The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-12
1T WAS WORTH
 THAT COUNTED
BY THoMAs B. nroNrroRT.

 I The Cliftons were of the proudest of | the proud old families of the South. They twere Kentuclkians, and everybody who knows the Kenfuckian of quality knows how proud he is of himself. his State and his family name.
 | In the common parlanoe of the old ne- groes of the South, "the Cliftons held their heads as high as the next one. and they were not stepping out of the road for anybody" They were careful in forming associations. and whoever would approach them on tertns of equality or l friendship had to show family record that would bear the closest scrutiny. I Of all the members of this proud old famiIy Colonel Joe Clifton was probably tthe haughtiest and most exclusive. The | line with which he had encircied himself, Iseparating his friends and associ4tes lfrom the common run of humanity was livery narrow, and there were few who iwere able to get inside of 1t. Neithes wealth nor worth were sufficient to gain admission for an aspirant unless they
 were backed by clean family pedigree. Colonel Joe had only one chiid-a daugh- ter Her name was Emily. She was young, beautiful and talented. and. fur. ther. she was the apple of the coloners leye. He loved her with a love that was l almost ideiatreus, and as she grew up ak was with a feeling of bitter sadness that he began to look forward Go the time
 when she would leave him. "It would not be 50 bad" he once ob- served. If she could find man half way
 Even among the best and highest fami- lies of old Kentucky there is not man
 who is worthy of smile from her lips" 1 In time the colonel began to cast about for a man to whom he could entrnst his daughter with as much as a moderate de- gree of satisfaction. He ran the whole gamrt of his acquaintances. and finally. after weighing each one / carefully and well. decided on one who. while he fell far short of the celoners requirements. still came nearer than any of the others to filling them.
 This man was Major Buck, an easy go- ing scion of race of aristocrats. He was poor, but too proud to demean him. self SD far as to improve his conditions by work. He was several years older than Miss Emily. and there were some nther disparagements between them, but he had a good family record. and that answered for the rest. ss When he thought the proper time had arrived for the Major and Emily to meet, Colonel Clifton sent the former an tnyi- tation to visit him. The Major gladly ae- ceDted. for to him few weeks or a few months good, free living was a matter of some moment His acceptance was as prompt as anyone could have asked. but lit was very little more prompt than his own appearance at the Clifton home. In the meantime, Miss Emily. setting less store by family name than her Sath- CT did. had found the acquaintance of young fellow named Ben Smith. The. Smiths in the language of one of Colonel CIifton's old negroes. "was de6 bout de porest an onerist oh all de no-count l white trash" And as for family honor ! and quality, they never stopped to con- sider such things.
 But in spite of his connection Ben was | most worthy young man. He was hon. est, industrious, sober and ambitious. In his way he was proud, too-not of his family or. his ancestors. but of his own character and good name. The acduRintanceship which had sprung I up between Emily and Ben Smith had
 soon ripened into friendship, and. as Ht- l tie as Colonel Clifton suspected it. it bid fair to. ripep into. a much depeer and stronger attachment. The Colonel might have had suspicion of this if by any. means dha could have conceived how tt ! could be possible that Clifton could for
 a moment entertain thought of falling in love with a man whose family con- nections were so low and common as l those of Ben Smith.
 | It wasn't long after Major Bucks ar rival when he began to make eyes" at Emily The Colonel noticed this and he was greatly pleased. Emily noticed 1t, too. but if she was pleased she did not show it. She was not smiling on him any, and all the time she was meeting Ben Smith.
 Finally the Major told the Colonel that he would like to pay court to Miss Emily with a view of winning her for his wife. The Colonel replied that he was willing. and. furthermore, undertook to convey to Emily the Majors wishes. This was in accordance with an old custom of the 1 first families" and was no doubt quite 1 proper: but unfortunately for the Major | Ben Smith was not bound by custom, ands I instead of asking the colonel to convey his wishes to Miss Emily. he conveyed them himself.
 The first opp5rtunity the colonel had of speaking with his daughter in private he said to her:
 Emily, I have a bit of news for you that am sure will be both pleasant and dattering."
 He paused. and after short wait she said:
 "Yes, papa?"
 "Major Buch. aham-m. has done me the ! honor to ask for permission to pay court to you with view to winning you for his | wife" the colonel went on. "It is not surprising, considering your beauty and goodness. but. nevertheless. 1t Is very gratifying"
 gro you?'' she asked.
 Certainly And also to you, hope"
 'HThen I fear I must disappoint you, papa. I do not care for the majors so- ciety at all."
 'Why?'
 "Well, I don't love him"
 4'But you can learn to love him. Think
 of his familyl There's no better stock in
 old Kentucky than the Bucks" | q don't care if the Bucks were kings. IT would not marry the major. won't
 marry any man don't love, and I'll never love Major Buck"
 sfIow do you know you won'tT'
 Emily hesitated moment. then with her head bent low, she murmured:
 ''Because I already love another"
 "Another!" the colonel exclaimed.
 ''You're joking. You've never met any
 other gentleman, so you have had no Ichance to fall in love-"
 ''You are mistaken, papa. have met
 another gentleman, and love him."
 'swho is it, thenP"
 Emily lifted her head high and looked her father straight in the eyes. In a
 steady. firm voice she said:
 ''The gentleman love is Ben Smith. !" The fat was surely all in the fire then. The colonel was stunned for a moment. but as soon as he recovered himself he
 turned loose regular storm of vituper- ation.
 Ben smithr' he snorted. Great Scot.
 can 1t be possible I heard alright? Can l