the Beauchamps. There had always been a Colonel Fairfax, the leader at
the local bar, perhaps the representative in the Legislature, or in
some position of yet higher trust. The Beauchamps had always had men
in the ranks of the professions or in stations of responsibility. They
held large lands, and in the almost feudal creed of the times they gave
large services in return. The curse of politics had not yet reached
this land of born politicians. Quietly, smoothly, yet withal keyed to
a high standard of living, the ways of this old community, as of these
two representative families, went on with little change from generation
to generation.

It was not unknown that these two families should intermarry, a Fairfax
finding a wife among the Beauchamps, or perchance a Beauchamp coming to
the Fairfax home to find a mistress for his own household. It was
considered a matter of course that young Henry Fairfax, son of Colonel
Fairfax, should, after completing his studies at the ancient
institution of William and Mary College, step into his father's law
office, eventually to be admitted to the bar and to become his father's
partner; after which he should marry Miss Ellen Beauchamp, loveliest
daughter of a family noted for its beautiful women. So much was this
taken for granted, and so fully did it meet the approval of both
families, that the tide of the young people's plans ran on with little
to disturb its current. With the gallantry of their class the young
men of the plantations round about, the young men of the fastidiously
best, rode in to ask permission of Mary Ellen's father to pay court to
his daughter. One by one they came, and one by one they rode away
again, but of them all not one remained other than Mary Ellen's loyal
slave. Her refusal seemed to have so much reason that each
disappointed suitor felt his own defeat quite stingless. Young Fairfax
seemed so perfectly to represent the traditions of his family, and his