rmissible--and old-time entertainment.

The announcement created some excitement in social circles, and, like
all of Colonel French's enterprises at that happy period of his
home-coming, brought prosperity in its train. Dressmakers were kept
busy making and altering costumes for the ladies. Old Archie
Christmas, the mulatto tailor, sole survivor of a once flourishing
craft--Mr. Cohen's Universal Emporium supplied the general public with
ready-made clothing, and, twice a year, the travelling salesman of a
New York tailoring firm visited Clarendon with samples of suitings,
and took orders and measurements--old Archie Christmas, who had not
made a full suit of clothes for years, was able, by making and
altering men's garments for the colonel's party, to earn enough to
keep himself alive for another twelve months. Old Peter was at
Archie's shop one day, and they were talking about old times--good old
times--for to old men old times are always good times, though history
may tell another tale.

"Yo' boss is a godsen' ter dis town," declared old Archie, "he sho'
is. De w'ite folks says de young niggers is triflin' 'cause dey don'
larn how to do nothin'. But what is dere fer 'em to do? I kin 'member
when dis town was full er black an' yaller carpenters an' 'j'iners,
blacksmiths, wagon makers, shoemakers, tinners, saddlers an' cab'net
makers. Now all de fu'nicher, de shoes, de wagons, de buggies, de
tinware, de hoss shoes, de nails to fasten 'em on wid--yas, an' fo' de
Lawd! even de clothes dat folks wears on dere backs, is made at de
Norf, an' dere ain' nothin' lef' fer de ole niggers ter do, let 'lone
de young ones. Yo' boss is de right kin'; I hopes he'll stay 'roun'
here till you an' me dies."

"I hopes wid you," said Peter fervently, "I sho' does! Yas indeed I
does."

Peter was entirely sincere. Never in his life had he worn such good
clothes, eaten such good food, or led so easy a life as in the
colonel's service. Even the old times paled by comparison with this
new golden age; and the long years of poverty and hard luck that
stretched behind him seemed to the old man like a distant and
unpleasant dream.

* * * * *

The party came off at the appointed time, and was a distinct success.
Graciella had made a raid on the cedar chest, and shone resplendent in
crinoline, curls, and a patterned muslin. Together with Miss Laura and
Ben Dudley, who had come in from Mink Run for the party, she