The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-01


 Well, you neenter worry bout dat kase I'll sho put a 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 eff you don't come, yo' pail natter cook his own vittles ter-morrer morn in. "
 Good night. Rhody, and pleasant dreams said Fanny, as the negro wo- man started out
 T dunner how anybody kin have pleas in drams 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 rod of iron. The new conditions, com blned with the insidlous fiattery 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 enter ed the door. For answer Rhody fell Into a chair. held both hands high above her head, and let them drop into her lap. The ges- ture was effective for dozen interpreta- tions. 'Welli' she exclaimed and then paused Patsy watching her narrowly the while. "I dunner how tis wid you, Sis Patsy, but wid me. it's live an rarn- live an Farm An I'm a-rarnin', mon spite CT de faok dat de white folks thinks niggers ain't got no sense.'
 "Dey doesi Dey does!' exclaimed Pat sy. But dey'l fin out better, an den-- Ah-h-h!" The last exclamation was a hoarse gutteral cry of triumph.
 You sho is talkln now!" cried Rhoddy. with an admiring smile. T knows It ter night ef I never know'd it before.'
 Patsy knew that some disclosure was coming. and she invited it by putting Rhody on the defensive. 'fs de trufe," she declared. Dat what make me feel so quare, Sis Rhody, when see you so ready fer ter collogue wid de white folks. " Rhody leaned forward with frown that was almost tragic in its heaviness. and spoke in a deep, unnatural tone that added immensely to the emphasis of her words. "'Oman, femme tell you; done it, an I'm glad 1 done 1t; an you'll be glad I done it. Patsy was drying the dish-pan with a towel. but suspended | operations the better to hear what Rhody had to say. "Dey done got It fxt up Ter ol Silas ter tine in wid de Publican par ty. He gwineter jine so he kin fin all der doin's, an all der comins an der gwines so he kin tell de yuthers. Dey got 1t all planned He gwinter Jine de Union League, an git 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 doesr cried Patsy; "dey takes us all fer fools. But won't dey be a walin' up when de time comes?"
 Then and there was given the death blow to Silas Tomlins ambition to be- come a republican politician. The Rev Jeremiah was appraised of the plan, which so far as Rhody was concerned, was a pure invention. Word went round, and when Slas 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 be enrolled.
 Rhody waited in the kitchen that night until Paul returned, and thenl she went to bed. Sias and his son wereNup earlier than usual the next morning, but they found breakfast ready ana 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 Claiborne.
 'I hear, Paul, he began, that you are very attentive to Eugenia Claiborne
 q call on her occasionally" said Paul.
 
 his face.
 "So I hear-so I hear" remarked Silas in business-like way. q hope you won't carry matters too far
 What do you mean?' Paul inquired
 'I wish I could go into particulars; wish I could tell you exactly what mean but I 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. "Ain't there nc other woman In the world?''
 "Do you know anything against the your> ladys character" the son asked
 Nothing absolutely nothing" was the response.
 "Well,' said Paul. q hadn't considered the question of marriage at all, but since you've brought the subject up, we may as well discuss it. You say 1t will be i'm possible for me to marry this young lady and you refuse to tell me why"
 He rose, shook himself. walked the length of the room and back again, and stood close to his father. You've already settled the question of marriage. I asked you last night about the report that yor intended to act with the radicals, anc you refused to i've me a direct answer That means that the report is true Dc you suS>ose that Eugenia Claiborne. ol any other decent woman, would marry the son of a scalawag?" he asked with 2 voice full of passion.
 The young man went out, leaving Sila; sitting at the table. "Lordl I hate tC hurt him, but he'd better be dead than tt marry that girl