The Washington times., 1902-10-12
BEES In
A SOUTHERN HIVE
By A. FARNswoRTH DREW.
CHAPTER /.

Whizz! went the fast express one glo-
rious October day in Georgia. Two lit
tie girls who had come all the way from
Colorado by themselves were peering
anxiously out of the car window They
were sturdy little girls. Just verging into
womanhood and intensely interested In
the wonderland of deep, luxurfant for
ests, tall pine trees, and. above all, In
the low negro cabins, with their mud
packed chimneys extending like but
tresses down to the ground, almost as
large as the cabins themselves.
Bump! went the cars against one an
other as the train slowed up at Gains
vile.
Here we are, MISS" said the conduc-
tor; Il will put you and your bags on
one from the school to meet YOU" The
curls that fell forward from her red Tam
o'Shanter as she bent her head
Bonnie" she exclaimed, ''is this the
place where we are to be polished? 1t
looks to me like an advertisement for
stove polish. Just see those little col
ored children"
The conductor smiled in sympathy
There's most generally plenty Of pick
aninnies with nothing to do but wait for
the train. Folks down this way don't
hustle much. Mind the steps," as they
jump with thank you" to the plat
FORM
Bonnie" continued the curly y-headed
one. lets throw the little nigs some
pennies and see II they can get move
on them. They are too funny" They
threw the pennies and were in gale Of
laughter over the antics Of the picka-
ninnies, quite unconscious that they
were furnishing amusement for a con-
siderable audience. when suddenly they
saw an angry woman come forward to
them.
Are these the Misses Kent!" she
asked. severely.
"Yes'm. I'm Bonnie and this is Bet
ty."
IL must say that am surprised at
such unseemly behavior. I am from
Miss Astor's school. The carriage Is
waiting" The girls followed meekly.
though Betty, the irrepressible, whis-
pered as they climbed into the old We
hicle that 'it would stand for some pol
ish, too"
The baggage. including two bicycles,
was piled up behind and the driver slow
ly gathered up the reins. The drive to
the school was a silent one; the rigid
haughtiness Of the lady from Miss AS
tors school was not conducive to con-
versation. Bonita and Elizabeth Kent
Bonnie and Betty for short, ore II you
were in a great hurry, the two B's-had
been brought up among the mining
camps of the West. They had never
been to school. but their fathers part
ner. who had been professor of geology
before he went West In search Of for
tune, had taken them under his wing.
Bonnie had. therefore, considerable
knowledge of mineralogy, having proved
an apt pupil. Outside Of this her learn
ing did not extend far. Betty's chief
accomplishments were vivid imagin-
alton and an admiration for Bonnie's
cleverness. But the old professor was
dead and when Mr.. Kent bought stock
in the geld mines Of Dahlcnega. Ga.
that necessitated his presence there for
the winter. he decided to place the girls
in school nearby. His sister. in max
ing the arrangements for him. said to
MISS Astor: They are perfect little
savages," and only special financial
inducement had overcome Miss Astor's
qualms.
But tney were very suDdued little
savages that the golden autumn sun
looked down upon as they 1ourneyed
up the leaf-strewn avenue to the i'm
mense old mansion that had been trans
formed into boarding school. Through
the broad halls. where groups of
daintily dressed girls turned and looked
at them; up the great winding stair.
with its heavily-carved bulustrades. to
their rooms on the second floor they
were conducted. AS soon as the door