Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-18
CHAPTER I. ARRfvkrS.


 The f1ower-laden breeze of late May. carrying with it threat of falling weather, came in through the wide easements, now putting out the dimity curtains in white clouds, and again drawing them against the tiny panes of the long French windows, which had been set ajar that Miss Ellery might enjoy the balrny air and also euperintend work in the flower garden upon which they opened.
 One need not wish to look upon a prettier picture than this young mistress made as she stood that morning by little deal table in the great Ellery dining room, washing china and at the same time issuing orders to the negro slaves.
 A huge, bibbed homespun apron protected her figured cotton morning dress, a white kerchief was demurely crossed beneath her chin, and 0 snowy cap sat coquettishly upon her brown head, in which gold and red fought hard for supremacy. Her sleeves were rolled above the elbow. displaying handsome arm, while a small, slippered foot now and then tapped imperiously upon the polished door as she gave some command.
 The room itself was receiving it's morning cleaning. The drugget had been taken up from the polished floor and was having good beating out on the lawn at sufficient distance to keep the dust from flying into the house; Aunt Rachel was rubbing down the great mahogany dining table and the smaller breakfast table; Gabriel was polishing the silver; Judith was looking over the table linen that had been used for breakfast and the last nights supper to see if there were stains that should be removed or worn places darned before 1t was consigned to the laundry; Enos was at work upon the silver and glass candlesticks, while in the garden outside Uncle Peter was busy among the flowers, singing the while at the top of his cracked old voice.
 In the detached kitchen, some 20 feet from the house, Aunt Esther and Aunt Deborah were sending up quavering contraltos in rivalry of Uncle Peters bass, accompanying themselves with the rattle of pots and pans, and interruptng now and then to shout command or a threat at their crew of picaninny assist ants.
 The watchful eyes of the mistress were everywhere, for the hand which !, stepmother's absence was not lax, and it took no little vigilance to keep that army of lazy, grown-up black children to their tasks.
 "Uncle Peter" she called, in her mellow southern voice, "methinks you have been resting full ten min utes upon that rake. Is the sun then so hot that you cannot work?"
 'sHist, missy whispered the old darlxy, sticking his white cotton head in through the window, "thah's a band of Britishahs ridin' up de av'new. Ole Petah hab bin watchin' der red coats tro' de trees"
 nAnd if so," said the mistress calm S, as she placed her china upon a Silver tray and herself carried it to abe china-closet, stoop-shouldered affair with glass-knobbed doors be- low and an overhanging shelf above on which were arranged such pieces as were kept out for display and could not find room on the tall, col umned sideboard laden with silver candlesticks and glass decanters, gold-chased tankards, and fat goblets, land if so," she re- peated, what of it? Are we such poor royalists that we need fear his majesty's soldiers? Tut, tut, pick up your cloth, Aunt Rachel, and go on with your cleaning. Think you the British will know that you remember Mir. Washington in your prayers, and in your heart espouse the cause of your old master, my Uncle Elijah?''
 For lately Jane's father had bought from his brother number of blacks whom that patriots circum- Stancss. reduced by the war and his