The Mena weekly star., 1909-09-02

'ssszlnihn An angel, uaawasss. Her faith h the 'sampins is part of her religion. m afraid you 'vo robbed me of the last ne had to love me, except Jocko and lrave.n
 The girl listening with avertel face iurned suddenly, and caught one of tho woman s hands and pressed t to her hut cheek.
 I've never wrongei you, intention ally, she said passionately. "I love you, for you 've been kind to mo. Fl Se glad if all the world lovcl you, and you could always be happy. You be- lieve me, don t you7 You don't think I'd do mean thing, do youl" The big black eyes were ra sed plead ngly to the woman g face, over which, came a look of astonishmeut, almost alarm.
 ''you strange child I was only jess- ing. I'm glad Aunt Debby loves you. How could she help itf"
 "And you don't think Ia wrong youf"
 s'Of course not Now, forget all about my unfortunate speech, and We win be the best of friepds. v
 'sI'm glad to hear you gay that. Some time, you Il know how it was. !" The girl arose from the steps and went back into the house, but not up stairs. She crossed the hall, to where Aunt Debby sat cn the back porch, stemming berries for supper. Elba did not follow, think ing it wiser to leave her alone.
 "Lawd Gawd, chile. Is you seed CT hantY" The old woman threw up her l berry-stained hands in alarm, when she saw the girl g face.
 sfYes, I've seen the ghost of my dead happiness. o The girl went and sat down on the steps, at the colored woman s feet, and leaned her arms on the woman s lap.
 "Annt Debby, I I'm in trouble, and don't know what to do You must tell me, just like you world your mistress ' She pushed the dark hair back from her face, and the eltsh eyes were lifted wist- fully to the dark face above her, as though asking in advance, for the advice to be in unison with her wishes
 "Guardy, you know who he is----'' kHowed it. | knowed it. l4awi Cawd, de trouble men docs mek fur wo- men an will mek jes cz long ez wo- men Il be troubled bout 'em, an dat Il be long ez dars one man, an one oman lcf' oi dis yearth. Whut s de trouble now, honey7"
 - 've loved Guardy all my life That is since he went to New Orleans and took me tiny orphan four years old, to hs home. He always thought of me as the child of his dead fricnd, nothing more. But he was all father could have been. He loved proud. l>autiful woman, but Fate separated them. He lad large picture of her, in his room The servants said he would gaze at it for hours, and sometimes talk to it..
 
 "Jcs lak riggcrs, allers pryin' an lisnen'.
 The girl did not think it necessary to explain that tho servants were white, bui went on with Ter story.
 1T could never see the picture, al though YVES often in lis rooms. He kept it in his bedroom, so they told me- hidden by silk curtain. Guardy world be absent from home for months, and his rooms were always locked. He would come home looking so unhappy, pitied l;ui. But he was never cross, but always gentle, and kind to every one. One day l went into the library, and found hin sitting by the table, his head bowed or L.s arms, which were folded on news Taper, spread on ths table before him was go ng to sip away, but he called me to him, Aunt Debby, was truly sor1 " for him, when he lifted h's head, he looked so m serable, but my heart beat wildly when he put out h's arm and drew me to him. Aunt Debby, he is such kingly man. Hc looks like a gol.
 "Dey all loks lak gawcs, CT sampin else jes' ez onpossible, when we's il Tub wid 'em, but tant offen, one acts lak CT angel, much less or gawd. 7
 .He told me he was going away to be gone for years, perhaps. I thought ] could not bear it, but he never guessed He told me he had just heard of the death of very dear friend, and was going to travel and try to forget. know it was wicked, but was glad she was dead, because I knew it was she of the pie ture.
 z You must go on just as you Are doing 7 he told me, [" If never re. turn you will be provided for, as far as money can provide, the rest leave to God hope you will be happy, and some day, make some one else happy. Il hurt mo to hear him speak so indifferent ly of never seeing me again. The years came and went, and I was left with my 1 teachers. and the servants. Guardy wrote me once in great while, and sent me presents often but said nothing of coming home I studied hard, and cul