ss Teele an uthers air hungry ter git er bite at ther public
grip, so they throw out bait fer yo uns ter nibble; an yer air fools
ernuff ter nibble. Jane Snow tells me thet all ther big bug Niggers er
goin ter be driv out, and we uns will git ther property and wash up in
ther churches." "Thet wus promused," broke in Teck. "But who hes ther
rite ter tek them critters property an giv hit ter yo uns?" replied Mrs.
Pervis. "Teck Pervis yo may mark my words, but jes es soon es them
broken down ristocrats git er hol of ther gov'mint, jes es soon es yo po
fools help them, then yer kin go." Teck Pervis glared at his wife like a
fierce beast at bay. He was Teck Pervis of old, the defiant,
blood-thirsty rebel in the rifle pit glaring over the breastworks at the
enemy. "Wese got ther guns!" he thundered, bringing his fist down upon
the table, "an ef they dont give ther po' uns er show when ther city is
took, why! we'd jes es leave kill er ristercrat as er Nigger, and we uns
will do it. Wat yo say is right frum start to finish. We uns air watchin
um; wese got ther guns, an we uns'll hold em till we see how things air
goin ter wurk. Reach up there an han me my pipe Mandy."

CHAPTER V.

Molly Pierrepont.

"Sweet and low, sweet and low
Wind of the Western sea
Low, low, breathe and blow
Wind of the Western sea
Over the rolling waters go,
Come from the dying moon and blow
Blow him again to me
While my little one, while my pretty one sleeps."

This sweet old lullaby of Longfellow's, sung by a rich soprano voice
floated upon the cool October air out from a beautiful and richly
furnished suburban cottage in Wilmington. The singer sat alone at the
piano. Though vulgarly called a "Negress," her skin was almost as fair
as a Saxon's; and because of the mingling of Negro blood--more beautiful
in color. She was gowned in an evening dress of gossamer material, ashes
of rose in color. Her hair let out to its full length hung in silky
profusion down her back. There were plain old fashioned half moon rings
in her ears, and bands of gold upon her bare arms enhanced their beauty.
No one will deny that among the women of mixed blood in the South, there
are types of surpassing beauty. The inter-mixture of Negro and Saxon,
Negro and Spanish and Indian blood gives the skin a more beautiful color
than exists in the unadulterated of either race. While the mulatto and
octoroon may reveal the Saxon in the fairness of the