The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-08

full of the dumb alteration Of slave.
when l get married" he heard her
say, It'll have wedding bell made
Of the wild plum blossoms-so much
daintier than the stiff. conventional
things one always Sees"
He laughed nervousIy. 'I'll have a
whole wagon load of them gathered as
soon as you say the word"
She stared at him insolently. @What
word?"
"Such little word. Katie-yes."
She still held him mercilessly with
the blue eyes that had taken on the
chill of polished steel.
"What are you talking about. john
sic Ralston?"
He rose from his crouching posture
to tower over her commandingly.
Don't you know that love you,
Katie? You will have to answer Yes
to that. There's no other honest an
swer'
She flung her answer at him defiant
ly: "Yes. What them,
"And don't you know that / want to
marry you? Haven't you known it
these half dozen years, Katie?''
"YeS. What then?"
.Then"-he held out pleading hands
to her-"oh. my little girl. will you
not come to me while the sweet wild
plums are bloSsoming for you and for
me? ] will try so hard to make you
glad all the days Of your life"
From under her crown Of wild flow
ers, she looked at him with cruel
smile Of negation. She vaulted lightly
earthward and stood before him with
her small hands casped behind her.
Standing thus. she dealt him his death
blow.
"Never, never, never, John Ralston!
III marry no coward. an it please you,
sir. Why didn't you kill Dave Sturms
the other day instead Of turning the
other cheek? All. you thought would
never hear of it. but you see / have-l
haye~ Her pretty face was dark with
passion. mo man shall ever point the
finger Of scorn at my husband. We'd
ding bell will never hang over you
and me, John. Goodby"
She flung him q mocking farewell
from the tips of her fingers and sped
homeward alone through the leafy
aisles of the forest.
He stood like man who has re-
ceiyed his deathblow in battle. ALE
the sweetness had gone out OF the
air, all the light out Of the sunny
day. He flung out his hands with a
gesture of despair.
She bad never loved him or she could
not have condemned him unheard.
How easy to convict her of error il
it had been worth whilee
It was then that he retired to the
Cross Bayou place and took up the life
Of hermit crab; all because he was
coward, you sec.
Only one human being accepted him
unuuestioningly. believed IN him abso-
lutely. That was Black Prince. and
when Johnsie went into retirement on
the Cross Bayou place Black Prince
went with him.
Prince was his foster brother andl
his chattel. Nanny Ann had nursed!
them both from her full maternal founr-
tains. There was nothing princeiv
about the chattel save his loyalty and
a chivalric devotion that found all Hhe
reward it asked in obliterstirg SELF, Sor
the object it adored.
"Mc and Nrarse Johnsie" comprised
the universe for Black Prince.
From Back Princes: point oS' view
lsfe as it was lived at Cross Bayou by
ame and Marse Johnsie" was simply
perfect. 4 little labcr and great deal
of resting-what mere could heart of
man ask?
If the white maa had his periods of
self disgust and bitter retrospection-
the black one w&s never tie wiser for
it. If there came to the master mo-
ments of passionate longing, when 4
Shadowy girl face looked at him from
out the memory lana with a cruel
smile of nesation on her sweet face,
the. chattel was never the sadaer for
It. If Prince was conscious Of any de-
ancd lon@iugs. It was to have things
20 on lux as they were forever and
forever unless, indeed, it might be for
The glorious annual excitement Of a
barbecue.
There was an unwritten law which
impellcd the people about Cross Bayou
to rally once q year and "ketch ur
with local affairs
No man assuming TO be considered 4
good citizen dared absent himself from
the general rally. Even Johnsie felt
the obligation laid upon him. The
gloom lifted temporarily from his
handsome face us he took the rcinS
from his hoSlIcr and gave rein to his
spirited bays and-to his fanc.r.
OF ccrr>c Katie Vernon would ht
there. lie had stayed away from tw'
annual barbccucs now for that very
reason. EQl he believed he had foun(
the words in which he could make hel
repent of her cruel charge withou
having to b!ackcn another mans char
, acter.
Perhaps she had already repented
Aunt Martial had given him friendly
message from her the last time he haf