d by the pleading look in the Negro's eye.

"He asked for that insignificant favor with as much soul as a man could
put in a plea for his life," mused the judge, as he continued to think
of that haunting look.

"That Negro would hardly tell me, but I would like to know what dark
cloud it is that so patently casts its shadow over him," thought the
judge, turning to cast a look in the Negro's direction. The Negro saw
him turn and greeted him with another profound bow and humble laying off
of his hands.

The judge entered the court room, which was now crowded with people from
far and near. That day was to be a great day with them. The lynchers of
Bud and Foresta were to be tried, but that was not what excited their
interest.

The Congressman from the district in which Maulville was located had
just died, and his successor was soon to be chosen. There was but little
free discussion of political matters in that district, the white
population generally rendering unswerving allegiance to the Democratic
party, while the Negroes were equally as ardent in the support of the
Republican party, each race claiming that so far as it was concerned the
exigencies of the situation permitted no other course. In the absence of
a political arena in which young statesmen might display their prowess,
the court house became the nursery of statesmen in the South.

Thither then the people were flocking to-day, ostensibly to witness the
trial of the slayers of Bud and Foresta, but in reality to pass final
judgment upon the claims of the young prosecuting attorney who had
announced himself a candidate to succeed the deceased Congressman. The
ability of the young man was unquestioned and his exposition of the
fundamental principles of the Democratic party was all that could be
desired, they felt, but they wanted to hear him on the one question
that was the final test of his acceptability, his attitude on the race
question.

The court assembled and the crowds poured in. The prosecuting attorney,
H. Clay Maul, son of Gen. Maul, after whom the town was named, arrived
early and took his seat, his earnest face wearing the look of a
determined man sure of his course. Well did he know how much was
involved for himself personally in what was to transpire that day, but
he had vowed on the previous night, which he had spent at his mother's
grave, that he would do his duty regardless of its effect upon his own
future.

The first case to be called was