The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-27

under tbe daSheS of sunburn was or
- fine creamy pallor. Lips intensely
scarlet. curving to Il true Curids bow
accented the pallor. as did her dark
al,peaIing ewes. and her crown OF halr
like black floss-silk. Her race. the
nomad poor white. is sort OF hu-
man century plant. Once perhaps III
each hundred years mYsterlousiN II
flowers into absolutely perfect beau-
tN.
She stood slightly swaNlng. ana
drumming an old spanish guitar MAJ
billiard looked her over with Il heaf1
full of murderous compassion. Inc
appeal Of her beauty fully excused
his son. and took away any lingering
trace of hardness toward him. YET III
excusing. made him al the more
determined on rescue. In all ms hle
before he had never WllfullN hurt Il
woman. Now that needs must hurt
one. he meant to do his best TO salFe
the wound.
"Swan-you love my SOM" he ask
ed. looking her full in the eve.
IL reckon so" Swan said. fumb-
ling with the ribbon at her throat
''That is why YOU don't want him
to be poor?" the major asked. swan
nodded. gulped, then said slowly:
e-Morris-aint fifteen fer that.
He amt no mo- fitten'n racers htten
to be a mule. faint nice, bein po.
know all about that
NO, it is not nice-you don't want
10 be poor all your life?" the major
interrupted. Swan shuddered a ut
tie. and swallowed hard. Suddenly
she flung up her head, her whole face
subtlv hardened.
NO. | don't wanter be pc always.
she said; "Ner I don't mean ter be
neither. Ef | can't have Morris aud
the money"
You'll take the money, Mai Hill
hard supplemented as she thoked and
grew silent: THAT is very wise a1n
GLAD indeed. 10 end you 50 sensible
II amt sensible am drove ter
death" Swan cried, hiding her face
in her hands. For a minute gustN
eobs shook her whole frame. All At
once she dashed the tears from her
eyes. dropped her hands. aud aske'j,
watching Mai billiard narrowly as
She spoke: 'Did Morris SpEd YOU
Err did you come on ~ own ac-
acount?"
''rhat has nothing to do with the
case" Mai billiard :. / diplomati-
cally."
''See here. | want fggers. Senti-
ment's good but gimme dollars an
cents Old Nat growled from the
door: Dollars an cents in er lump
--er big lump at that" he went on.
You may come yer soft sawder over
that thar fool gal. but you don't come
it over me-"
Major billiard looked at Swan as
though old Nat had not spoken. L
will settle $4,000 on you. if you leave
the state, and never come back to il"
he said: "and give your father half
as much tomorrow-upon the same
condition..
THAT amt much fer err high toned
oentleman--when Jest er plain likely
nigger's with fifteen hundred old
Nat began. Swan stopped him with a
violent cuff. and rushed away in a
passion of tears.
The house at Wake Forest stood
quite three miles from the Tennessee
river. yet the plantation ran down to
the stream. and Maj. billiard had his
own landing. In the third year of the
civil war, village of white tents
about it stretched far back from the
waterside. There was another small
ar village of them UP around the house
The fences were all swept away.
Horses fully accoutred stood champ
inc and dancing all about the lawns.
4 =, 4 II
veranda steps. some with swords
clankng after them. more in undress
uniforms, and a very few in the garb
Of civilians.
Not one of the original Inhabitants
remained. Major billiard and Nor
ris were both in the Confederate ar
my. Their hundreds of slaves had
been sent further South as soon as