Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-22

ners and lattering words, Alviry felt an in.
| stantaneous antipathy for him, expressing
her dislike in language more forcible than
elegant to her mother in private interview
afterwari.
''You nebber did hab no sense, Alviry Bos.
ley! You doesn't know a gemmen when
you sees him. her mother said, indig.
nanfly- Il spects yo' head am so full oh
dat emery niger, Gem Shores, dat you is
plumb bin AMI def to cherry body else.
kin tell you right now, dough, gal, dat et
dat are coon comes playin' de banjo and
singin' around here OBJ e5enin's like a
squinch-owl while Mr. Jackson is here,
I'll get yo' pappy to run him of, sho' as my
name is Bette Bosiey."
II don't keer If you is done took up viii
dis fine darby; he dust puts me in de min
OBJ ole slippery biack-snake," Alvi-y re-
torted, spiritedly.
''See here. now. gal, 1 isn't gwine to take
none OBJ yo' sass, speshilly after de fine
dress and hat done buyed you to-day.
amt so sho' I'll let you hab dem nohow,
'thout'n you behave ye'self like lady, and
6tten to wear DEM"
This dreadful threat had the desired effect,
ecstacy of pride aud delight as she gazed on
that fiow.:red lawn, or looked in the ten by
twelve mirror, where she saw reflected her
own head with its little wisps of wool
braided up on white Irvine strings, and sur
mounted by the gorgeous hat bedecked with
roses.
In her widest dreams she had never as
pired to such finery, and the bare thought
-
through her heart, so she made no more
critical or disparaging remarks about Mr..
Jackson.
Aunt Bette held consultation with her
husband out at the corn-crib little later
Il don't know what done got in dat fool
gals head. dat she's SO sot agin sech fine,
'ligious gemmen as Mr.. Jackson" she said
anxiously. 'One ting certain 1 has made
up my min she's got to marry him eff he
wants her, so you kin Jest let dat Glen
Shores know dat'his room am better dan his
company mex time he comes aroun'. AM
ole Man, Yves got to hab pullet fo' supper,
and some OBJ dem roas'en-years, and you'll
hab to git dem ease Alviry KANT, 'thout'n
spilin' her clo' es"
Accordingly Uncle Moses meellly obeyed
orders, not forgetting to send poor Glenn
night, as Aunt Bette had instructed him.
A week, two weeks, went swiftly by, and
the pension business flourished Mr. Jack
sons glib tongue convincing nearly every
colored man he met that he was entitled to a
big pension, no effort on their part being re-
quired excepting to pay him for getting the
necessary papers made out and sent to Wash
ington. In this way quite an amount of
80 AL
lars, found its way into Mr.. Jackson's pockets,
even Uncle Moses contributing two dollars
Mr.. jackson, assured him however, that
this would not have been necessary, as he
could have allowed it to go on his board
bill, had he not forgotten to draw any money
from the bank while in Cairo.
Meanwhile he paid court to Alviry in the
most lover-like fashion, and though the
girl cordially hated him in her heart, fear
of losing her finely, and dread of the I'M
merciful cowhiding she was sure to get
from her nanny if she betrayed this feel
ing, made her at least passive in her attitude
toward her sutton.
When, therefore, he asked her to marry
him one evening, she dared not refuse,
though she cried all night afterward, think
ing of Glenn Shores, whom she could not
forget. in spite of the riches Mr.. Jackson
assured her were awaiting her as his wife.
Aunt Bette fairly overtiowed with pride
and qualification as the prospective mother
in-law Of the wealthy pension agent and
were at once begun for the
wedding
The lawn dress was fitted and made, invi-
tations were sent out all over the neighbor-
hood chickens were killed, and a big ''pot-
oie' made; sheep was barbecued, and
young pig roasted. and it's mouth decorated
with a big red apple. The soap-kettle was
cleaned out, and filled with roasting ears to
be boiled for the occasion, and mashed pota-
'oes completed the more substantial part of
The feast. Then there were apple-pies and
'watermillions," the GROWING delicacy be-
ing big "sweet-ca6e," such as cole mis-
used to have made down Souf when she Civ
D gram party"
A long table, impTovised of boards placed
upon empty barrels, was stretched out in the
yard and on this the sumptuous repast was
aid. When all was in readiness the guests
assembled under the big beech tree by the |
door, and the interesting pair stood on the |
porch in full view of the crowd ready to be |
made one.
Alviry's eyes were red from crying. but |
she gave no other sign of discomfort, while |
Mr.. jackson was that contradictory thing, a |
sunbeam in black.
Rev. Kicks Bradley was to perform the |
ceremony, but just as he stepped |
up in front of the waiting couple a gentle |
man rode up to the gate, and dismounting, |
walked rapidly toward the porch. Mr.. |
Jackson glanced at him, gave gasp of ter |
ror, and, with his face suddenly grown |
ashy in hue "staid not upon the order of |
mis- going" but snatching up his hat, fled |
through the cabin out int the corn field, |
where he was lost sight of in moment
"Halloa! what's that rascally darby doing |
away out here2" inquired the gentleman,
timly compromising the situation.
Mutual explanations followed, in which it |
came to light that the gentleman was from |
Chicago, that he had come to Beech Ridge |
to buy several carloads of watermelons. and |
that Mr.. Jackson, the pension agent. was |
fraud, a sneak-thief, and a gambler, who |
had escaped from Jail there month or two |
before, and that he had wife and two or |
three children.
Aunt Bette put her apron to her eyes and |
began to cry. DE good-for-nuffin houn', |
Here rs been persecutin' my POI chile on |
mis- account. an now he's done lit out and |
er her. sides, there's all dem fine pullets
killed that would Ia been layin' in de fall.
md de aigs done ct up dat was 'tendin' to
BUY aprons wifi bofo' dat black rascal come
And whar's dat peushum-money, I'd like
,er know, and de two dollars de ole man
oaned him, and de boa'd-money we was
ywine to git." Here Aunt Bette sobbed
Historically. then suddenly burst out again:
And here's de wedding garments made,
md de parson here, and de supper am ready;
put whar am dc bridegroom: Well have to
sem out inter de highways an de by-ways
% fin him, de good for muffin black niggerr'