Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-24
A MISSING BRIDEGROOM.

calmly cheerful way. the twins being on an
exposition for chips, when a stranger up
peared in the doorway. At my first glance
was struck with her figure and port. She was
large. she held her head well back, her features
were modelled with the same large freedom,
an eagle nose between well opened, handsome
eyes, a mouth in keeping, she seemed a kind
of rude, uncultured Zenobia. Here was an
opulenee Of physical power and development
that is rarely met. had never seen any such
woman before She was colored, but her
features were not like those belonging to the
negro race.
Il reckon dis Mr.. Ayers place, amt nf'
she asked.
When her question had been answered, she
said she reckoned she thoughts well say ter
wunst she war er lurkin' roun' fur dat no
count niger, Long Black Jake.
l Immediately felt, as l had not done BE-
fore, that Jake must be a man of some conse-
quencc To have such woman as this ''lurkin'
roun" for him
Mrs Aver acknowledged that Jake lived
here, and she added that he had been very low
in his mind Of late.
The stranger smiled in gratified way at
this remark Mrs. Aver asked her to come
in and sit down She walked across the little
room in a way that made the cabin seem
spacious that it might accommodate this en-
press like being.
"Yes'm," said she, Il amt no ways s'prised
ter year as Jake's low. He orter be low. l
jes' bundle him outer my house neck u crap
when he thar lars time. flung him out wild
dis fist'-she held up large, handsome hand.
Then she laughed, and her laugh had ring
in it very unlike the husky, unctuous laugh
t..h tl.- hl,t,
she seemed somewhat anxious She went on;
"Natchlv he thought, | reckon, dat our In
gagement war broke. l don't hcv no doubt
as er genrman think ef he are hustled out
widout no ceremony, neck n crap, as de in
gagement be broke. Dads natchl, amt It,
ma'alnf
Mrs. Aver replied that she thought it per-
fectly natural for any gentleman, under such
circumstances, to conclude that tho engage
ment was broken
And n few bones, too, perhaps" said Am
abel
Tho visitor stared at her moment, then
laughed again 1t is very raro to find the
common negro understand humor in the
least unless it be of the broadest burlesQue
kind
'Derc war promise 'twixt us" id the
woman. but de time | flung him | had
mother centrum in view. Now de other
gen'lmun done married yisterd'y, an Use
come roun' ter gin my p'omiso ter Jake. l
feared mought sit or fall tween two stools
if warn spry bout huntin' urp Jake, yo'
see, ma'am."
Certainly She had made her position per
fectly clear. We wonl.cred how Jake would
like it. She went on to say that she should
simply state TO Jake that she made mistake
'fiingin' him out dat time" and she was now
ready for "mejit wollock" She looked out
Of the window at the hog cabin
"Dat's war we gwine to live, reckonl
en- work fur yo', Miss Aver, an Jake en-
work fur Mr. Aver | amt had no ole man
fur err long time. Gwine on two year sense
my lars ole man got tux urp fur stealin an
war jagged"
Then you have a husband livingr' cried
Mrs. Aver.
mo, maan. Dcy say he died in prison.
amt seen him die, but de news was brought
ter me mighty straight, an amt gwine ter
'spute SIGH news as dat 'Twouldn't be safe
fur Bill ter turn urp live ergin 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
WODl1D. VINO Sttb erect anu ItliltStlt III ucT
chair as ii she were throne.
IL call nysof er widder,n she said, IAN
should meek or pint oh havin' or minister
marry us P'raps 20 got dat kindness in yo
heart dat yo'll let us hab de wedding hyar in
dis house. Yo' see, done give urp my room
in Ashevile dis mawnin' an had my things
moved to er cousins. l war some back in my
rent, an some folks amt no consideration fur
er lady as is back in her rent. Oar am Jake
now"
She was looking through the doorway as
she spoke. She rose Jake's long, drawn
out countenance changed to a look Of wonder
and then delight
''Gawdermightyi" he cried out, sis dat yo',
Sallyf Hab yo' come ter meek urp wip me,
Sally
Sally was quite dignifed She allowed him
to shake hands with her He FASTENED to saw
he hoped she'd scuse him fur 'bhgin her ter
trow him ou' de do dad las time he visited
her in Asheville."
They walked toward the log cabin togethss.
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 a real minister. 1t was not
much more than half an hour before Sally
returned to Us anil Jake went to the wood
pile and pretended to cut wood but his ax
flew very much at random and his eyes were
on the hoEsa lie 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
Now, 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 rcrlieve yo' Of al de hard
work. I'm stronger'n mos any man. kin
do ou' DO WORK or homework | meek no
bones er .ayi.l | kin do er .narter show in er
day dan da; jake He's kinder trifiin'. he Ia
But li..tenj ter him amt mad no old man
to train in some time. I'll train him You
see be toe lie mark. Il kin do all de washin'
an cookin' Jes' likes not YOU let me hab er
few mo- things In de cabin; only err few mo-,
meek us mighty com'f'ble"
think Mrs Aver must have felt as did
that to have Sally to the fore in regard to
work would be to have a host. never saw
any man or woman who gave such a sense Of
effectiveness, The very curve OF that IN
negro like nosr was O sort Of guaran.se
Mrs Aver said she would take Sally
"Yes'm,H rr.,or,ied Sally promptly, I'm
see yo' amt sorry for dem words An now
what time shell we sot fur de weddin'i Dis
eb'nin bout 81 Datll give Jake time ter gwi'
ter Asheville, git er few tings and bring out
der minister. He sh1l meek er soon start
Shell we say s. Miss Ayerf-
That lady laughed and assented Sallys
face was very pleasant to see as she said:
''ll be grateful ter yo' de longes day lib,
mighty grateful Jake shn be sont OF n no
time
1t was true Jake was seen going down
the mountain toward the State road for
Asheville In less than five minutes He was
walking. II is not much for these people to
walk six miles, or ten or twenty. Sally bad
Just walkei out from the town
Having set things ser gwine,- as she said,
she ook of her white apron and her sun
bonnet. The removal Of the latter showed
her thick, waving hair, with its threads of
gray She twisted handkerchief round her
head, pinned up her skirts and began sitting
to rights the log cabin where she was to iiva
She told Mrs. Aver she would prepare the
dinner in her own cabin and bring IL down to
Us She averred she was q sure enough
cook. and the dinner, Of chicken and pona,
and tomato okra soup and baked sweet potar
toes, was served IN such way as to prove
her words true. Nothing seems to fatigue
her. She worked Like hon, ouly believe
hons do not work. She strobe around, md
made things kinder whiz,- the twins said
Just before SHUTDOWN she came to Nh
Aver and said she believed all was ready. 81
bad brought bundle with her from Ashe-
ville- She had pink camhric, the one shed
ben married in de las time. She bad keps
sxl-z el.s e 4 l. l.