Putnam patriot., 1912-03-08
-1t.s positively squalidl" cried Be.

Its positively squalidl" cried Bet r. with a little stamp of her foot. Ware glanced about with dull eyes,
 I'll tell you, Betty, I'm busy this morning; you poke about and see what you want done and we'll do it, 1" he said, and made a nasty retreat to his office.
 Betty returned to the porch and seating herself on the top step, with sunk in the palms of her hands. gazed about her miserably enough. She was still there when half an hour later Charley Norton galloped up the drive from the highroad. Catching sight of her on the porch. he sprang from the saddle. and. throwing his reins to & black boy. hurried to her side.
 Inspecting your domain. Betty?" he asked, as he took his place near her on the step.
 Why didn't you tell me. Charley or at least prepare me for this?" she asked. almost tearfully.
 How was I to know, Betty? 1 haven't been here since you went away. dear-what was there to bring me? Old Tom would make COW pasture out of the Garden of Eden. wouldn't he-a beautiful, practical. sordid soul he is!"
 Norton spent the day at Belle Plain; and though he was there on his good behavior as the result of an agree ment they had reached on board The Naiad, he proposed twice.
 Tom was mistaken in his supposi- ton that Betty would soon tire of Belle Plain. She demanded men, and teams, and began on the lawns. This interested and fascinated her. She was out at sun-up to direct her labor CTS. She had the advantage of Charley Norton's presence and advice for the greater part of each day in the week. and Sundays he came to look over what had been accomplished, and, as Tom firmly believed, to put that little fool up to fresh nonsense. He could have booted him!
 As the grounds took shape before her delighted eyes, Betty found leis- ure to institute a thorough reforma- ton indoors. A number of house serv- ants were rescued from the quarters and she began to instruct them in their new duties.
 Betty's sphere of influence extend ed itself. She soon began to have her doubts concerning the treatment accorded the slaves, and was not long in discovering that Hicks, the over seer, ran things with a heavy hand. Matters reached a crisis one day when, happening to ride through the quarters, she found him disciplining a refractory black. She turned sick at the sight. Here was a slave actual ly being whipped by another slave while Hicks stood looking on with his hands in his pockets, and with a brutal, satisfied air.
 "Stop!" commanded Betty, her eyes blazing. She stroye to keep her voice steady. You shall not remain at Belle Plain another hour"
 Hicks said nothing He knew 1t would take more than her saying so to get him of the place. Betty turned her horse and galloped back to the house She felt that she was in no condition to see Tom just at that mo- ment, and dismounting at the door, ran upstairs to her room.
 Meantime the overseer sought out Ware in his office. His manner of stating his grievance was singular. He began by swearing at his employ CT. He had been insulted before all the quarter-his rage fairly choked him; he could not speak.
 Tom seized the opportunity to swear back.
 Sent you off the place, did she; well, you'll have to eat crow. I'll do all l can. l don't know what girls were ever made for anyhow, damned if I dol" he added.
 Hicks consented to eat crow only after MT. Ware had cursed and ca joled him into a better and more for giving frame of mind.
 Later, after Hicks had made his apology, the two men smoked friendly pipe and discussed the situa- tion. Tom pointed out that opposi- ton was useless, losing game; you