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

AAOAVAA ~AA\~H~s
 KING SAUL THE SECOND.
 TWO CHRISTMAS WEDDINGS, AND THE
 MASTERS BETROTHAL IN FAR GONE
 SLAVERY DAYS IN VIRGINIA.-ELLA
 F. MosBY IN THE SPRINGFIELD SUM
 DAY REPUBLICAN.
 "Richard," said Col Cabel with a 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 rather be- lated gift"-it was April-"is now op it's way to you. I think I might Sd y 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 Dublin belle-his dark curls, cut short, the fashion was for long hair at that date, the laughing curve of his mouth, made James river plantation well StOcked,- had been given to him on attaining his majority three years ago. He alone had never had a 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 Stirrup "He is on the road-as have said, " and with dignitied gesture of fare ed by his black body servant, at speed nOnfinn6 sportsmen.
 A chuckling laugh was heard from the porch corner
 1T beg yo' pardon, sir" said the Overseer, 'SI S'poSe a father has right - to hand over puzzle to son, but this here is puzze for sho'! It's the nig- ger they cali Saul and he's king, or was one, right enough, of some tribe on the coast and onruly accordin'. If keep up discipline with the others. Elf he is, why the Lord knows what will happen, and 1 means no disreSpect by sayin' so.''
 ''There's way out always" an swered Richard, laughing. "Here he is."
 He had been sent under the charge of Col Cabells Overseer and two other 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.
 1T 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 profane word:-it's mighty convenient, this ignorance" and he smiled grimly.
 Each master of slaves was a ruler over little community of savages, to 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 me!'' he said in pleasant tone. "Tomo row may be holiday. Sam, I want you to take him into your cabin" Ut stood on hill apart from the others). "You shall have a new one pretty like; like; , Next day you'll both go to
 In spite of professed ignorance the strangers brow grew black. "I want a man for the Ferry, Dixon, 7" he turned 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, | eff 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 deliphted Sam
 "Tell him, Sam, he'll have to fight for me, if war breaks out, or catch fish if I 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 loud "Ugh!" Then he pointed first at her and next to himself, with 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 Cunbie."
 Again the sunshine frightened Sam's face, and he was eager to take
  more commodiOus than his lost African palace, talking volubly as he went, to the newcomer.
 MT Dixon drew a 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. Tbe 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 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 e-making, and refused any serious | answer Nevertheless he visited her { twice week. ( On this occasion Betty ran out to 1 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- 1 tion thus:-
 "An Indian chief was returning to <1 vu{th hic hro voc flor visit tn