The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-01-19
A MISSING BRIDEGROOM.

Jake don't laugh no more" said Ella, a
the dish washing.
mo" said Ellen, solemnly, folks rs |
crossed in love carn't laugh, yer know"
IL was not TO be wondered at that gloon
seemed 10 DO settling over tho Aver domain
This state Of things continued FOR about
week, aud wc were becoming 50 hardened a
10 be able again TO enjoy the continued lovely
weather and 10 think occasionally OF some
thing beside tao pail which Jake had cast oveI
us II is doubtless dreadful TO be crossed II
love, but lilo must still 30 on
We were discussing this very subject in
calmly cheerful way, tho twins being on al
expedition for chips, when stranger ap
peared in tho doorway. At my first glance
was struck with her figure and port she wa!
large, she held her head well back, her features
wero modelled with the same largo freedom
an eagle nose between well opened, handsome
eyes, mouth in Keeping, she seemed klnd
of rude, uncultured Zenobia. Here was an
opulenco of physical power and development
that is rarely met had never seen any such
woman before She was colorod, but bei
features were not like those belonging to the
negro race.
II reckon dis Mr. Ayers place, amt itf
she asked.
When her question had been answered, she
said she reckoned sho thoughts well say tor
wunst us sho war er lurkin' roun' fur dat nc
count Niger, Long Black Jake.
| Immediately felt, rs | had not done be-
fore, that Jake must be mau of some conse'
quenco to have such woman rs this ''lurkin
'roun' " for him.
Mrs. Aver acknowledged TINT Jake lived
here, and she udded that no had been very low
in his mind Of late
The stranger smiled in gratiiicd way at
this remark Mrs Aver asked her to come
In and sit down. She walked across tho little
room in n way that made tho cabin seem
spacious that it might accommodate this EN-
press like being.
"Yes'm,n said she, 81 amt no ways s'prised
ter year ms Jakc's low He orter 10 low. |
jes' bundle him outer my house neck IA crap
when he thar lars time. | flung him out wild
dis fist"-slio held upa large, handsome hand.
Then she laughed and her laugh had ring
in it very unlike the husky, unctuous laugh
which usually belongs to the African. Still
she seemed somewhat anxious She went on:
"Natchlv he thought, reckon, dat our in
gagement war broke. | don't hev no doubt
as er gen'l'man think ef hc arc hustled out
widout no ceremony, neck N crap, as dc in
gagement be broke. Dads natch'l, amt it,
ma'amm
Mrs Aver replied that she thought it per-
fectly natural for amy gentleman, under such
circumstances, to conclude that the engage
ment was broken.
"And few bones, too, perhaps" said Am
abel
Tho visitor stared at her moment, then
laughed again. IL is very raro to find the
common negro understand humOr in the
least unless it be of the broadest burlesque
kind
"Dcre war u promise 'twixt us" S id the
woman, but do time | flung him | had
mother gen'l'mun in view. Now dc other
gen'lmun done married yistcrd'y, an Use
come ROM ter gin my p'omiso ter Jake. !
feared | mought git ar fall tween two stools
il warn spry bout huntin urp Jake, yo
see, ma'am."
Certainly she had made her position per
fectly clear We wondered how Jake would
like it. She went on 10 say that sho should
simply state to Jake that she mndo mistake
"flingn' him out dat time, and she was now
ready for "mcjit wedock" She looked out
of the window at the log cabin.
Oats war We gwine TO live ! reckoni
en- work fur go, Miss Aver, an Jake en-
work fur Mr. Aver ! amt had no ole man
fur er long time. Gwiuo ON two year sense
my lars ole man got TUX urp fur stealth an
war jagged
Then you have husband living" cried
Mrs Aver
"No, ma'am, Doy say he died in prison.
din't seen him die, but dc news was brought
ter me mighty straight, an ! amt gwlno ter
sputo sich news as dat 'Twouldnt bo safe
fur Bill ter turn uip live erEin now,
reckon Bill know dat, hen stay daid, Bill
will He warn bright, but he bright nough
ter stay daid
We were absorbed in looking at this
woman, who sat erect and majestic Ia her
chair Us il She were on throne
Il call mysei er wilder" she said, "an'
should meek or pint Oh havin' or minister
marry us Iraps so got dat kindness in yo'
heart dat yoil let Us hab do wedding hyar in
dis house lo' see, | done give urp my room
in Ashcyile lis mawnm an had my things
moved to er cousins ] war some back in my
rent, an some folks amt no consideration fur
or lady as Is back in her rent. bar am Jake
now
She was looking through the doorway as
she spoke She rose, Jalie's long, drawn.
out comtenance changed TO IA look Of wonder
and then delight
"Gawdermighty" he cried out, lis dat yo',
Sally liab 80 come ter meek urp wip me,
Sallyf
Sally was quite dignitied She allowed him
70 SHAKE Ids with her. He FASTENED to say
he "hOped she'd 'scuse him fur bligin her tor
trow him GU de do dad las time no visited
her In Asheville."
They walked toward tho log cabin together.
Sally retraced her steps TO mention that she
hoped there would be no objection TO having
the wedding there, and that she should insist
upon having q real minister. IL was no.
much more than half an hour before Sally
returned 10 us and Jake went 10 the wood
pile and pretended TO cut wood, but his ak
few very much at random and his eyes were
on the house He could see Sally through
the window. This yellow woman had none
Of the negro slowness about her She was
shrewd, too in taking her position for
granted
snow, Miss Aver" she said, standing with
one hand on her hip and the other hanging
down, her whole aspect one of strength and
readiness, IL kin rerlisve yo' Of all de hard
work. I'm stronger'n mos any man. kin
do ou' do work or homework | meek no