his hat in embarrassment, while Hawkins whispered the

name.

"The famous Mr. John Craig? Introduce me, quick!" "Not to-night, dear; I do not wish you to know him." Claudia released herself and with a girlish laugh walked boldly over to Craig, her face wreathed in smiles.

"Mr. Craig, permit me to introduce myself, Claudia Hawkins. My father has just forbidden it. I care nothing for his old politics-shall we be friends?"

She extended a dainty hand and Craig took it stammering incoherently. Never had he touched a hand so warm and tender and full of magnetism. It thrilled him with strange confusion.

Never had he seen a vision of such loveliness. An exquisite oval face with the lines of a cameo, cheeks of ripe-peach red, a crown of unruly brown hair, and big brown eyes shaded by heavy lashes. Her dress was the perfection of good taste and careful study-a yellow satin, trimmed in old lace that fitted her figure without a wrinkle; dainty feet in cream-colored stockings and bow-tipped slippers that peeped in and out mischievously as she walked; and a personality which riveted and held attention.

He stared at her a moment, dumb with wonder. Could it be possible that a girl of such beauty, character and appealing manners could have been born of such a father!"

"As the new mistress of your old home, let me bid you a hearty welcome, Mr. Craig," she said softly. "You must come again and tell me its legends and ghost stories?"

The Judge shuffled uneasily and cleared his throat with

nervous anger.

"Now keep still, Papa! I'm going to make this house ring with joy and laughter. I won't have any of your

political quarrels. I'm going to be friends with body, as my mother was-they say she was a : belle in her day, Mr. Craig."

"So I have often heard," he answered with inc confusion, as he retreated.

"You will come again?"

"I hope to soon," he gravely answered as he himself out the door.

1

CHAPTER V

EQUALITY

S CRAIG passed through the gate, Blackmar was still in the back yard in conversation with Julius.

Since emancipation Julius had changed his name from Julius Caesar Craig to Julius A. Postle. He had professed sanctification and became a preacher of the higher religion among the colored people. From religious leadership his eloquence had led him to political visions. His following among the emancipated slaves was large. Blackmar had heard him preach and saw his possibilities. He had cultivated him carefully.

Enraptured with the new doctrine of social and political equality which the pilgrim from the North had so convincingly set forth, Julius slipped his arm around Blackmar and insisted on leading him to a seat in the kitchen where they might continue to converse of things divine.

Laura looked up from her cooking in amazement as Julius led Blackmar through the door with a pompous bow. He found a chair and seated the carpetbagger with ceremony.

The dusky wife watched the performance in rising wrath. She dropped a pan with a crash, walked over to Blackmar, placed her hands on her ample hips and said: "Who axed you inter my kitchen?"

Blackmar bowed.

"I came at Brother Julius' invitation."

"Den you kin git-at Sister Laura's invitation! "Look here, 'oman-" Julius protested.

Laura ignored the interruption.

"Will yet git out or mus' I fling ye out?" Blackmar bristled.

"How dare you insult me in this manner ?"

Laura surveyed him with scorn.

"I ain't nebber tried ter insult ye yet-ye low-life, poorwhite, carpetbagger trash fum de North-tryin' ter live wid niggers!"

Blackmar shrugged his shoulders, and his face took on an expression of soul weariness.

Julius rushed to his rescue.

"He live wid me, 'oman! He's my equal and I'se de Lawd's sanctified one!"

Laura faced Julius with scorn.

"Yes, eatin' de Jedge's bread an' plottin' wid dis ole carpetbagger ag'in' him-dat's sanctification!"

Julius lifted his head with pious elation.

"I walks wid de Lawd in de cool o' de mornin'- 99

Laura grinned.

"An' go buggy ridin' wid de debbil in de cool o' de evenin'!"

She turned from her sanctified husband with a gesture of contempt and faced Blackmar.

"Git out!"

The carpetbagger ignored the insult.

With a sudden spring she seized him by the throat, dragged him to his feet and hurled him through the door into the back yard.

Julius was dumbfounded at the sudden attack. He stood in helpless stupor for a moment, then followed his friend into the darkness and apologized for his unregenerate spouse.

He promised Blackmar to thrash her for the doings of the night, if it was the last act of his apostolic career.

He slipped his arm through the carpetbagger's and under the friendly cover of the night walked the whole distance to his rooms arm in arm. The two figures had scarcely turned the first corner of the street when Henry cautiously opened the kitchen door, slipped in, closed it, thrust his hands under his arms, squared himself and shouted: "How's dat, my true love?"

Laura threw him a look of scorn.

"Ye po' fool nigger!"

"Doan ye like my style, gal?" Henry asked sadly. She shook her head:

""Tain't no use, man. Befo' de war you wuz my lawful wedded husban' and I wuz true to ye. An' den ye let ole Julius beat ye. He won me in a fair fight. I despise er coward. I can't see dat red vest. Ye got ter beat Julius up befo' I takes ye back. An' de quicker ye do it, de better I'll love ye—”

“Ah, honey, leave dat fool Postle an' come wid me—” "I done tole ye my terms, man!"

Henry glanced sadly at his vest, buttoned his coat over

it and moved to the door.

spoke with conviction.

He paused, looked back and

"All right, den, I'll lay fer 'im. I'll kill de ole hypocrite I'll kill him dead—”