Evening star., 1925-07-12

l. to smile on the last master of
Holmacres. Then, suddenly,
4 with the advent of the
strangers and the coincident
creation of 'Lijah, came, too, the
visit of the angels.
The two strangers knew nothing of
the evil days that had befallen Judge
Holmstead, nor were they particularly
interested, since their mission con-
cerned not the fortunes, either good
or ill, of others but the betterment
of their own. What they knew con-
cerning the Judge and Holmacres was
furnished by the aged negro. who,
with his ramshackle surrey and an
cient nag, eked out a precarious
existence driving transients about the
countryside. They had found him at
the railway station in Wynnesbor-
ough, the county seat, and he had
driven them along the five miles OF
deep-rutted road that stretched from
the town TO Holmacres.
During a lull in their conversation
he half-faced about.
'''Scuse me, gen'lemens," he OBJ
served, II don't mean no hahn by
astin' 1t, but-you all is Yankees,
amt you?"
Northerners-yes," one of them
answered.
"Yessuh. / thought so. You jus
don't talk like white folks-I means
like uss white folks, Boss"
The stranger who had answered
the query-the younger and less
grave-appearing of the two-smiled.
Wed heard so much of your
Southern hospitality that we thought
we'd come down and see what 1t Is
like
"Hawspitality? Well suhs, you is
comm to de place wheah it was in
vented at-when you comes TO see de
Judge"
Then the old man-product of
bygone day and still living in the
memory of its glories-described the
hospitality of Holmacres as it had
been and as he still saw it. 1t was
the most fertile plantation in the
country, and its owner, Judge Holm
stead, by odds the richest man, the
most-learned lawyer, the noblest
gentleman, and the most open
handed host who ever breathed. His
house was the finest that had ever
been built: he set the most sumptuous
table in the land. Judge Homestead
to sum it up, was real quality not
like some of the trash which had
sprung up with the last generation
Thus the strangers were prepared in
a measure for the picture which greet
ed them a few moments later, "A grove
of broad-topped live oaks, with the
house in the near distance, mansion
of cement-walled, slate-roofed dignity,
with the huSe-columned, two-storied
veranda reaching in stately welcome
across It's entire front. And as they
stepped from the conveyance and
came I'D the cape jasmine bordered
walk. another picture was limned be-
fore them, a man well past three
who had risen from his chair. He
had removed his broad -brimmed hat,
barring a name of iron-gray hair. and
now stood. despite the dingy frock
coat that he wore. a figure as I'M
posing as one of his own Ionic
columns, courteously eXpectant at the
visitors approach.
The young stranger introduced his
companion and himself. They were
from the North, and their business
was that of timberland investors. one
of their agents had sent reports of
hardwood acreage adjacent TO the
Tombigbee, and they were making
personal trip of inspection. They
wished to find d place-a boarding OF
lodging house. Did Judge Holmsted
know of such a place?
x& <
MASTERS of Holmacres, since that
AVA first one who had erected a man
sion in what was at that time
wilderness, had been famed for their
hospitality Nor had they been con-
tent with the thought that the neigh
boring gentry only should be the re-
cipients of their bounty. for that first
one, a little strangely perhaps for one
Of cavalier forbears, had caused TO
be carved beneath the broad fire
mantel in the central hall this in
scription:
BE not forgetful to entertain
strangers. for thereby some have en-
tertained angles unawares.
Judge Holmsted was of that breed.
II couldn't think of letting you gentle
men stay anywhere but here" He
spoke with a soft slurring of RS and
a dropping of final g's which any
attempt TO put into print serves only
to distort and make grotesque. You
must do me the honor of becoming
my guests during your stay"
The older stranger demurred. why
that's awfully kind of you,
Judge. But We really couldn't take
advantage of your hosp
You'll be taking no advantage at
all. sir" There was no hint of sub
servience in the way the judge said
sir" II was the courteous form of
address toward strangers which had
been the custom during his youth.
ON the contrary, you'll really be do
ing me favor. I'm an old man,
centlemen'-his smile would have
won them had they really been hes
liant at accepting his hospitality
"a little lonely at times. and | like
company. And visitors. nowadays. are
rare"
The strangers accepted the invita-
aon with suspicious readiness. They
hailed the ancient driver of the surrey.
who had remained waiting in the
driveway and who now brought in
their luggage. For Just moment
Judge Holmsted seemed ever so
slightly embarrassed, a slight flush
mantled his cheeks. And then, with
out stopping to think what ii might
mean, he created-'Lijah.
BE seated, gentlemen" he invited
while ! call some one to bring in
your baggage" He took a step to-
ward the broad doorway. =" Lijah"
he called. There was no answer. He
called again. more loudly, . Lijah"'
!