The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-09

people who hate or misunderstood us.
They can only be scourge to society.
am heart-sick when | try TO think OF
the future"
There was a mist about her eyes that
betrayed the deep emotion with which
she uttered the last sentence.
She was a queenly woman OF the bru-
nette type with full face Of striking
heautily surmounted by a mass Of rich
chestnut hair. The loss of her slaves
and estate in the war had burned it's
n essage of bitterness into her soul. She
had the ways OF that imperious aristoc-
racy of the South that only slavery
could nourish She was sti1 uncom-
promising upon every issue that touched
the life of the past.
She believed in slavery as the only
possible career for a negro in America.
The war had left her cynical on the flu
ture of the new "Mulatto" nation IS she
called it, born in it's agony. Her only
child had died during the war, and this
great sorrow had not softened but rather
hardened her nature
Her husbands career as a preacher
was now double cross TO her because
il meant the doom OF eternal poverty
In spite of her love for her husband and
her determination with all her opposite
tastes 10 do her duty as his wife, she
could not get used to poverty. She hated
II in her soul with quiet Intensity.
The General was thinking of all this
rs he tried to frame a cheerful answer.
Somehow he could not think OF anything
ed the subject.
IoI 70 ucIr
interest IN your Sunday school in boy
who is a sort of ward Of mine. young
Allan Mcleod. +"
THAT handsome red-headed fellow that
looks like a tiger, I've seen playing in
the streers?"
Yes. ! want you TO tame him
Well. will try for your sake, though
he's little older than any boy in my
class. He must be over fifteen"
Just fifteen. I'm deeply interested in
him. / am going TO give him good edu-
cation. His father was a drunken
Scotchman in my brigade, whose loyalty
TO me as his chief was so genuine and
touching ! couldn't help loving him. He
was a man of fine intellect aud some Gull
ture. His trouble was drink. He never
could get up in life on that account. l
have an idea that he married his wife
while on one of his drunks. She is from
down in Robson county, and he told me
she was related to the outlaws who have
infested that section for years. This boy
looks like his mother, though he gets
that red hair and those laughing eyes
from his father. I want you 70 take hold
of him and civilize him for me"
I'm try, General. You know. l love
bows"
You will find him rude and boisterous
at first, but ! think he's got something
in hi.n.'
I'm send for him to come to see me
Saturday.
Thank you, Madam l must 60 My
love 70 DR.. Durham.
The next Saturday when Mrs. Durham
walked into her little parlor to see Allan.
the boy was scared nearly out of his
wits. He sprang to his feet, stammered
and blushed, and looked as though he
We're going to jump out of the window.
Mrs Durham looked at him with a
smile that quite disarmed his fears. took
his outstretched hand. and held it trem-
bling in hers
81 know we will be good friends, won t
yve .
"Yessum," he stammered.
And you won't tie any more tin cans
to dogs like you did TO Charlie CASTOR s
little terrier, will you? 1 like boys full
of life and spirit, just so they don't do
| mean and cruel things"
The boy was ready to promise her any
thing. He was charmed with her beauty
and gentle ways. He thought her the
most beautiful woman he had ever seen
In the world.
AS they started toward the door, she
gently slipped one arm around him, put
her hand under his chin and kissed
him.
Then he was ready TO die for her. II
was the first kiss he had ever received
| from womans lips. His mother was
not a demonstratiVe woman. He never
recalled a kiss she had given him. His
blood tingled with the delicious sense OF
| this ones sweetness. All the afternoon
he sat out under a tree and dreamed
and watched the house where this won
derful thing had happened To him.
CHAPTER VII