"Would you leave them in ignorance, a threat to society?"

"Yes, until they can be moved. When I see these young negro men and women coming out of their schools and colleges well dressed, with their shallow veneer of an imitation culture, I feel like crying over the farce." Surely, Mrs. Durham, you believe they are better fitted for life?"

66

"They are not. They are lifted out of their only possible sphere of menial service, and denied any career. It is simply inhuman. They are led to certain slaughter of soul and body at last. It is a horrible tragedy."

Allan looked at her, smiled, and replied, "I knew you were a bitter and brilliant woman but I didn't think you would go to such lengths even with your pet aversions."

"It's not an aversion, or a prejudice, sir. It's a simple fact of history. Education increases the power of the human brain to think and the heart to suffer. Sooner or later these educated negroes feel the clutch of the iron hand of the white man's unwritten laws on their throat. They have their choice between a suicide's grave or a prison cell. And the numbers who dare the grave and the prison cell daily increase. The South is kinder to the Negro when he is kept in his place."

"You are a quarter of a century behind the times." "Am I so old?" she laughed.

"The sentiment, not the woman.

beautiful woman I ever saw."

You are the most

"I like all my boys to feel that way about me." "You don't class me quite with the rest, do you?" She blushed the slightest bit. "No, I've always taken a peculiar interest in you. I have quarrelled with everybody who has hated and spoken evil of you. I have always believed you were capable of a high and noble life of great achievement."

"And your faith in me has been my highest incentive to give the lie to my enemies and succeed. And I will. I will be the master of this state within two years. And I want you to remember that I lay it all at your feet. The world need not know it,—you know it." He spoke with intense earnestness.

66

But I don't want you to make such a success at the price of Negro equality. I feel a sense of unspeakable degradation for you when I hear your name hissed. At least I was your teacher once. Come Allan, give up Negro politics and devote yourself to an honourable career in law!"

He shook his head with calm persistence. "No, this is my calling."

66 Then take a nobler one."

But

"To succeed grandly is the only title to nobility here." Is the Doctor on speaking terms with you now?" "Qh! yes, I joke him about his hide-bound Bourbonism, and he tells me I am all sorts of a villain. we have made an agreement to hate one another in a polite sort of way as becomes a teacher in Israel and a statesman with responsibilities. By the way, I saw him driving to the Springs with a bevy of pretty girls a few hours ago."

"Indeed, I didn't know it!"

"Yes, he seemed to be having a royal time and to have renewed his youth."

An angry flush came to her face and she made no reply. McLeod glanced at her furtively and smiled at this evidence that his shot had gone home.

"Would you drive with me to the Springs? We will get there before this party starts back." She hesitated, and answered, "yes."

W

Gaston?"

CHAPTER XI

THE OLD OLD STORY

HEN Gaston arrived in Independence he went direct to St. Clare's.

"Where the Dickens have you been,

"Jumping from Murphy to Manteo making love to hayseed statesmen."

"They're all crazy. They swear they are going to have the United States establish a Sub-Treasury in Raleigh and issue Government script they can use as money on their pumpkins, or they are going to tear the nation to tatters and vote for a nigger for Governor if necessary!"

Can't you get into their fool heads that an alliance with the Republican party is the last way on earth for them to go about their Sub-Treasury schemes?"

"Can't seem to do a thing with them. McLeod's stuffed them full. I'm sick of it. I've a notion to let them go with the niggers and go to the devil. It's growing on me that there must be another way out. I can't get down in the dirt and prostitute my intellect and lie to these fools. We've got to get rid of the Negro." "A large job, old man.'

99

"Yes, it is, and thank God I'm done with it for a week. I'm going to heaven now for a few days. I'll see her in an hour. I rise on tireless wings!"

"Look out you don't come down too suddenly. The earth may feel hard."

"Bob, I'm going to risk it. I'm going to look fate squarely in the face and get my answer like a little man, for life or death."

Mrs. Worth met Gaston and greeted him with warmest cordiality.

"We are charmed to welcome you to Oakwood again, Mr. Gaston."

“I assure you, Mrs. Worth, I never saw a home se beautiful. I feel as though I am in paradise when I get here."

"I hope to see more of you this time, I feel that I know you so much better since our talk at the Springs." "Thank you, Mrs. Worth." He said this so simply and earnestly she could but feel his deep appreciation of her attitude of welcome.

66 Sallie will be down in a minute.” Gaston smiled in spite of himself.

"What are you laughing at?"

"I was just thinking how sweetly her name sounded on your lips."

66

Do you like these old-fashioned Southern names?" "I think they are lovely."

"Well, that's my name too."

Sallie suddenly stepped from the hall into the doorway.

Now, Mama, there you are again carrying on with one of my beaux! I don't know what I will do with you!"

Mrs. Worth actually blushed, sprang up and struck Sallie lightly on the arm with her fan exclaiming, "Oh! you sly thing, to stand out there and listen to what I said! Mr. Gaston I turn her over to you to punish her for such conduct."

"Isn't she a dear?" said Sallie when her mother was gone.

"I was charmed with her at the Springs, but the

gracious way she made me feel at home this morning completely won my heart."

"I can do anything with Mama. She's the dearest mother that ever lived. She always seems to know intuitively my heart's wish, and, if it's best, give it to me, and if it's not, she makes me cease to desire it. I wish I could manage Papa as easily."

"He does, but when he lays the law down, that settles it. I can't move him one inch."

"That's the way with forceful men, who do things in the world."

"Well, I confess I like to have my own way sometimes. I wonder if you are like that?

I'll be frank with you. Somehow I never could be anything else if I tried. I don't think a man of strong character will yield to every whim of a woman, whether wife or daughter."

"I heard of a man the other day who whipped his wife," she said in a far away tone of voice. "Come, my horse is ready, go with me for another ride to-day. I am going to take you across the river and show you a pretty drive over there."

They were soon lost in the deep shadows of the stately pine forest that lay beyond the Catawba. The road was a cross-country narrow way that wound in and out around the big trees.

They jogged slowly along while he bathed his soul in the joy of her presence. Oh, to be alone and near her! There seemed to him a magic power in the touch of her dress as she sat in the little buggy so close by his side. For hours, again he lay at her feet and drank the wine of her beauty until his heart was drunk with love.

Once he opened his lips to tell her, and a great fear awed him into silence. He longed to pour out to her his