But folks will say that the soldiers weren't sent to prevent RIOTING, but that Co'nnle Courtland was using his old comrades to keep order on his property at Gov'ment expense.

Hol' on! Hol' on! co'nnle," said the little figure, rising and waving its pretty arms with a mischievous simulation of terrified deprecation.
"Don't shoot! Of course yo' didn't mean THAT, but that's about the way that So'th'n men will put it to yo'r Gov'ment.

For," she continued, more gently, yet with the shrewdest twinkle in her gray eyes, "if yo' really thought the niggers might need Federal protection, yo' 'd have let ME write to the commandant to send an escort--not to YO, but to CATO--that HE might be able to come back in safety.

Yo' 'd have had yo'r soldiers; I'd have had back my nigger, which"-- demurely--"yo' don't seem to worry yo'self much about, co'nnle; and there isn't a So'th'n man would have objected.

But," still more demurely, and affectedly smoothing out her crisp skirt with her little hands, "yo' haven't been troubling me much with yo'r counsel lately." A swift and utterly new comprehension swept over Courtland.