m she found surrounded with dresses for the party.

As some time would elapse ere Miss Allis could attend to her, she went
back to Harney's just for one more look at the lovely fabric. It was, if
possible, more beautiful than before, and Harney was more polite, while
the result of the whole was that, when 'Lina at four o'clock that
afternoon entered her carriage to go home, the despised pink silk, still
unpaid on Haney's books, was thrown down anywhere, while in her hands
she carefully held the bundle Harney brought himself, complimenting her
upon the sensation she was sure to create, and inviting her to dance the
first set with him. Then with a smiling bow he closed the door upon her,
and returning to his books wrote down Hugh Worthington his debtor to
fifty dollars more.

"That makes three hundred and fifty," he said to himself. "I know he
can't raise that amount of ready money, and as he is too infernal proud
to be sued, I'm sure of Rocket or Lulu, it matters but little which,"
and with a look upon his face which made it positively hideous, the
scheming Harney closed his books, and sat down to calculate the best
means of managing the rather unmanageable Hugh!

It was dark when 'Lina reached home, but the silk looked well by
firelight, better even than in the light of day, and 'Lina would have
been quite happy but for her mother's reproaches and an occasional
twinge as she wondered what Hugh would say. He had not yet returned, and
numerous were Mrs. Worthington's surmises as to what was keeping him so
late. A glance backward for an hour or so will let us into the secret.

It was the day when a number of negroes were to be sold in the
courthouse. There was no trouble in disposing of them all, save one, a
white-haired old man, whom they called Uncle Sam.

With tottering steps the old man took his place, while his dim eyes
wandered wistfully over the faces around him congregated, as if seeking
for their owner. But none was found who cared for Uncle Sam.

"Won't nobody bid for Sam? I fetched a thousan' dollars onct," and the
feeble voice trembled as it asked this question.

"What will become of him if he is not sold?" Hugh asked of a bystander,
who replied, "Go back to the old place to be kicked and cuffed by the
minions of the new proprietor, Harney. You know Harney, of Frankfort?"

Yes, Hugh did know Harney as one who was constantly adding to his
already large possessions houses and lands and negroes without limi