Milford chronicle., 1889-02-15
A MISSING BRIDEGROOM.

"Jake don't laugh no more" said Ella, at
the dish washing.
''No," said Ellen, solemnly, "follls as is
crossed in love carnt laugh, yer know"
1t was not to be wondered at that gloom
seemed to be settling over the Aver domain.
This state Of things continued for about a
week, and we were becoming so hardened as
70 be able again TO enjoy tho continued lovely
weather and to think occasionally Of some
thing beside the pail which Jake had cast over
US It Is doubtless dreadful to be crossed In
love, but life must still go on.
We were discussing this very subject in a
calmly cheerful way, the twins being on an
expedition for chips, when a stranger ap-
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, mouth in keeping, sho seemed a kind
Of rude, uncultured Zenobia. Here was an
opulence 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 itT'
she asked.
When her question had been answered, she
said she reckoned she mought's well say ter
wunst as she war er lurkin roun fur dat no
count nigger, Long Black Jake
1 Immediately felt, as / had not done be
fore, that Jake must be a man Of some conse-
quence to have such woman as this 'lurlin'
'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 gratifled way at
this remark Mrs A. 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, u amt no ways s'prised
ter year as Jales low. He orter be low.
Jes' bundle him outer my house neck m crap
when he thar lars time I flung him out wild
dis fistn-she held up "a large, handsome hand.
Then she laughed, and her laugh ha ring
In it very unlike the husky, unctuoJ laugh
which usually belongs TO the AfrlcaN. Still
she seemed somewhat anxious. She went on:
"Natohly he thought, reckon, dat our in
gagement war broke. l don't hev no doubt
as er gen'l'man think ef he are hustled out
widout no ceremony, neck N crap, as de in
gagement be broke. Dads natchl, amt it,
ma'amf
Mrs. Aver replied that she thought it per |
fectly natural for any gentleman, unit her sach |
circumstances, to conclude that the lengage- /
ment was broken.
"And a few bones, too, perhaps" said Am
abel
The visitor stared at her a moment, then .
laughed again. It Is very rare to find the /
common negro understand humor in the
least unless 1t be Of the broadest burlesque
kind.
''Dere war promise 'twixt US" s Id the
woman, "but de time l flung him l had
mother genl'mm In view. Now de other
genlmun done married yisterd'y, an rse
come roun' ter gin my p'omise ter Jake. /
feared mought git er fall tween two stools
If warn spry bout huntin' urp Jake, yo'
see, ma'am."
Certainly she had made her poT'tion per-
fectly clear. We wondered h. 20 would
like It. She went on to ae should
- Jak mistake