down, it was time to strike.

The women too joined their shrill voices to the general cry, and were
loud in their abuse of the Hamiltons and in disparagement of their
high-toned airs.

"I knowed it, I knowed it," mumbled one old crone, rolling her bleared
and jealous eyes with glee. "W'enevah you see niggahs gittin' so high
dat dey own folks ain' good enough fu' 'em, look out."

"W'y, la, Aunt Chloe I knowed it too. Dem people got so owdacious proud
dat dey would n't walk up to de collection table no mo' at chu'ch, but
allus set an' waited twell de basket was passed erroun'."

"Hit 's de livin' trufe, an' I 's been seein' it all 'long. I ain't said
nuffin', but I knowed what 'uz gwine to happen. Ol' Chloe ain't lived
all dese yeahs fu' nuffin', an' ef she got de gif' o' secon' sight, 't
ain't fu' huh to say."

The women suddenly became interested in this half assertion, and the old
hag, seeing that she had made the desired impression, lapsed into
silence.

The whites were not neglecting to review and comment on the case also.
It had been long since so great a bit of wrong-doing in a negro had
given them cause for speculation and recrimination.

"I tell you," said old Horace Talbot, who was noted for his kindliness
towards people of colour, "I tell you, I pity that darky more than I
blame him. Now, here 's my theory." They were in the bar of the