San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-06
A MISSING BRIDEGROOM.

Jake don't laugh no more" said Ella, at
the dish washing
NO" said Ellen, solemnly, folks as Ia
crossed in love caru't 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 q
week. and we were 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 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, a mouth in keeping, she seemed 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 itr'
she ed
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 | had not done be-
fore, that Jake must be a 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 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 |
jes' bundle him outer my house neck n crap
when he thar lars time. flung him out wild
dis fst"-she held up a large, handsome hand.
Then she laughed, and her laugh had ring
in it very unlike the husky, unctuous laugh
which usually belongs 70 the African Still
she seemed somewhat anxious. She went on:
"Natchly he'thought, reckon, dat our in
gagement war broke. | don't hev no doubt
as er gen'l'man think eff he are hustled out
widout no ceremony, neck n crap, as de in
gagement be broke Dads natchl, amt it,
ma'amr
Mrs. Aver replied that she thought it per-
fectly natural for any gentleman, under such
circumstances, to conclude that the engage
ment was broken ..
And a few bones, too, perhaps" said Am
abel
The visitor stared at her a moment, then
laughed again 1t is very rare to find the
common negro understand humor in the
least unless it be of the broadeSt burlesque
kind
"Dere war a promise 'twixt u.s." i'd the
woman, "but de time | flung him | had
mother gen''mun in view. Now de other
gen1'mun done married yisterd'y, an Use
come roun' ter gin my p'omise ter Jake /
feared mought git er fall tween two stooLl
if | warn spry bout huntin' urp Jake, yo
see, ma'am."
Certainly she had made her position per
fectly clear. We wondered how Jake woulI
like it, She went on to say that she SHOULD
simply state to Jake that she made mistakI
"flingin' him out dat time" and she was nov
ready for 'mejit wedlock." She looked oul
of the window at the log cabin.
OATS war we gwine to live. reckonp !
en- work fur yo', Miss Aver, an Jake en-
work fur Mr.. Aver. | amt had no ole man
fur er long time Gwine on two year sense
my lars ole man got TUX urp fur stealin' an
war -iHCUad
TT 4. flosr,--nTl