The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-11-10

cred with new emotion. "You can
count on me as long as you want me.
Make your own terms. You are the
honestest woman l ever saw"
The school bell rang joyously. It
seemed to have lost it's usual strident
tones. They both started as if from
reverie. She was looking up at him,
proud OF her conquest, and he was gaz-
ing down upon her, little ashamed OF
his feeling, but very firm.
"Can You come next Monday and
talk over details. The planting is a
little late"
I'll come, Mrs. Mason, an befoh I
forget it, | want to call 'tention to
Uncle Wash. You see, Uncle Wash
has always lived on the place, an |
promised father to look out foh him.
He's no-account niggah an feed
him regular. He's living alone In the
old cabin. He's only about sixty. but
he cahn't work, as his legs sorter give
out, an reckon he's little of cot
ton-picker. Cahn't We let him stay
there. I'll look out for him. Ye see,
Mis- Mason, I'm powerful fond OF him,
an he's right smarht troubled about
the change"
Mrs. Mason laughed merrily. "Oh.
know Uncle Wash We'll; he comes
regularly for supplies. He shan. be
turned out Of his cabin as long as he
lives"
Bud Seagle did not answer. He
just looked his gratitude at her. then
turned silently away, and went out
into the setting of the sun. Clean,
white gowned black girls glanced at
him curiousiy. STRAIGHTFORWARD negro
boys walked with military alertness
about their business. Bud gazed upon
them with an air Of proprietary inter-
est, still dazed by his sudden decision.
How account for it? There was
witchery somewhere. He-Bud Sea
gle-a rider for colored school, En-
tranced, he mounted his horse. AS he
frightened on the bit. he felt tremb-
ling touch upon his leg. A pitiful,
emaciated face looked up with shrewd
imploring eyes. The figure was in
tatters, and barefooted. How is hit
Mass'r Seagie? Dohn't tell me | go ter
go"
Its al right, Uneie Wash; you can
stay as long as We live. The School
will let ye do hit. I'm going to stay,
too"
Bud affectionately patted the frayed
coonskin cap.
| From the old slaves eyes hot tears
of joy fell and blinded him. AS ne
dragged his way with his stick. his
gray head bobbed. and, across the cot
ton-feId, red-skirted children, return
! ing home from scLtC! heard Uncle
! Wash grooming in rythmie exuitation
and wondered what new religion the
old paralytic had experienced.
So Bud Seagle rode to the mansion
that was still to be his own. and as he
passed under the great. green-fngered
| pines. they whispered to him in
| tongues he knew so well, and WELDON
ed his return. -.-..
| Rider, Why, he had been a rider
all his life, The Seagle place was
rented out in forty-seven one-horse
farms He knew every inch of the
sail, every tenant. He knew how to
ditch the barren hills: he knew how
to deal with impreyident slackness.
None better understood than he when
TO plox and when to wait-what sort
CT sweep TO run. not too deep and not
too shallow-ghen TO plant cotton,
when the corn, and where the cane
He was an expert in wedding cut corn
so that it should not grow too thick
He discerned when TO hoe the cotton,
and when TO pick it at its fullest white
ness 1881 -=
But he had not only to know the
land and judge the crops. but he must
be master of his people. and prescribe
as to when and where and how they
should work. Negroes are only chill
dren, and il they are not told and driv-
en-, they will starye-none are SO
.=z-s .a=st e#~er-