The Newtown bee., 1904-12-23
THE HOME CIRCLE. KING SAUL THE SECOND.

MASTERS BETROTHAL IN FAR GONE
 SLAVERY DAYS IN vIRGINIA.-ELLA
 F. MOsBY IN THE SPRINGFIELD SUM
 DAY REPUBLICAN,.
 Richard" said Col Cabel with sinister smile, "Last Christmas l for got the usual compliments of the sea- son, ,"-his only daughter had chosen that time to elope, and his two young CT sons, Rupert and Ronald, had left by night without ceremony, Robert being already absent-"so a rather be- lated gift"-it was April-''is now on it's way to you. I think 1 might say 1t is unique. My gift is a-king."
 Richard looked up in surprise. "A king?" he repeated.
 His Irish blue eyeS-hiS great-grand- mother had been a Dublin belle-his dark curls, cut short, the fashion was for long hair at that date, the laughing curve of his mouth, made him look boyish, though his farm-a James river plantation well stocked,- had been given to him on attaining his majority three years ago. He alone had never had quarrel with his fath- CT, though the fact that he had taken charge of Glen Airy as soon as he had left college might have explained this.
 His fathers foot was in the stirr9p,;; "He is on the rOad-aS 1 have said, and with dignified gesture of fare we'll, he rode away to Oak Hill attend ed by his black body servant, at speed usually confined to young and reckless spOrtSmen.
 A chuckling laugh was heard from the porch corner
 "I beg yo' pardon, sir," said the overseer, "I s'pose father has right to hand over a puzzle to son, but this here is puzze for sho'! It's the nig- was one, right enough, of some tribe on the coast and onruly accordin'. If he ain't made to work it'll be hard to keep up discipline with the others. Elf he is, why the Lord knows what will happen, and I means no disrespect by sayin' so.''
 1.There's way out always" an is.'
 He had been sent under the charge negroes,-a tall, athletic savage of about 50 years. He was as lightly clad as decency allowed.
 All greeted Richard warmly except this stranger, and Richard answered cordially. He had been the favOrite of the colonel's sons with all the slaves.
 "I believe your Sam knows this fel- lows language" the overseer said. "Saul-that'S the name your father gave him,-won't let on to knowing more'n one English word-and that's a this ignorance, and he smiled grimly.
 Each master of slaves was a ruler over little community of SavageS, to be ruled firmly, wisely and kindly. The problems often involved life or death, and had to be guessed at once, most frequently. A blunder was dangerous.
 Richard walked up to the savage and touched him lightly on the shoulder. (Sam had already come on the scene). ''Oh, believe he'll understand mel" he said in pleasant tone. "TO-mOr- row may be holiday. Sam, want you to take him into your cabin" (It stood on a hill apart from the others). "YOu shall have new one pretty soon. Go fishing with him, if you like; Next day you'll both go to work"
 In spite of professed ignorance the strangers brow grew black: "I want to the overseer. "Saul can watch the ferry and put the boat across. Sam'll show him at first"
 "Sam," he added in lower voice, s'if the new man behaves all right you shall have Dinah next Christmas that is if she says 'yes'."
 A general laugh followed and a "thankye, thankye, Marster," from the delighted Sam.
 "Tell him, Sam, he'll have to fight for me, if war breaks out, or catch fish if 1 want him. That's all, now.'
 But at that moment, Dinah, the trim, light mulatto sweetheart of Sam, came out to ask the young masters orders for supper.
 Saul started, gazed at her with glow ing eyes and uttered a loud "Ugh!' Then he pointed first at her and next to himself, with a few rapid words to Sam, who reluctantly translated his request for "dat Woman"
 "Tell him 1 want wife, toO," an- swered Richard. "When 1 get mine if he has behaved well-he shall have one too. Not Dinah, though, I've got one in my eye thatll suit him. He must see Cumbie."
 Again the sunshine frightened Sam s face, and he was eager to take Saul to the cabin, probably much more connections than his lost A frican | palace, talking volubly as he went, to the newcomer.
 MT Dixon drew breath of relief | "Well," he said, "so far so good.'' In the next county, at the "Wil- lows," lived Judge Wynstone, whose wife, dying the same year that Col Cabell's wife died, left behind her four daughters. The judges sister lived | with them and reared the children in the graces and amenities of life-a marked contrast to the rough-and tumble living of the colonel's four boys. Of course the boys fell in love with the girls, their cousins, as well as neighbors. Ronald was in love with | Sarah first and then Mary; Rupert l with Alice and Elizabeth alternately; | Robert with the last one who smiled | upon him; Richard with Alice first, | last and always. The aunt, touched by his constancy, took pains to strengthen his principles and polish his manners. He owed it to her that there had been no breach with his father. But Alice was deaf to his love-making, and refused any serious answer Nevertheless he visited her twice week.
 On this occasion Betty ran out to meet him and brought him into the judges library by a French window at the back, enjolning silence from him while she rapidly explained the situa- tion thus:-
 "An Indian chief was returning to Florida with his braves after visit to