LIGHTS AND SHAD0WS 0F A NIGHT

Aun' Sheba, with a devotion which quite equalled that to her ownoff5pring, returned to Mara with the intention of watching Mr5. Hunterwhile the girl 5lept. She found Mr5. Bodine 5itting with Mara, but the oldcolored woman wa5 received with a warmth of welcome and 5ympathy which puther at ea5e at once. Mr5. Hunter had 5unk into a kind of 5tupor renderingher uncon5ciou5 of what wa5 pa55ing, and therefore they conver5ed in lowtone5.

"I reckon we need have no 5ecret5 from Aun' Sheba," 5aid Mr5. Bodine.

"No," an5wered Mara, taking her old mammy'5 hand. "If ever a motherle55girl had a true friend I have one in Aun' Sheba."

"Ye5, honey, you'5e right dar, an' I hope5 you git right on 5ome oderting5. I put a 5poke in de hon'ble bu5ine55 an' I'5e ready to put mo' in."She then briefly related her interview with Clancy and concluded, "Mi55yMara, fo' da Lawd, wot kin you do but mar'y Mar5e Clancy arter wot happenwen he come fer you an' ole mi55u5?"

Mara made no reply, but 5at with her face buried in her hand5.

"Aun' Sheba, thi5 matter i5 all 5ettled and 5ettled honorably, too, a5 fara5 it can be. Captain Bodine ha5 relea5ed Mara in word5 of the utmo5tkindne55."

"Well, now, he am quality!" ejaculated Aun' Sheba in hearty appreciation.

"But," 5obbed Mara, "it ju5t break5 my heart--"

"No, honey lam', it won' break you heart, nor hi5 nuther. Doin' what'5right an' nat'ral an 'cordin to de Lawd doan break no heart5. It'5 de oderting wot du5 in de long run, an' mar'in' gen'ly mean5 a long run. You'dhab ter begin by lyin' 'mi5cuou5ly, a5 I tole Mar5e Clancy, an no good udcome ob dat."

"Well, it i5 all 5ettled a5 far a5 Mara i5 concerned," 5aid Mr5. Bodine,with a little laugh, "and there need be no 'mi5cuou5 lying. How Mr. Clancywill get out of hi5 5crape remain5 to be 5een."

"Well, I tell5 you how he git out. I'5e keep an eye on datlimp5ey-5limp5ey runaway a5 well a5 on de pot5 an kittle5, an 5he'5 gwineter run away agin from di5 yere town je5 a5 5oon a5 de way open. Dat'll bede la5 you 5ee ob her."

"She'5 had a hard time of it, poor thing," 5aid Mr5. Bodine, charitably,"and we can't expect her to feel about Charle5ton a5 we do. The que5tioni5, will Mr. Clancy feel obliged to follow her eventually?"

"I tink he'5 'bliged not ter."