A Daughter of Maryland.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1136, 3 November 1904, Page 4

A Daughter of Maryland.

CHAPTER XI, THRGRAYMONTFIHIIIKE, The footstep hoard by Auriau and hot father had not been inado by tho exported Robert, but by tho housekoopor, who, usually calm and unconcerned about matters, was now greatly excited. "What is that crazy B'foseu Jones is letting the niggers all wild with ? Major L»noier, I wish you would stop him at once. Ho will drive what little work thoro is in those creatures from them. And young Beruere has boon up hero tolling about how Carroll Southard has been caught trying to run off one of Old Evans' niggers, and they havo hung him down at the old Granary I" Under ordinary circumstances Mrß Ralston would soonor have bitton nor tongue off than to mention tho name of Southard beforo her master, and now that she had aotually done it, aho gazed about tho room as it looking for au avenue of escape in case tho worst should happen. "You don't moan that Carroll Southard has been oaptnred, Mrs Ralston?" Aurian oried, vexed the next inomet for the words and the tone in which she had spoken them. " That's what 1 understood Mr Earners to say, though I was so flustored that I may not have beard him correctly." "Zoundsl" exclaimed the major,suddenly waking up to the situation. " What is all this babbling about ? Has that young Southard got back into theso parts again I I had hoped we had seen the last of him." "Yes, air," replied tho housekeeper faintly, and now that she bud accomplished tho mischief sbo hastenod from the room. '! Pray what do you think about this Boapegraco of Graymont, miss?" demanded Major Lanc'er, luming tiercoly upon Aurian. "I know (bat ho came to Undo Frost's house the night of tho Btorm, as I saw him, though I did not havo an opportunity to speak to him. Tho rest I have beard the same as you have." " Woll, I should like to catch him running off one of my nigsjorsl Honovor would run off another, Bin it socms they have caught him, and if so 1 wouldn't give much for his life' "IsitßUcha torriblo thing, father, to assist an abused slave to escape?" " Terrible thing ?" demanded the owner ol Bylvania, " What can be worso ? It is worso than stealing; it is a criino for which thert is but one adequato punishment." " 1 think you might make an exception in the case of Jason Evans," declared a clear, ringing voice from tho hall, aud father and daughter turned to moot Robert, who was the calmest of the three. "ft is such men as Jason Evaos that .have thrown the cureo overslavory," "Ho, young man I so you have dared to appear at last. Hold 1 net another step until you have explained your conduct." "I do not understand you," replied Robert, and if ho was feigning surprise ho was a-good aotor. " You know w,ell enough what I mean, sir. All the town does, if you do not, and when you have loarned it from tho stroot babbler, come back aud answer my question."

" 1 prafor to aaawqr it without socking that publicity," was tho even reply, Major Lancior was puzzled, He knew that his adopted sod was too much of a Lsaoisr to be pushed to tho wall. " I want to know if you have no bctlor show of gratitude for all I havo dono lor you than your conduct yesterday ? l want to know it'it was to fettor an old man's power that I have rearod you from infancy as if you were my own son," " lon spoak in riddles, fothor. I appreciate all you havo dono for mo ami in return I havo always tried to aot tho part of an honourable son. Will you tell mo in what mannor I have iucurred your displeasuronow?" " Aro you a 100 lor do you think I am blind and deaf? Was it according to my teachings that you voted with tho fanatics and cowards yesterday ?" "It w«B" came tho calm, measured reply, startling both Aurian and hor father; " and if you stylo yoursolf n fanatic and a coward, then I must plead guilty to to tho Bame infamous charge, But I cannot think you moan what you my, or you aro ...(laboringunder a misapprehension," •-'' •' Plesse end this agony, Robert, 1 ' interrupted Aurian. "I think father flants toknowifyou-votodfor your friends or your enemier-yesterday.!;, " 1 can answer that very quickly, If yon call the South my friend then I wbb not unfaithful to her, I trust you can say as much,'' Major Lancior was dumfounded, "Whatmeant that babblug on tho streets then ? Tboy told mo you had betrayed old Maryland," & " Who, father ? Show mo the man and ** I will prove him to you a liar," and for the first time he began to show excite* tnent, Aurian camo boldly to the rescue, " ?ou should have soonor doubted my own fealty than his. Como, all this oxcitement is unfitting us for our morning meal. Lot, ua lay asido politics long enough at least to get jour sustonanco of life." " Pardon me, Robert," said tho major, oxtending his' hand. " Perhaps I was hasty, but I heard it said you wore against

." I freely forgivo you, fiuhov, for think, ingso; but I gavo you no reason for think I was not loyal to uiy State. I heard the name of Carrol Southard mentioned, if I was not mistaken. What has ho boon doing ?" Major Lancior felt aoinowhat humiliated by his hasty conduot, oml r,ow in amends ho was quite willing to discuss ovon so unwelcome a subject as the (ortano of ft Southard, Aurian volunteered such imormation as she could give without betraying too much, in the hope sho might learn something of the hunted man's fato, Noithor her fnthor nor Bobort, it provod, knew moro than sho, or as muoh for that matter. "I have alwoys wanted to ask you ono question, fathor. Mav I now, ploaso ?" " Certainly, though I nm not promising you answer, understand,'' ,/ " I assure you it is no idlo curiosity that prompts me to want to know, but with all your bitterness toward the Southwhy did you allow Can oil and I aver to associato whon we were children V " Didn't know ai I did. Jf|l did it was due to my own blindness and weakness for you. I don't want you lo think this quarrol was anything of my cbosing. It Was begun rofore I was born; was in fact a part of my inheritance, Tho barrier has risen higher and grown deoper with oaoh auccoedipg generation, until no* there is no tearing it down-,' " Did Carroll Southard ever wrong you fatherP" " Yes, from the very fact that ho was Calviu Bouthefd's son, My daughter, 'you a'o treading not only on forbidden but dangerous ground. Lot this bo tho lust timo.whilolam living that his name or that of any of his ■ kindred in mentioned in this house, Until the dead can lilt the veil of crime from tho living can more than sorrow como from the mingling of Southard and Lancior in name or fortune, in thought or deed, But

By J. Waldo Brown ip* $*

our breakfast is getting cold as well as our hearts. Let us e»t in peace wbilo we may. Heaven only knows how soon tho hand of Jove may strike." _ The morning meal was oaten in unusual silence, Major Laucior, commonly so full of boisterous life, relapsed into a quiot bordering upon uion soness. Robert said nothing, though Aurian did not fail to notice that over mid anon he cast furtive glances towards hor father. And she fell lo wondering if he was really drifting away from tha time-honored beliefs of the South. "1 suppose preparations havo been made for tho funoral of Undo Frost to-day" said Robert. "It you think best major I will speak to the ovoraoor in rogard to allowing tho negroes the privilege of attending in a body." 11 Do so by all moans Robert, I think I will rido down to Sharpsburgthis forenoon Order Sam Patch lo saddloOak as soon as ho can, Mrs Ralston, (To be continual,)