Wichita eagle., 1889-12-25
WHITE MARIE.


Marie is a white, but knowing only black
Suzette as her nanny" Two couples, Ike
and Elvira, and Jake "a black brute) and Ma
re, have been commanded to marry. The
scene is the night before tho double wedding
Suzettes cabin Ia lighted by thu red glow
Of spiuttoring pine knot in the chimney.
She bends over the smoke dyed flame, her
handkerchief covered head sunk deep in her
fat and shining arms.
She looks over her shoulder into tho dark
ness behind her Her own bulky form Is ex-
aggerated into shadow giantess on the wall,
and, round this silhouette, weird, snake like
sprites Of shade, born of the ropes of smoke
from the pine, pirouette gleefuliy. Traces Of
dried up tears are in the wrinkles of the dus-
Ky woman's cheeks. Her work hardened fin
gers tremble on her knee, and her frame
quiFers convulsively.
80 my Lawdr' she prays, in deep anguish,
"show POI Suzette de right way. Now wat
kin she do In dis yer trial en- tribulationl
Der amt er spark er hight in de wilderness,
en- it's fill Wild swaInps en- dark ez pitch, en-
no way out Oh, my Lawdl you mus fill
my lamp ergin."
She ceases to pray, but does not look up
when a slow, light step nears the door on the
dew covered grass Marie stands on the
threshold, picture Of youth in the clutches
of dark despair, drawn on the vast space
canvas which is stretched from earth to the
stars.
Since Marie can remember, Suzette has not
failed to meet her with a salile-uhe smile is
not forthcoming Tonight Asthe girl languid-
ly places her hat on the bed she eyes the de-
jected old form IN a way that shows that she
fully comprehezads the wena1's feslings. She
sighs and turns to the door. She peers out
INTO the fer spreading blackness as enc IN a
dream sees strange, threatening aspects and
feels unable to fec from them
Sometimes, when the rapidly SQUIRTING
clouds are thinnest In front of the moon, the
majestic convexity Of the nearest mountain
shows, clear cut, against the sky.
Sounds OF uraIloyed Herriment from Ell
vira's dauicile subordinate the singing Of
the breeae-touched trees near by. Thsy are
the harmonious thump of banjo and the
resonant, drum ike heating Of bare feet on
puncheon floor Now and then snatches of
happy plantation songs arc sung amid bursts
Of hearty laughter.
This naerry making Is intended to do honor
to the dawning wedding day of Ike and FL
vira. Neither had sought marriage perhaps
for the reason that they had not bean taught
TO think and decide for themselves in matters
wheretheir own welfare WIS concerned; but,
now that their banns hzd been cried BY their
masters relentless agent, they could raise no
word Of objection. Indeed, after the first
family queer sensation was over, they began
to feed quite happy in being the Gauss of the
revelsrs' turbulent fun making.
The 'sbanjo player" and my crowd as
he terms the stentorian hinged loungers who
JOIN IN the chorus TO the rhymeless stanzas he
invents, are seated some in the door of the
cabin, others on the floor, with wiilowy bend
ing bodies and clappiAg hands. Cries one:
Dance, Ike; shuttle yo'sefr"
Shake dat long foot, you fool darby"
shrilly pipes a pickauinny who is wTiggling
and gyTating in a corner and kicking and
slapping the wall with his feet and hands as
if bewitched with the music.
MEX um bofe kick de high weddin' hingl"
sings out another Then from the mouth Of
tho header:
''De boiler or his foot mex er hole IN de grorn,
Hole in de sreun', hole in de grgun,
WHO'S been yer sencs hsen zone?
Err long, slim darby via er white shut on
Wiling Ike rises from the floor with
mouth stretching grin, and plants himself IN
the center OF the ring of faces, and begins his
performance by simply swaytng his body to
and fro and ROW and them slapPing Gis bro
gan sole against the door.
''Git out, I'm wild you! Dis foo amt gwine
ter hop ma On, I'm er slidin' dewa de snow
mountain
'Ifump, hump he humps ct long,
Pc ole darby aiut mach strong
chimes in the deep voice of the random |
soloist.
he gettin' in er weavin' way. Ike, do yo' |
bes'-cut her clean thool Show um whar you |
been raised!" shouts an enthusiastic aGmirer |
in q spaSn of glee.
MEX Evira jine Tmr yells the banjoist. |
Pull 'er out, mex 'e- show up Dey Rint |
ittin' ter marry less'n dcy kin dance tergerr. |
See witch kin outlas' &c louges'!'
In an instant Elvira is drawn into the |
ring Ike emits defiant guffaw to greet his
antagonist
You'll find me light yer ON dis plank at
sun up, Elvira,n he says; You better not
try me; TEX er CAD, en- one at amt long
winded"
''Sbuh!n This exclamation Of supreme and
defiant disgust is ali that Elvira can spare the
breath TO say, as she vigorously bends herself |
to the contest
"She amt gwine talk laughs a woman
above the roar of voices and music. 'She's
or savin' 'er win boun' you see Ike laid
out lax er tree fell on i'm. / done seed too
many women shuttle. LEES er fool She kin
DO it en- not half tsy. See er hor 'er dress
lax she is drivn' er brood Of chickens She
lin,t even wuk er hans