The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-25

make no reply to Rhody's question. Was he really there7' he asked.
 "I hear i'm talkin' in de oarlor, an Miss Genia say it's him."
 What were you doing there?' inquired Miss Fanny.
 | "A colored oman recommen' me ter go dar ef I want ter fin dat chile." | ''Why, Paul. And is the wind really blowing in that quarter?" cried Miss Fanny, leaning over and kissing him on l the forehead. , Now, Nanny Rhody, why did you do that?' Paul asked with considerable irri- tation. What will Miss Eugenia and her i, mother thinak?" He sat bolt upright on the sofa.
 Well, her ma ain't see me, an Miss I Genia look like she wuz sorry I couldn't fin you dar.'
 | Miss Fanny laughed. but Rhody was | perfectly serious. Miss Fanny" she said turning to the lady. "how come dat chile lef' homer
 Shall tell her, Paul? l may as we'll. Whereupon she told the negro woman the cause of Paul's anger. and ended by sayin that she didn't blame him i for showing the spirit of a Southern gem | tleman.
 well, he'll never jine de Publican l Party in dis county" Rhody declared em- phatfcally. q hope you are right" said Pulaski | Tomhn, speaking for the first time. There's enough trouble in the land 1 without having a scalawag In the Tom lin family
 "weM, you neenter worry bout dat, kaze I'll sho put stop ter dem kinder doin's. Honey" Rhody went on, address ing Paul, you come on home when you git sleepy; I'm gwinter set up fer you, an ef You don't come. yo' pa'll natter cook his own vtttles termorrer mornin' .'' Goodnight, Rhody and 'pleasant dreams" said Miss Fanny as the negro woman started out.
 "I dunner how anybody kin have pleas in dreams ef dey sleep in de same lot wid Marse Silas." replied Rhody. Good night, all."
 Now, the cook at the Tomlin Place was the wife of the Rev. Jeremiah. She was a tall, thin woman, some years older than her husband. and she ruled him with a rod of iron. The new conditions, com bined with the insidious flattery of the white radicals, had made her vicious against the whites Rhody knew this, and from the big house." she went into the kitchen, where Mrs. Jeremiah was cleaning up for the night. Her name was Patsy.
 "You gittin' mighty thick wid de white folks. Sis Rhody, said Patsy, pausing in her work, as the other entered the door.
 For answer, Rhody fell into chair, held both hands hign above her head, and then let them drop in her lap. The gesture was effective for a. dozen inter- prctations. "WelI!'' she exclaimed, and then paused, Patsy watching her mar rowly the while. "I dunner how tis wid you. Sis Patsy, but wid me, it's live an rarn-live an Earn. An I'm .a-larnin' mon, spite CT de fack dat de white folks think nbggers ain't got no sense."
 "Dey does! Dey does!" exclaimed Pat sy. But dey'n find out better. an den -Ah-h-w The last exclamation was q horase gutteral cry ot triumph.
 You sho is talkin' now!' cried Rhody, with an admirlng smile. T knows 1t ter night, eff never is know'd it before. /
 Patsy knew that some disclosure was coming'f and she invited 1t by putting Rhody on the defensive. Its de trufe, . she declared. Dat what make me feel so quare, Sis Rhody, when I see you so ready fer ter collogue wid de white folks"
 Rhody leaned forward with a frown that was almost tragic in it's Eeaviness, and spoke in a deep, unnatural tone that added immensely to the emphasis of her words: " Oman, femme tell you; l done 1t, an I'm glad 1 done 1t; an you'll be glad done 1t; an he'll be glad I done it." Patsy was drying the dishpan with a towel, but suspended operations the bet ter to hear what Rhody had to say. "Dey .If s1aa. Hoo. in wid de Publican Party. He gwinter lime so he kin fin out all der doin's. an all der comins an der gwines. so he Kin tell de yuthers. Dey got it all planned. He gwinter j'ine de Nunion League, an get all de names.' Dey talk bout it, Sis Patsy, right befo' my face an eyes. Dey mus take me fer a start-natchel fool"
 "Dey does dey does! cried Patsy; "dey takes us all fer fools. But won't dey be a walkin' up when de time come?'
 Then and there was given the death- blow to Silas Tomhns ambition to be- come a Rep rblloan politician. The Rev. Jeremiah was apprised of the plan, which so far as Rhody was concerned, was pure invention. Word went round, and when Silas put in his application to be- come a member of the Union League he was informed that orders had come from Atlanta that no more members were to enrolled.
 Rhody waited in the kitchen that night until Paul returned, and then she went to bed, Silas and his son were up earlier than usual the next morning, but they found breakfast ready and waiting. The attitude of father and son toward each other was constrained and reserved. Silas felt that he must certainly say something to Paul about Eugenia Clai- borne.
 "I hear, Paul" he Began, that you are very attentive to Eugena Claiborne"
 T call on her occasionally" said Paul. He spoke cooly, but the blood mounted to his face.
 'So I hear-so hear" remarked Silas in a business-like way. "l hope you won't carry matters too far"
 What do you mean?' Paul inquired.
 'I wish l could go into particulars; wish I could tell you exactly what mean, but 1 can't. said Silas. All l can say is that it would be impossible for you to marry the young woman. My Lord!' he exclaimed. as he saw Paul close his jaws together. Amt there no other wo- man in the world?
 Do you know anything against the young ladys character?' the son asked.
 Nothing, absolutely nothing" was the response.
 well" said Paul, 'I hadn't considered the question of marriage at all, but since voti'ye brought the subject up. we may as well discuss it. You say it will be iIn- possfble for me to marry this young iadv. and you refuse to tell me why"
 He rose shook himself, walked the
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