The Earth Trembled

he had never known before overwhelmed her. Hitherto she had been sustained by an unfaltering belief that no other course than the one which her aunt had inculcated was possible; that, co

sh her to be so utterly unhappy. In spite of her unworldliness and lack of practical training, the strong common-sense of Clancy's question would recur, "What good will it do?" She was not sacrificing her heart to sustain or further an

everely, "I did not thin

quiet, as much from exhaustion as from self-control, and said wearily, "You need worry no further about Mr. Clancy. He will not come aga

not look at him again a

unter, in her judgment of Clancy, saw but one side of the question. She did not approve of his stern arraignment of her a

to think or speak any more tonight. There i

rouble is," Mrs. Hunter

will be your own tru

hat can I be brave for?" thought

uld not admit it to herself, Clancy's repeated assertions of his love had a subtle and sustaining power. Sh

h in regard to Mr. Clancy. It is one of those things which must be nipped in the bud. There is only one ending to his path, and that is full

y, "we have much else t

oing to keep a roof

broke out into bitter invective against those w

nerves were sadly worn, "what good can such words d

tempted to believ

y question to be considered. What are we

med to remote plantation life, she knew little of the ways of the modern world, and much less of the methods by which a woman could obtain a livelihood from it. To the very degree that she had lived in the memories and traditions

y can do to sustain themselves, and I would rather starve

ke less expe

we can't earn anything, five dolla

the State, who once had scores of slaves to work f

was more severely shaken as she was compelled to doubt the wisdom of their habits of seclusion and reticence, of living on from year to year engrossed by memories, instead of adapting themselves to a new order of things which they were powerless to prevent. "Truly," she thought, "my father and mother never could have wished me to

a little bitterly: "Oh, that I knew how to do somethin

yet," said Mrs. Hun

the weary reply. "Well, now that I have thought of her, I

h a slave?

then?" And there was a sha

ied her aunt irritably. "Were it not that you so

uch that was wrong last night, and there are matters about which he and I can never agree, but surely he was right in saying that my father and mother would not wish to see me crushed body and soul. If I am to live, I must find a w

would," asse

ce fell be

eard on the stairs, then a knock at the door. Opening it, the young girl saw the very obje

the girl, a gleam of h

you. I was just star

oud to hab you come. My spec's, Missus," and she dr

r a chair, "you are so much better off than we a

d body, and you'se a beauty like y

er her and helped to take care of me! Perhaps you can help take care of me again. For some re

on dis bery bres time an' time agin when you was a little mite? Now you'se bigger and hab bigger troubles, I'se

't know what to do, yet I must do something. It seems to me that I co

in my bones las' night how 'twas wid you, an I 'lowed how I'd see you dis mawnin', an' den he began to go on as ef you wa

wish to interfere with any of your

n you trubble 'bout him, for he's boun' to git mo' dan his shar anyhow. Now I know de good Lawd put it in my min' to com

hat won't do, Aun' Sheba. Can you think I

e'd be fer settin' up his kerrige ef he knew," and she again laughed in hearty self-complacen

on the woman's shoulder, "yet I feel your kindness in the very depths

mawnin', honey.

thoughtfully regarding her sable friend. "You beat me ma

so you am, fer I

ppose we go int

ulated Aun' Sheba

Hunter expostul

ke a man who wants to share in a good business which has already been built up, but I don't know how to do anything else, and could at least learn better every day, and-and-I thought-I must do

t no need ob you blisterin' you'se pretty fac

ba, you can't, fo

are saying? Suppose it became known that you were in-in-" but the

lity as you in pahnaship wid ole Aun' Sheba!" a

r even contemplate anything practicable, she said resolutely, "Let it be known. Others of our social rank are supporting themselves, and I'm too proud to be ashamed to do

ney, is your hear

which comes over one when you don't know where your bread is to come from or how you are to keep a roof over your head. Aunty, do listen to reason. Making cake and other things for Aun' Sheba to sell would not be half so humiliating as going to people of my own station and revealing my ignorance, or trying to do what I don

y glad, as she grew accustomed to the idea, that Mara was willing to do her share. Indeed it would be a great relief if her basket could be filled for her, and she said, heartily, "Takes some time, honey, you know, fer an idee to git into my tick head, but when it gits dar it stick. Now you'se sensible, an' Missus'll see it soon. You'se on de right track. Ob cose, I'd be proud ob pahnaship, an' it'll be a great eas'n up

at all," said Mrs. Hunter, lof

res' and keep a home fer you bof. We's gwine to make a pile, honey, an' den de roses come back in you cheeks," and

he conclusion was, "The gulf between us has grown wider and deeper. When Mr. Clancy learns how I ha