Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-07
The Leop0rdS Spots"


man. 1t was this look on Toms face thai
held CASTOR like magnet when he was In
trouble.
Tom, I'm blue and heartsick. I've come
down to have you cheer me up little"
You've got the blues? Well that is 9
| joker cried Tom. You, young and hand
some. the best educated man in the coun-
ty the finest orator in the state, life al
before you, and God film the world today
with sunshine and spring flowers, and al
for you! You blue! That Is joke. And
Toms voice rang in hearty laughter.
Come here, Flora, and kiss me, you
won't laugh at me, will your"
The child climbed up into his lap, slip
ped her little arms around his neck and
Rugged and kissed him.
Now, once more dearie. long and close
and hard-oh That's worth a pound OF
candy! Again she squeezed his neck and
kissed him, looking into his face with q
smile.
1T love you, Charlie" she said with
quaint seriousness.
do you dear? Well, that makes me
glad. If can win the love OF as pretty
a little girl as you m not failure, am
II" And he smoothed her curls.
Amt she sweet?" cried Tom with pride
as he laid aside his basket and looked at
her with moistened eyes.
Tom, she's the sweetest child ever
sawg'i
Eyes. she's Gods last and best gift to
me, to show me He still loved me- Talk
about trouble. Man, you're baby. You
amt cut your teeth yet. Wait till you've
seen some things I've seen. Wait till
you've seen the light of the world go out
and staggerin' in the dark met the devil
face to face, and looked him in the eye
and smelled the pit! And then feel him
knock you down in 1t, and the red waves
roll over you and smother you! I've been
there!
Tom paused and looked at CASTOR
you wern't here when 1 come to the end
of the world, the time when that baby
was born, and Annie died with the little
red bundle sleepin' on her breast. The old
est girl was murdered by Legree's Niger
soldiers. Then Annie give me that little
gal. Lord, 1 was the happiest old foo
that ever lived that day. And then when
1 looked into Annies face, 1 went down.
down, down. But I looked up from the
bottom of the pit and 1 saw the light OF
them blue eyes and heard her calm me
to take herl How I watched her and
nursed her, a mother and father to her
day and night, through the long years
and how them little fingers Of hers got
hold of my heart! Now, bless the Lord
for all His goodness and mercy to me
She will make it all right. She's going
to be a lady and such a beauty She's
goin' to school now, and me and the gen.
erals goin' to take her ter college bye
and bye, and she's goin' to marry some
big handsome fellow like you, and her
crippled gray haired daddy'I live in hel
house in his old age! The Lord Is my
shepherd shall not want!'
TON, you make me ashamed"
You ought to be, man, youngstel
like you to talk about gettin' the blues
What's all your education for?"
Sometimes 1 think that only men like
you have ever been educated
"G'long with your foolishness, boy.
amt never had a show in this world. The
nigger's been on my back since I first
toddled into the world, and reckon he'll
ride me into the grave. They are my only
rivals now making them baskets and they
always undersell me-"
CASTOR started as Tom uttered the last
sentence.
with you, boy. it's all plain sailin'
You're the best looking chap in the coun'
tyg was a dandy when / was young. II
does me goOdgto look at you If you don't
care nothin' about fine clothes. Their
you're as sharp as a razor. There amt q
man in Moth Caliny that can stand uI
agin you on the stump. I've heard ZEN
all. You'll be the governor of this state!
That was always the climax of Toms
prophetic f1attery. He could think of nc
grander end of a human life than to
crown IL in the governors palace of NORTH
Carolina. He belonged to the old days
when 1t was bigger thing to be the gov
ernor of a great state than to hold any
Office short of the presidency-when mer
resigned seats in the United States senate
to run for governor and when the nation
al government was so puny thing tina
the bankers of Europe refused to loan
money on United States bonds unless
countersigned by the state Of Virginia.
And that was not so long ago. The bank
ers sent that answer to Buchanans Sec
rotary of the treasury.
TON, you've lifted me out of the
dumps. 1 owe you a Doctors fee" cried
CASTOR with enthusiasm as he placed Flo
ra back on the grass and started to his
office.
IAN charge you is to come again. The
old mans proud of his young friends
You make me feel like I'm somebody in
the old world after all. And some day
when you're great and rich and famous
and the worlds full of your name. I'll tell
folks 1 knowed you. like my own boy. and
I'll brag about how many times you used
to come to see me-"
Hush, Tom, you make me feel silly,
said CASTOR as he warmly pressed the old
fellows hand. He went back toward his
ONCE with lighter step and more buoyant
heart. His mind was as clear as the noon
day sun that was now flooding the green
fresh world with its splendor. He would
stand by his own people. He would sink
or swim with them. If poverty and fall
ure were the result, let it be so. If success
came, all the better. There were things
more to be desired than gold.