sort of single-headed Ger
berus, warning off all comers, until the
midnight hour chimed from the old Dutch
clock in the broad hallway when. glasses
In hand, the whole assemblage gathered
about the glad. genial host. There were
men that night who spoke of it before they
sought their rooms, and thought of 1t again
and again in the years that followed.
Never had the master Of Belleview SEEM
ed in blither, gayer mood. his ruddy face
wreathed in smiles, his kindly eyes twin
king in joy and hospita ality and benediction
been summoned in, Harkless at their head,
and in broad. black circle. turbaned poll
and klnky crown, encompassed round
about the bevy of fair women and brave
men. To each was given a brmming glass
of the Doctors famous mixture. Its fra
GRANGE arose to the very rafters. and then
all other sounds were hushed as the doc
tor, beaming on them, lifted up his g'ass
and voice. Only three days before had
come the startling news that South Caro-
lima, spoiled and petted child of the family
Of states, had declared all bonds annulled,
all ties severed, and proclaimed her seces-
sion from the Union No man could tell to
what 1t might lead. No thinking man could
fail to see that, grave and momentous. a
crisis had come in the onward sweep of our
national life Even here. in the midst of all
the Christmas joys at Belleview, there had
been grave faces among the few elders, but
tonight the old doctors was unclouded.
Friends and kindred" he began: "old
friends and new, good friends ALL so long
as have lived here in the heart of our be-
loved commonwealth has 1t been the boast
of Belleview that no living soul white or
black, failed of welcome and of our COED
cheer on this thrice-bessed anniversary
Peace on earth. good will to men. has been
the motto over our hearthstone from the
day these doors We're opened. Peace or
earth. good will to men, remains its watch
word today, and such, please God, shall be
its watchword through generation after
generation gen no long after | am laid benea
the sod. We rejoice, my sons and l. IN
your presence here tonight. We pledge you
with full hearts and brimmng glasses We
drink to Christmas past, Christmas pres
ent. and to Christmas to come. May an
other year bring us ail-all who are here
tcnight-again within these walls, then, as
now. to drink to each others health and
peace and happiness, and to say in the
words of Tiny Tim, God bless US, every
one"
The moment that followed. first of muir
murous applause, then of silence as glasses
were raised to answering lips, was rudely
closed. Sudden and imperative somebody
was knocking at the outer door