Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-02-08
A MISSING BRIDEGROOM.


1t was not to be wondered at that gloom
seemed to be settling over the Aver domain.
This state of things continued for about
week, and we We're becoming SO hardened as
to be able again to enjoy the continued lovely
weather and to think occasionally of some
thing beside the pail which Jake had cast over
us. 1t is doubtless dreadful to be crossed In
love, but life must still go on.
We were discussing this very subject in .
calmly cheerful way, the twins being on an
expedition for chips, when 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, she seemed kind
of rude, uncultured Zenobia. Here was an
opulence Of physical power and development
that is rarely met. I had never seen any such
woman before. She was colored, but her
features were not like those belonging to the
negro race.
II reckon dis Mr.. Ayers place, amt it,"
she asked.
When her question had been answered, she
said she reckoned she thoughts well say ter
wunst as she war er lurkin' roun' fur dat no
count niger, Long Black Jake.
| Immediately felt, as I had not done be-
fore, that Jake must be man of some conse-
quence to have such a 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 gratifed 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, II amt no ways s'prised
ter year as Jake's low. He orter be low.
jes' bundle him outer my house neck N crap
when he thar lars time. I flung him out wild
dis fist"-she held up a large handsome hand.
Then she laughed, and her laugh had q ring
! in it very unlike the husky, unctuous laugh
which usually belongs to the African. Still
she seemed somewhat anxious. She went on:
''Natch1y he thought, l reckon, dat our in
gagement war broke. l don't hev no doubt
as er enl'man think eff he are hustled out
widout no ceremony, neck n crap, as de ill.,
gagemeut be broke. Dads natchI, amt 1t,
ma'am2h
Mrs. Aver replied that she thought it per-
fectiy .-a+urai for any gentleman, under such
circumstances, y 4~~-f'ide that the engage
rnent was broken.
And a few bones, too perhaps, said Am-
| abel
| Inc 'lsltor stared at &c moment tnt1A
! !, iaugheo again IL IS very rare 10 hnu Sas
common negro understand numor IN the
least unless IL De Oh the oroaaest nurlesque
, kind
"Dere war promise 'twlxt us, S I'd tbs
woman, pu1 de tl1ne l 1ung MN nad
| 500 IL oAl,
| nother centrum III view. NOW dc other
| gen 1mun done married ylsterd'y, an Use
: come roun Ter GIN my ponlse ter JAKE. l
| feared mought git er fall tween two stools
| II warn spry 'pout huntm nrp Jake, yo
, see, ma am"
| certainly she had made her position per
fectly clear. we wondered now Jake would
IKE IT, she Went on TO say that she should
SIMPLY state to Jake that she made mistake
| nlagla nun OUT daU time, ana she was no"
ready Tor ''mellt wedioek" She looked out
| ol Inc "lhdo" a' the Jog CABIN
| Dats war we gwme TO i've, reckonE !
WIN aui w. Mss aver al JAKE GU
| Work Iur WI. aver l anu nad no ole man
Iur er long tine' IRVINE on Two year sense
my lars oie hiah gov lux urp lur seeahn' an
war 1ugged.
| Aheli you ha'ea huspaho llVhgf crleo
MIS-, aver.
| NO, ma anu. Dey say ne oled Ill prison. 1
an seen INN ole' ouV ce news was Drought
Ter me iillghty seralght' an am gWlne Ter
| sPut9 sich news as oa'' i"ouloht oe saie
iuf Dill her turn urp i've erglh now. l
| fechoii Din Ano" ua1; heh stay oa!o' hlii
WILL ne warn prlsnV' paV he prlSn' houeh
ter s1ay oald'
we "eie S'osoi oeo III iooh1iS az enls
| "ohlah' VINO saC erect ailo inaJes1ic III her
| chair as Sic were oli d throne.
eau 1nysel er WIDER, sne salo' an
| should meek ef pint 90 haVln er minister
| marry US. traps 20 got aat klnoness In 20
| heart dat You let us hao de wedding hyar III
| DIS mouse: % see done give urp my room
In Ashevllle dis maWnln an had my things
moved 10 ef cousins war some PACK In my
| rent, an some 1olks am 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. Jakes long, drawn
out countenance changed to look OF wonder
''Gawdermighty!" he cried out, sis dat yo',
Sallys Hab yo' come ter meek urp wip me,
| Sally2n
| Sally was quite dignifed. She allowed him
| to shake hands with her He fastened to say
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 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 real minister. 1t was not
much more than helt an hour before Sally
{ returned to us and Jake went to 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