Evening journal., 1914-01-01
"DIxIE---HEROINE"
Southern New Years Story
Bv Miss Florence A. Maxwell

~yo Dixie-whar am you? I 'clar
To goodness dat chile gets more
'streperous every day she lives Ana !
NANNY Chloe. her usually beaming
face wrinkied with deep frowns ana
her red bandana turban all aWiy' 4
clapped her hands and yelled lusuy' +
as She stood in the doorway OF her /
little cabin Zone of many on the !
Lindsey plantation in South Carolnal /
hut to no avail. Not a sound from
Dixie Nanny Chloe's only child
her pride and Joy, but often as Oh
the present occasion. a torment as
well. Meanwhile, where was DIXIE.
Far away from the sound of her Ola
mammys yc e. the littlo darky girl
with kinxv hair securely plated ia
numerous tiny braids and tied with
narrow ribbon of various nues' was
enjoying stolen treat with Ben anu
Molly the small son and daughter Oh
Judge Charles W. Lindsay, the owner
of the plantation. who had retlreo
from public life some years before
and was now enjoying the beautiful
surroundings of the plantation which
brought a snug income yearly.
Ben and Molly, in passing through
the drawing room on their way 10
play had spied a box of candy pre-
sented the evening before to Sister
Betty. BY Thomas A. Leighton, 2nd,
only son and heir of Thomas A.
Leighton. a near neighbor and large
property owner and Betty's fiance
J.. Concealing their prize, the two chill
dren ran from the room and bumped
into Dixie who was promptly invited
to share the treat After helping to
finish the chocolates Dixie ran hast
ilv back to Nanny Chloe who de-
/, manded to know where she had been.
Dixie refused to say and thereupon
Justice was meted ou. to her.
, Francis Gray, the son of another
near neighbor was also suitor for
the hand of charming Betty, who was
typical maid Of the sunny southland.
, Olive cheeks dimpled and rosy, dark
, flashing eyes, dark brown hair which
J waved rebelliously and, to quote Bet
! ty "just would not stay in place
Truly a charming picture was Betty
whose disposition was as winnins
and adorable as herself. She was
I the despair of many ardent swain'
. who came to WOO, and the envy o.
: many pretty maidens who were open
. ly Jealous of the southern beauty.
> Betty was the idol of the small DiNl
< who. followed her faithfully round tn
il house. ever ready TO fetch and carry
o her bidding.
u When at last the fair Betty had con
l. scented to bestow her hand and heart upo
s dashing Young ~Iom' Leighton-a IA
vorite with young and old. the maiden
n felt that rival had gone from thel
IS midst and the swains were in despair o
!. the deepest kind. But Dixie was delir
,- iously happy, for next TO Betty she love
:, Tom. and she reioleed that her two sp'
y cial favorites We're going to wed.
~ The friends of the popular young cot
y pie wished them all possible happiness
ss all but Francis Gray.
rs Desperately in love with Betty,
10 had lily enjoyed his rivals victory am
wild with jealousy, had sworn that ! Of
should not live TO marry Betty; but a
knew how matters stood and thought
merely the whim Of a jealous man.
l! II was holiday week on the Nd aaio
christmas had come and gonto setei
iovment enhanced by "A deep sn'harc nc
ndO minute uciIl 7i'At ~ 40
re coasting parties from the "MonsN @.ai
surrounding homes
OF Many of Betty's friends and coliel
O. mates we're her house guests-they ma
at inc come to attend the New Years Da
's. at which formal announcement
re the engagement was to be mad
re Tom had during the year,
of cured fine position in lawyers ON
he in Savannah, Ca, and had hopes
ke beinp taken into the firm some day.
Betty had seen him seldom and was
the more anxiously awaiting his arriy
on that evening. New Years eve-and I
an evening before the big ball. which w
.st the event of the year. The day,want
III glowing wintry sunset had faded m
Is. the chill and gloom OF a wlntry nisi
he which as it came on. was hghted py I
X RAYS of a December moon.
)m Betty all eNpectant, sat by the vi
lar dow. watching, and ioyously hummi
he the refrain of an old song which She
on Tom both loved;
on Just "a song at twilight.
When the lights are low;
When the quiet shadows
softly come and 60
When the
uars footsteps. Betty jumped do
III from the window seat and ran TO
doorway. But no Tom. Only sol
quests who had been riding and W.
in late returning.
ing Darker grew the shadows-lat