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"At all events," she concluded, "this is no oppressed people" And sauntering away fro yellow man who hurried by with a handful of dollar bills At a side entrance liquor was evidently on sale--, others cursing, and yet others singing Then suddenly a e: "The damned thieves, they'se stole a year's work--the white--" But some one called, "Hush up, Sanders! There's a white woman" And he threw a startled look at Mary and hurried by She was perplexed and upset and stood hesitating a moment when she heard a well-known voice: "Why, Miss Taylor, I was alar yourself with these half drunken Negroes"

"Wouldn't it be better not to give thehbor sell them poison at all hours? No, Miss Taylor" They joined the others, and all were turning toward the carriage when a figure co down the road attracted the at the tall, sli toward thehtly on her head "Why," in abrupt recognition, "it is our Venus of the Roadside, is it not?"

Mary saas Zora Just then, too, Zora caught sight of thee was in front of the store, and she was bound for the store A reet her But Zora's eyes did not see her After one look at that sorrow-stricken face, Mary turned away

Colonel Cresswell stood by the door, his hat on, his hands in his pockets

"Well, Zora, what have you there?" he asked

"Cotton, sir"

Harry Cresswell bent over it

"Great heavens! Look at this cotton!" he ejaculated His father approached The cotton lay in silken handfuls, clean and shi The idlers, black and white, clustered round, gazing at it, and fingering it with repeated exclamations of astonishment

"Where did this come fro the girl intently

"I raised it in the swamp," Zora replied quietly, in a dead voice There was no pride of achieveladness; all that had flown

"Is that all?"

"No, sir; I think there's two bales"

"Two bales! Where is it? How the devil--" The Colonel was forgetting his guests, but Harry intervened

"You'll need to get it picked right off," he suggested