Evening star., 1924-01-14
CHAPTER I. ..
The Buying of Patience Cornwe!l.

the year 1174. High blue skies.
hecked with fleecy clouds, cupped the
new world like a flower In its chal-
ice. Young life was rampant
young life of leaf and vine. Of bird
and beast and human. Young life Of
country, too. of hope and ideals
and ambition. The warm airs. scent
ed with rich and nameIess blooms.
swept over fields pushing thick with
new crops. while the tang of the sea
came in with subtle sweetness.
ir the streets of jamestown on a
goiden, sunlit morning. equipages
ana persons on foot were vending
the waterside of the River James,
where the good ship Helen, but lately
come from overseas. lay warped at
her moorings.
some two hundred OF them, of diff
fering estates and purposes, and
these were warmly welcomed in the
email world of he colonies. How
eagerly were they invited to its spa
cious homes, set in their flourishing
fields of tobacco! How keenly were
they listened to IS they descanted on
that other world across the wide
waters! Gossip OF notables: Of
events nigh three months old. OF
For In mansion and hut and tap room.
But the Helen carried other freight
IMAM becurled and powdered adven-
turers, seeking excitement and gain.
that most p.tiful of all commodities.
consignment of human slaves!
White people they were, called in
more polite parlance, bond-servants,
yet slaves to all intents and pur-
poses.
Out of the English prisons they
came, to be sent to Virginia and sold
TO the planters. under indenture, for
certain years of labor.
They were a motley lot which the
mother country turned loose upon her
offspring-some highwaymen, some
worse; and others mere failures in a
struggle, hard at best in a crowded
land, to live.
These latter were from the debtors
prison. old men, hollow-eyed and
hopeless. and several women
But what would you? The blacks
were few as yet, laborers were scarce
In the colonies, and the Indians then,
as now. were not hewers of wood
and drawers Of water.
The tobacco, fields were many and
sadly in need of cultivation. for the
gentry was more given to brocade
than homespun, to leisure than work
Most of them were descendants Of
families of means who boasted their
coronets and their seals.
It was gaily attired throng which
attended the sale that warm spring
day. There We're the Randolphs. the
Churchills. the Lees, and many rep
resentatives of other blue -blooded
families of Virginia, together with
their ladies. Interspersed with these
ers. who bought to sell again.
For the most part these were a
certain type easily recognized. They
were, necessarily, of a more or less
cruel persuasion; for none other
would have SO bartered in human
flesh. Some of them carried short
stocked, long-lashed whips, which
. they did not hesitate to use as con-
stant reminder to their unfortunate
property that they were masters SUI
preme and powerful.
In a green, low spot not far from
the wharfs edge had been set up a
huge block, section cut from what
had once been a noble tree, and clus-
tered back of this were the servants
to be sold. Some of these were hard
Visaged men, with rebellion stamped
upon them. Some were meek AMI
ashamed, but most of them were
sturdy and strong.
The old world knew what the new
world wanted and picked its stock
accordingly.
A wide circle Sf attendants ringed
The green. Ladies in rich garments
and powdered hair raised glasses in
Jeweled hands, the better to inspect
the interesting merchandise, and
bowed from the windows of their
coaches to this gallant and that. A
little way apart. as II she somehow
keemed upon a separate and delect-
able plane. young girl sat upon
horse. Maid and mount were alike
noticeable in a land whose women
were always beautiful and whose
horsef1esh was beginning to be a
type Of its own.
She was just turned twenty. that
enhancing age when the charm of
youth is adding to itself the clever
ness Of new experience.
Her face was oval, and OF deli
cate olive tint that threw out in
arrogant beauty. like a shining jewel
on velvet base. the dusky glow of
lip and cheek. The wide eyes be-
meath the sweeping red-brown lashes
were true hazel, that mysterious and
unstettling shade which is neither
beauty of both. The hair that shone
under the little hat she wore was
ed-brown. like the lashes, and it
was full of wayward rings.
motsed d0ehe and sm ahd hs SfoWa as hs
mistress locks. taken up his rest
less stand on the green's far edge.
than an instant audience drew out Of
the crowd. Macaronies in embroid.
der canes, seemed to spring from the
very turf, full-panoplied. For this
was none other than Mistress Pencil
ope Dunmore. daughter Of Lord Dun
more, the governor of Virginia.
Young Timothy Lovelace, son Of a
peppery and whole hearted Irish
planter, whose keen tongue had won
him a somewhat unenviable fame
among his English neighbors. was the
first to reach the girls side.
"a good day, Mistress Penelope" he
said, with a bow whose like was hard
to match for grace in all the county.
we'll complimented, I. vow, to have
brought to the spectacle of their sale
the fairest lady in Virginia"
There was slight brogue In his
musical voice, and his deep blue eyes
said a daring lot more than his smil-
ing lips.
you are quick of speech, Mr.. Love-
lace said the girl as quickly; but
does It not bespeak many golden
hours idled away in cogitation on the
which to compliment lady's looks?"'
"A peg OF ale on that, Tim," said
Harry Corton, coming up with youn
Jack Frisbee to kiss Penelope's white
hand; she tripped you there for fair.
= .Tis a lovely head that can hold
beauty and wit together"
And he, too, told Mistress Penelope
some eloquent things with glance
upon them from her side-saddle with
q pretty and quiet smile.
You blades!" she scoffed, do you
DO nothing, pray, but ogle the fair? :?
Oh, for real man, who is not afraid
OF honest labor and accomplishments
The discounted trio laughed, per-
force. and fiecked their ruff1es, preen-
ing against the observation of the
many feminine eyes that were sure
to turn their way during the morning.
Suddenly Mr.. Corton turned to her.
"Perchance, Mistress Pen, your
wish is answered. Yonder stands
what might fill the description" He
nodded toward the far side of the
green. where the less aristocratic OF