The Washington herald., 1915-09-05

to New York and see his young Marster
Blandford." Old as he is, he has deal of COM
mon sense, so I've let him 60. | couldn't refuse
lli1n-he seemed to have concentrated all his
hopes and desires into this one adventure into
the wide world You know he was born on the
plantation, and has never been ten miles away
from it in his life And he was your fathers
body servant during the war. and has been al
WAYS a faithful vassal and servant of the fam
lily. He has often the gold watch-the
watch that was your fathers and your fathers
fathers. | told him it was to be yours, and he
begged me to allow him to take it to you and
to put it into your hands himself.
$50 he has it, carefully inclosed in buck
skin case, and is brnging it to YOU with all the
pride and importance of a kings messenger. |
gave him money for the round trip and for a
two weeks stay in the city. | wish you would
see to it that gets comfortable quarters
Jake won't need much looking after-he's able
to take care of himself But I have read in the
papers that African bishops and colored poten-
tates generally have much trouble in obtaining
food and lodging in the Yankee metropolis.
That NAV be all right: but don't see why the
hest hotel there shouldn't take Jake in. Still,
I suppose it's rule
"I gave him full directions about finding
vou and packed his valise myself. You won't
have to bother with him; but do hope you'll
see that he is made comfortable. Take the
watch that he brings vou-it's almost a decora-
ton. 1t has been worn by true Carterets, and
there isn't stain upon it nor false movement
of the wheels. Bringing it to YOU is the crown
ing iov Of old lakes life. wanted him to have
that little outing and that happiness before it Is
too late You have often heard us talk about
how lake pretty badly wounded himself, crawl
ed through the Redeemed grass at Chancellors-
vile to where YOUR father lay with the bullet in
his dear heart and took the watch from his
pocket to keep it from the "Ganks
$50. nv son, when the old man comes con-
slider him as frail but worthy messenger from
the o1d-time life at home.
''You have been so long away from home
and 50 long among the people that we have al
wavs regarded as aliens that I'm not sure that
lake will know YOU when he sees YOU. But
Jake has keen perception, and rather believe
that he will know Virginia Carteret at sight.
| can't conceive that even ten years in Yankee
land could change boy of mine. Anyhow, I'm
sure YOU will know Jake put eighteen col
lars in his valise If he should have to buy
others. he wears a number 1512. Please see that
he gets the right ones He will be trouble to
YOU at all.
''If YOU are not too busy. I'd like for you
to find him place to board where they have
white-meal cOrn-bread, and try to keep him
from taking his shoes off in YOUR office or on
the street. His right foot swells little, and he
likes to he comfortable.
"If YOU can spare the time, count his hand
kerchiefs when they come back from the wash.
bought him dozen new ones before he left.
He should be there about the time this letter
reaches YOU told him to go straight to your
office when he arrives.
As soon as Blandford had finished the read
irg Of this, something happened (as there
should happen in stories and must happen on
the stage).
Percival. the office boy, with his air of de-
spising the worlds output of mill supplies and
leather betting, came in to announce that a COL
ored gentleman was outside to see Mr.. Bland
ford Carteret.
Bring him n, said Blandford, rising.
John Carteret swung around in his chair and
said to Perciva: ASK him to wait few min
utes outside Well let vou know when to bring
him in.
Then he turned to his cousin with one of
those broad slow smiles that was an inheri-
tance of all the Carterets. and said:
Bland, I've always had consuming Curl
ositv to understand the differences that you
naughty Southerners believe to exist between
YOU all and the people OF the North. OF
course I know that you consider yourselves
made out of finer clay and look upon Adam as
only collateral branch Of your ancestry; but
l don't know why. never could understand
the differences between us.
We'll, John,' said Blandford, laughing.
what YOU don't understand about it is just
al. - T f,a