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

ratification or rejection of the new con- stitution, and for the election of govern or and members of the general assembly. The election was to continue Tor three days, a provision that was intended to enable the negroes to vote at as many precincts as they could conveniently reach in eighty-three hours. It was the remembrance of this initial and over whelming combination of fraud and cor ruption that induced the white, at later day, to stuff the ballot boxes and sup press the votes of the ignorant.
 These things gradually worked up the feelings of the whites to a very high pitch of exasperation. The worst Tears of the most timid bade fair to be realized. for the negroes were beginning to as- sume an attitude which would have been threatening and offensive if their skins had been white as snow.
 Gabriel was now old enough to appre- ciate the situation. though he never could bring himself to believe that there were clements of danger In it. He knew the negroes, too we'll But he was familiar with the apprehensions of the community and after time, it became clear, even to him, that something must be done to convince the misguided negroes that the whites were not asleep.
 He studied hard both night and day but he spent the greater part of his time Tn the open air. He had no tutor, but hts line of study was mapped out for him by Meriweather Clopton. who was aston ished at the growing appetite of the lad for knowledge
 What he most desired to know, how ever, he had made no inquiries about He ached to know why he had suddenly come to be afraid of Nan Darlington.
 One day when Nan was returning nome from the village, she saw Gabriel coming directly toward her. She studied the ground at her feet for considerable dis- tance, and when she looked up agalh oa- briel was gone. This episode was sne cause of considerable worry to Nan. She gave Mrs. Darlington the particulars, ana then asked her what 1t all meant.
 .sWhat silly childrenr' exclaimed Mrs. Darlington, with her cute French accent.
 Nan went to a window and looked out, drumming on a pane
 q konw why he hid himself. Nan de- clared frcm the window. "He has founo out that I was in the closet with Tasma Tid"
 well. YOU weDe there" replied Mrs. Darlington, "and since that is so, why not make a joke of it? Gabriel knows as well as I do that 1t would be impossible for you to do anything very wrong"
 "Oh. but it isn't impossible" Nan in- sisted II feel wicked, and I know I am wicked If Gabriel Toliver ever dares 10 find out that I was in that closet. I'll tell him what I think of him, and then Ill--' Her threat was never completed Mrs. Darlington rose from her chair just in time to place her hand over Mans mouth.
 If you were to tell Gabriel what you really think of him. said the lady nc would have great astonishment."
 Gabriel was as much mystifed by his own dread of meeting Nan. as he was by her coolness toward him. But he had his own world to fall back upon-a world Of books. the woods and the fields And he was far from unhappness. He walked about among the old friends with lively sense of their vitality and their fruitful ness. He was certain that the fields knew him as we'll as he knew them-as for the trees. he had feeling that they knew his name well as he Knew theirs. Gabriefs favorite Bermuda field was crowned by hill, which gradually stop ing upward, commanded fine view Of the surrounding country: and though fr was close to Shady Dale, 1t was lonely place.
 Many and many time while sitting on this hill, Gabriel had watched the village