The Black Swans 



tive. The site selected for "the future 

 great" commanded a wide view of 

 magnificent sweeps of black alluvial 

 soil, and on the uplands the bluegrass 

 that promised rich for pastoral hus- 

 bandry ran riot in the hills. It looked 

 good. It was good. There were no 

 settlements with any particularly 

 promising prospects for leagues and 

 leagues in any direction. A name to fit 

 its manifest destiny was chosen, sur- 

 veys were made, the first buildings 

 erected and in fancy its fond founders 

 saw in its embryonic state the coming 

 metropolis of an empire rich beyond all 

 dreams. The empire arrived in due 

 course all right, but not so the hopes of 

 Atlas. 



One day word came to the village 

 fathers that some hare-brained set- 

 tlers a little farther up the river had 

 staked out another town, and it was 

 to be known as Quincy. While this 

 created no particular flutter in the 

 expectant streets of Atlas, a meeting 



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