Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-28
SPONTANEOUSLY YERSU Us LOVE,

| S0MNAMBULISM VERSUS LOVE
In my young days 1 was what is com
monty called "pickle," and, as a natural
consequence, many rod was kept in
pickle for me. For about seven DAYS in
the week was in disgrace for some mad
prank or other, and spent a good, or 1
should rather say bad, portion of my
time In durance vile, rejecting on former
misdemeanors or planning new ones.
My great ally in all my escapades was
mulatto girl about my own age named
Prissy-the cleveresJ creature ever saw.
There was nothing in the way of work or
mischief that she was not up to, and
could turn her hand with equal deftness
to millinery or mimicry, hairdressing or
harebrained scrapes, buildings or panto-
mines. Many frolia we planned and
many punishment we bore together.
Of the last I always Loyalty took my share,
and never made scapegoat of my fellow
conspirator.
| was then a pert miss of IA, and
thought myself quite as much of woman
as mY Older s1ster-a pretty girl who had
many admirers, and among them one
who was my particular detestation. This
was Major Barton, widoWer of no par
ticular age; he said 45, SAID so. Unfor-
tunately, ii his age was uncertain, his
money was not He was the richest
planter on the bayou. and our paredts
insisted that Milly should receive his at
tentions with complaisance. considered
this base trucking to mammon, and de-
clared my father quite capable of tying
MIlly hand and foot and dragging her,
literally sacrifice, to the altar.
In spite of prejudice, could not deny
that my sisters obnoxious sutton was a
fine looking man; six feet one in his
stockings, with unusually glossy black
hair, unusually white and regular teeth,
and suspiciously rudy complexion.
Still cordially detested him, because he
would persist in treating ue ss child
and utterly declined to recognize my
claims to being considered grown up.
Under these circumstances I believed it
my bound en- duty to deliver MiIly from
his odious persecution. Satan and his
handmade Prissy inspired me with the
means.
Of course the major was a frequent
visitor; thee evenings in the week his
big bay was fastened to the rack in front
of our gate. On one of these occasions a
violent thunder storm came up, and he
was Hospitality pressed to remain all
night.
"Now's yer chance, Miss Nell," cried
Prissy, her black eyes swapping with ma
licious glee. "Ef yer kin only walk ter
night, Miss Millv'l say good bye ter her
long legged bean ter-morrow mornin'"
don't know if it was the electricity in
the air or not, but 1 was in a more elfish
humor that night than usual and ripe for
any mischief.
"You talk like was ghost. Of course
| can walk. as you call it," ] retorted
"Since I've got to walk very often whether
| like it or not, / reckon 1 can do it just
once for my own pleasure. But / don't
see what good my walking will do, unless
] can walk Major Barton off to the bayou
and souse him in over head and ears"
II 6es tole yer wat am de fac, Miss
Nell; dat black ha'r am too black, an dem
white teefs am too white fur er gemman
mos eZ ole ez ole marse. l look at 'em
good wen / tex en- de hot biscuits fur
supper, n dat h'ar dom grow on he head
nummo'n it do on mine. Pose wen We
walk ter-nigbt dat harm dem teefs walk
off longer yea; tink Massa Major come
cot'in' Miss Milly agins"
"Gloriousw cried I, clapping my hands
and prancing about the pantry, where
this colloquy took place while the grown
ups were at supper. 0, Pris, what treas
ure you are! I declare, could hug you
| this minute!'
Whether or not my delight at Prissy's
brilliant suggestion would have carried
me that length I can't say, as at that mo-
ment prolonged call of "Pris sy! You,
| Pris-s!" sounded from the kitchen, and
Prissy fed to her proper station.
| I'm Of hoL ~
sleep-welking I always shared MilIy's
bed, the side next to the wall and iamm ed
close against it. Milly was light sleep
er, and despite the supposed adroitness
of sumnambulists, it was almost inpossi-
BILE for ID to leave the bed without wax
ing her. How should I manage to night,
when my sleep-walking would be all. a
shamY
| Upon calling Prissy into consultation
again we decided TO move the bedstead
which was light and rolled easily, far
enough from the wall to allow my slim
self to hide behind it, trusting that Milly
would be SO tired out by her old bore of O
beau that she wouldn't be able to see any
change when she came to bed.
With infinite caution we effected our
purpose, and after further proceedings
had been thoroughly discussed, dismiss
ed my confederate and went to bed; not
to sleep but to wait for MilIy. Oh, how
long 1t was before she came! How dread
fully sleepy I got, and with what double
and treble intensity / hated Mai. Barton
sa the cause of the delay. A dozen times
1 caught myself slipping into the drowsy
depths of Inconsistencies and had to
bring myself up with sharp pinch or a
tweak of mg small nose that made me
feel quite savage. And every time com
forted myself with the thought of my
coming vengeance.
At last my patience was rewarded.
Milly appeared, desperately sleepy and
almost yawning her pretty head off. Ap
parently the major had not been very
entertaining. All the better, since it made
| Milly hurry to bed and fall sound asleep
as soo1 as her head touched the pillow.
And now the time for action had come.
AS softly as possible I slipped out of bed
and CROPPED my way to the door. Outside,
in certain angle of the hall, knew I
should fad matches and candle, placed
there by Prissy. l had already dressed
myself in one of Mllly's gowns, which.
pinn ed up in front and trailing behind,
made very effective costume for an ap-
partition. Iunplaited nv two long tails
of hair and shook it loosely round my face
and neck, then taking the lighted candle
in my hand and conveying as stony and
unseeing look into my eyes as 1 could
possibly get there, 1 glided down the hall
! towards Major Rarton's room.
turned the bolt softly. pushed open
| the door and entered. Sleep walkers |
knew, or at least bad often heard, moved
with slow, gliding steps, looked neither to
| right nor left, and never even winked. ]