The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-23

thr OIIEn his l1HIOSL SUbls
you've got an oily tongue. 1t will
carry you long way in this world.
can't help admiring the skill with which
YOU are fast learning TO use it. You've
fooled Mrs. Durham with it, but you
can't fool me- said the preacher.
Doctor, solemnly swear to you
am not guilty of such a crime"
TITS no use TO add perjury to plain
lying. / know you did it. + know it as
well as If I were present in that Jail
and heard you basely betray the men,
name by name, whom you had lured to
their ruin"
Doctor. l swear you are mistaken"
bah! Don't talk about it. You nau-
seate me-"
The preacher sprang to his feet,
paced across the floor, sat down on the
edge Of his table and glared at Mcleod
for a moment. And then with his voice
low and quiverlng with a storm Of emo
ton he said
The curse Of God upon you-the God
of your tathers Your fathers In far
off Scotland's hills, who would have
suffered their tongues torn from their
heads and their skin stripped inch by
inch from their flesh sooner than betray
one of their clan in distress. You
have betrayed thousand of your own
men and you, their sworn chieftain.
He'll was made to consume such leper
trash''
Mcleod was dazed at first by this
outburst. At length he sprang to his
feet livid with rage.
"I'll not forget this, sir!" he Kissed.
Don't forget it," cried the preacher
trembling with passion as he opened the
door. 60 on and live your lje!
Mrs. Durham, the doctor wants you. 3"
said Charlie, when McLeod's football
had died away.
Charlie dear, why don't you call me
mama surely you love me little wee
bit, don't you?" she asked, taking the
boys hand tenderly in hers.
"Yes'm," he replied, hanging his
head.
Then do say mama. You don't know
how sweet it would be in my ears
II try TO but it ehokes ME-" be half
whispered, CHANGING timidly up at her
Let me call you Aunt Margaret. 1 al
ways wanted an aunt and l think your
name Margaret's so sweet" he shyly
added.
She kissed him and said, IAN right,
if that's all you will give me. say 1t
once and let me hear how it Will sound. !"
Aunt Margaret"
Yes, that sounds very sweetly on
your boy lips! I'll kiss you again for
it, She passed on into the library
where the preacher awaited her.
My dear, I've just given young Me-
Leod piece OF my mind. l wanted to
say 10 you that YOU are entirely mis-
taken in his character. He's bad egg.
] know all the facts about his treaeh-
cry. He's as smooth liar as I've met
in ten years"
with all MS brute nature, there
some good in him." she persisted.
Well. it viii stay in him. lie VIII
never let it set out"
"All right, rave your way about e
for the time. Wen see who's right in
the long run. Now I've a more pressing
and tougher problem for your solution"
What is it2''
Dick"
What's he done this timer"
lie steals everything he can get his
hands on. He is puzzle. He's the great
est liar ! ever saw she continued "He
simply will not tell the truth If he can
think OF lie in time. I'd say run him off
the place. but for Charlie. He seems to
love the little scoundrel I'm afraid his
influence over Charlie will be vicious, but
it would break the child's heart to drive
him away. What shall WE do with
hm?"
The preacher laughed. Il give it up
my dear, you've got beyond my depth
low. don't know whether he's got
soul. Certainly the very rudimentery
foundations of morals seem lackiag. I
believe you could take a young ape and
teach him quicker. l leave him with
you. At present it's domestic problem"
Thanks. that's so encouraging"
Dick was puzzle and no mistake atoat
it. But TO Charlie his rolling mischiey-
Gus eyes, his cunning fingers and his
Maynard imagination were unfailing
fountains OF life. He found every BIRDS
rtst within two miles of town. He could
track rabbit almost as swiftly and sure
ly as a hound. He could work like fury
when he had mind to. and loaf half
day over one row of the garden when
he didn't want TO work, which was his
chronic condition,
When the revival season SET in for the
negroes in the summer. the days OF sor-
row began for householders. Every ne
gro in the community became abso-
lutely worthless and remained so unIll the
emotional Insanity attending their meet
ings wore Off
Aunt Mary. Mrs. Durham's cook, got
salvation over again every summer with
increasing power and increasing degen-
Grafton in her work. Some nights she
got home at two o'clock and breakfast
was not ready until nine. Some nights she
didn't get home at all. and Mrs. Durham
had 10 get breakfast herself
1t was a hard time for Dick who hadn't
yet experienced religion and on whom fell
the brunt of the extra work and Mrs.
Durham's fretfulness besides.
II tell you what less do, Charlie!'' ne
cried one day. Less go down ter dat
niger chu'ch. en- bus UP de meetin!
Use gettin tired er dis
How'll you do it?"
II show you somefn ?" He reached un-
der his shirt next to his skin, and pulled
out DR.. Grahams sun glass.