The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-16


and looked up at the ceiling in dreamy
sort OF way
"Thatll be sight. won't IT, exclsm-
| ed Haley with delight. Where's that
scoundrel Nelse that lived with Mrs
Gaston?"
ooh, we fixed him. said Tim THE
black rascal wouldn't join the League,
land wouldn't vote with his people, and
still showed fight after we beat him half
TO death, so we put levy of fifty DOL
lars on his cabin, sold him out and every
piece OF furniture, and every rag of
clothes we could get hold of. He'll leave
the country now, or wen kill him next
time"
You ought to a killed him the first
| time, and then the job would ha' been
over
"Oh, Wen have the country in good
shape in a little while, and don't you
forget it,"
The news of the order of the military
commandant of District No g" com
prising the Carollnas, abrogatng the de-
cislons of the North Carolina Supreme
Court ,forhdding the intermarriage of
negroes and whites, fell like a bomb
shell on Campbell county. The people
| had not believed that the military au-
thorities would dare go to the length of
attempting to force social equality.
This order from Charleston was not
only explicit, its language was peculiar
ly emphatic. 1t apparently commanded
intermarriage and ordered the military
| 10 enforce the command at the point of
| the bayonet.
Along with the announcement of this
| military order, came the startling news
that Simon Legree, whose infamy was
known from end to end Of the State, was
10 be the next Governor, and that the
Hon. Tim Shelby was candidate for
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Legree was in WASHINGTON at the time
| on a mission to secure a stand of twenty
| thousand rifles from the Secretary of
War, with which to arm the negro
! troops he was drilling for the approach
| ing election. The grant was made and
| Legree came back in triumph with his
stand of 10000 rifles.
| Relief for the ruined people was now
! a hopeless dream. Black despair was
clutching at every white mans heart.
The taxpayers had held a convention
and sent their representatives to Wash
! ington exposing the monstrouS thefts
that were being committed under the
authority of the government, by the or
ganized band of thieves who were loot
| ing the State. But the thieves We're the
pets of politicians high in power. The
committee of taxpayers were insulted
and sent home 10 pay their taxes.
And then thing happened in Ham
bright that brought matters to a sudden
crisis.
| The Hon. Tim Shelby, as school COM
missioner, had printed the notices for an
examination of school teachers for
Campbell county. An enormous tax had
been levied and collected by the county
for this purpose, but no school had been
opened. Tim announced, however, that
the school would surely be opened the
first Monday in October.
| Miss Mobile Graham, the pretty niece
of the old doctor was struggling TO sup
port a blind mother and four younger
| children. Her father and brother had
been killed in the war. Their house had
, been sold for taxes, and they We're re-
quired now 10 pay Tim Shelby ten dol
! lars month for rent.
| When she saw that school notice her
heart gave leap. If she could only get
the place, il would save them from beg
gary!
! She fairly ran to the preacher to get
! his advice.
Certainly, child, try for it. It's hu-
initiating to ask such favor of that
black ape, but if you can save your
loved ones. DO it."
| So with trembling hand she knocked
at Tins door. He required all appli-
cants to apply personally at his house
of a dancing master.
Delighted to see your pretty face this
morning, Miss Graham" he cried enthu-
siastically.
The girl blushed and hesitated at the
door.
Just walk right in the parlor, I'll join
you in a moment"
She bravely set her lips and entered,
And now what can l do for YOU,
Miss Graham"
"I've come to apply for a teachers
place in the school
"Ah, indeed, I'm glad to know that.
Your father was brilliant scholar, I've
been told. I've no doubt you are Wen
prepared to fill the place. There is only
one difficulty. You must be loyal. Your
people were rebels, and the new govern
ment has determined to have only loyal
teachers"
IL think I'm loyal enough TO the old,
flag now that our people have surren-
dered for all practical purposes said
the girl.
yes, yes, dare say but do you think
you can accept the new regime OF gov
eminent and society which we are now
establishing in the South? We have
abolished the color line. Would you have
mixed school if assigned one?"
II think I'd prefer to teach negro
school outright to mixed one she said
after a moments hesitation
Tim continued, You know we are liv-
ing in a new world. The supreme law
of the land has broken down every bar
rier of race and we are henceforth to be
Tho ntr11ooIa for aytctaupp