fading lustre upon your
state, and could have made these rivers and hills and plains revered in
all the earth, but the light of his genius was extinguished by that
smoke, perhaps, perhaps," said Ensal sadly.

The two men now walked in the direction of the scene of the burning.
They soon arrived at the spot, and Ensal looked long at the charred
trunks of the trees that had served as stakes. He scanned the trees from
the parched roots to the forlorn tree tops, took note of the fact that
the bark was missing and reflected that the absent bark was no doubt yet
serving as souvenirs in many Maulville homes.

"They are dead--the trees I mean--and perhaps it is well. Time will now
eat away their vitals and they shall no longer stand as monuments to the
shame of our land," said Young Maul.

"Suppose we sit down. I have much to say to you, Mr. Maul," said Ensal,
who felt himself the ambassador of millions and of Tiara's demented
sister. Anxious indeed was he that he should succeed in the object of
his visit.

The men walked over to the Negro church near the scene, and took seats
upon the steps thereof.

"Quite a fitting place for my talk," began Ensal. "My name is Ensal
Ellwood. Looking at the spot where the South is seen at its worst is but
a prelude to what I have made a long journey to say to you," said Ensal.

"I shall be glad to hear what you have to say, Mr. Ellwood," said young
Maul.

"I notice that you say 'Mister,'" said Ensal, in kindly tone.

"I am not one of those that believe that my manhood is compromised by
the use of the term 'Mister' to a Negro. I remember that the greatest of
all Southerners and the greatest of all world heroes, the immortal
Washington, once lifted his hat to a Negro man. When asked about his
action he replied that he could not let that Negro be more polite than
he was. I take the same position. I think a man's manhood is exceedingly
feeble when it has to have an army of sentinels to be always on the
alert, to keep somebody from kidnapping it," said young Maul.

"To come at once to the point, Mr. Maul, I have come to you to make
overtures for a treaty of peace between the Negroes of the United States
and the white people of the South," said Ensal.

"I shall hear you gladly," said young Maul.

"George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Robert E. Lee are to the people
of the South stars of the first magnitude, and you would like to send
other stars to keep them company. But, changing th