The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-21


through the door, with good-natured
leaf-brown face beneath 1t, which
broadened into q wide smile as it's
owner bobbed cnergetically at Va
liant's greeting. "Fo' de Lawd!" she
exclaimed. wiping floury hands on
gngham apron. "Yo sho' is up early,
but All got yo' brekfus' ready, suh."
All right, Aunt Daphne. I'll be
back directly
He sped down to the lake to plunge
his head into the cool water and there
by sharpen the edge Of an appetite
that needed no honing.
He came up the trail again to find
the reading stand transferred to the
porch and laid with a white cloth on
which was set a steaming coffee-pot,
with fresh cream, saltless butter and
crisp hot biscuit; and as he sat down.
with a sigh Of pure delight, in his
, dressing-gOwn q creepy japanese
thing redeemed from womanishness
by the bold green bamboo of it's de-
sign-Uncle Jefferson planted before
him generous platter of bacon. eggs
and potatoes. These he attacked with
a surprising keenness. AS he buttered
his NTH biscuit he looked at the dog,
rolling on his back in morning costa
sy. with look of humorous surprise.
"Chum," he said, what DO YOU
think OF that? All my life a single
roll and q cup Of coffee have been
the most ! could ever negotiate for
breakfast, and then 1t was apt to taste
like chips and whet-stones. And now
look at this plate!" The dog ceased
winnowing his ear with q hind foot
and looked back at his master with
much the same expression. Clearly
his own needs had not been forgot
ten.
"Reck'n All bettah 60 ter git dat ar
machine thing" said Uncle Jefferson
behind him. "OP 'ooman, heah, she
low ter fix up de kitchen dis mawn-
In en- We begin on de house dis eve-
nin'."
"Right-o," said Valiant. Its all up
hill. SO the motor won't run away
with you. Aunt Daphne, can you get
some help with the cleaning?"
"He'p?" that worthy responded with
fine scorn. mo, sub. Moughty few,
In de town 'cep'n low-down yaller new
issue trash det ain wu'f KILN! Ah
gwineter 90 To- dat house mahsef 10
long. hannah en- tongs. en- git 1t FIX
up!"
Splendid! My destiny is in your
hands. You might take the dog with
you, Uncle Jefferson: the run will do
him good"
When the latter had disappeared
and truculent sounds from the kitchen
indicated that the era Of strenuous
cleaning had begun, he reentered the
library. changed the water in the rose
glass and set 1t on the edge Of the
shady front porch, where it's Haunting
blossom made a dash of bright Grim
son against the grayed weather-be aten
brick. This dcne. he opened the one
large room on the ground-foor that he
had not visited.
II was double the size Of the library,
= parlor hung in striped yellow silk
vaguely and tenderly faded, with a
tall plate mirror set over a marble
topped console at either side. In one
corner stood a grand piano of Circas-
sian walnut with keys of tinted
mother.of-pearl and a slender music
rack inlaid with morning-glories in the
same material. From the center of
the ceiling. above an oval table, de.
pended a great chandelier hung with
} glass prisms The chairs and sofas
were covered with dusty slip-covers OF
muslin. He lifted one of these. The
tarnlshed gold furniture was Louis
XIV. the upholstery of yellow brocade
with a pattern Of pink roses. Two
Japanese hawthorn vases sat on teak
wood stands and corner held a glass
cabinet containing a collection OF
small worries and faience.
He went thoughtfully back to the
great hall, where sat the big chest on
which lay the volume OF Lucille" He
pushed down the antique wrought
iron hasp and threw up the lid. II
was filled to the brim with textures:
heavy portieres Of rose-damask, table
covers OF faded soft-toned tapestry.
window-hangings Of dull green-all
with tobacco-leaves laid between the
folds and sifted thickly over with the
sparkling white powder. At the bot
tom. rolled In tarry-smelling paper. he
found half-dozen thin Persian pray
er-rugs.
"Phew!" he whistled. "1 certainly
ought to be grateful to that law firm
that inspected the place. Think OF
the things lying here all these years!
And that powder everywhere! It's
done the work, too, for there's not
sign OF moth. II I'm not careful. Ill
stumble over the family plate-it
seems to be about the only thing want
ing"
He thought n moment. then went
quickly into the library and began to