motherly anxiety.

"Miss Kinzer, has you seed my Dick dis week?"

"No, he hasn't been here at all. Anything the matter with him?"

"Dat's de berry question. I doesn't know wot to make ob 'im."

"Why, is he studying too hard?"

"It aint jist de books. I isn't so much afeard ob dem, but it's all
'long ob dat 'cad'my. I wish you'd jist take a look at 'im, fust chance
ye git."

"Does he look bad?"

"No, taint jist altogeder his looks. He's de bes' lookin' boy 'long
shoah. But den de way he's goin' on to talk. 'T aint nateral. He use to
talk fust rate."

"Can't he talk now?"

"Yes, Miss Kinzer, he kin talk, but den de way he gits out his words.
Nebber seen sech a t'ing in all my born days. Takes him eber so long
jist to say good-mornin'. An' den he don't say it like he used ter. I
wish you'd jist take a good look at 'im."

Mrs. Kinzer promised, and gave her black friend such comfort as she
could, but Dick Lee's tongue would never again be the free and easy
thing it had been. Even at home and about his commonest "chores," he was
all the while struggling with his pronunciation. If he succeeded as well
with the rest of his "schooling," it was safe to say that it would not
be thrown away upon him.

Gloriana went her way, and the next to intrude upon Mrs. Kinzer's
special domain was her son-in-law himself, accompanied by his rosy
bride.

"We've got a plan!"

"You? A plan? What about?"

"Dab and his friends."

"A party!" exclaimed Dab, when his mother unfolded Ham's plan to him.
"Ham and Miranda give a party for us boys! Well, now, aren't they right
down good! But, mother, we'll have to get it up mighty quick."

"I know, but that's easy enough with all the help we'll have. I'll take
care of that."

"But, mother, what can we do? There's only a few know how to dance. I
don't, for one."

"You must talk that over with Ford. Perhaps Annie and Frank can help
you."

Great were the consultations and endless were the plans and
propositions, till even Mrs. Kinzer found her temper getting a little
worried over them.

"Miranda," she said, on the morning of the day, "all the invitations are
sent now, and we must get rid of Dabney and the boys for a few hours."

"Send 'em for some greens to rig the parlor with," suggested Ham. "Let
'em take the ponies."

"Do you think the ponies are safe to drive just now?"

"Oh, Dab can handle 'em. They're a trifle skittish, that's all. They
need a little exercise."

So they