Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-10-01
WHITE MARIE.
a CEoEGI, PLANTATION STORY.

4 GEORGIA PLANTATION STORY.
Marie is a white. but knowing only black
SuzctJc ~ her nanny" Two couples,
Ike and E,,irl. and JAKE IA black brute) and
Marie have been commanded to marry. The
scene is the night before the double we'd
NrgT
Nuzctte's cabin i lighted BY the red
glow Of a sputtering pine knot in the
chimney. She bends over the smoke
cy'j dHWr, her haudkerchief-covered
h,ad sunk deep ia her fat and shining
srm-.
She looks over her shoulder into the
darkness behind her. Her own bulky
form j. exaggerated into a shadow
gHufr~- uu he wall, and round this
silhouette. weird, snake-Iike sprite. of
-aai', born of the ropes OF smoke
from ia" pine, pirouetts gleefully.
Traces Of dried-up tears are in the
wrius e- of the dusky woman'-
raerN-. Tier work-har,Iened fingers
tremh'c on her knee. and her frame
qujyrrs cuuyui>iveiy.
go nav I.awd.'' she prsys. in deep
anguish. ''~hnw po' Suzette de right
way. Now wat Kin she do in dis yer
trial cu tribulation. Dis il de fus time.
YOU Au W. I actu1y give in. Deb aiut
er spark or hight in de wilderness, en-
its I'LL Wild ~wamps en- dark ez pitch
en- no WAY out. Oh, nv Iawdl you
mus till NV lamp ergiu."
She ceases to pray, but does not look
~ 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-canvss which
" stretched from earth to the stars.
since Marie can remember, Suzette
has not failed To meet her with a smile
the smile i not forthcoming to-
night A. the girl lsnguidly places
her hat on the be-, she eyes the defect
Ell old form in way that shows that
she fully cDmprehends the womsn's
feelings. Sic sighs and turns to the
door. She peers out into the far
sp eading hlackness as one in dream
sees strange, threatening aspects and
feels unable to flee from them.
Sometimes, when the rapidly sour
ring clouds a-e thinnest in front of the
moon, the majestic conveXity of the
nearest mountain shows. clear cut,
against the sky.
Sounds Of uuslIoyed merriment from
Eivirs's domicile subordinate the sing
Ing of the breeze-touched trees near
by. They are the harmonious thump
ot banjo and the resonant, drum-like
beating Of bare feet on puncheon
floor. Now and then snstches of
happy, plantation songs are sung amid
bursts of hearty laughter
This merry making is intended to do
nouor to the dawuing wedding-dsy of
lks and EIvira. Neither had sought
marriage, perhaps for the reason that
they hsd not been taught To think and
decide for themselves in matters where
their own welfare was concerned; but
now that their hsnus had been cried by
their masters relentless agent, they
could raise no word of objection. In
deed. after the first family queer SEN
sation was over, they began TO feel
quite happy in being the cause Of the
jewellers turbulent fun-making.
The banjo player" and "my crowd
A. he terms the stentorian-lunged
louuger- who Join in the chorus to the
rhymeIess Stsuzas he invents, are seat
ei, some in the door OF the cabin,
others on the floor, with willowy bend
iug bodies and clapping hands. Cries
one:
Dance, Ike; shuttle yo'se'fl"
">hJkc dat long foot, you fool
dsrky =" shriIly pipes picksninny who
Is wri-gliug and gyrsting in a corner
ami Kicking and slaPping the wall
with his feet and hands as if bewitch-
ed with the music.
MEX UNI hofe kick de high weddin'
Hug." sings out another. Then from
the mouth of the leader:
'hy hullcr cr his foot mex er hole In de
grOuu',
Hole tu lie grouu', hole in de groun',
Who's been yer sence been goner
p long. slim darky wild er white shut on"
Willing Ike rises from the floor with
mountaineering grin, and plants
himself in the centre of the ring of
faces, and begins his performance by
simply swaying his body to and fro
and nov and then slspping his brogsn
sole against the door.
''GIt out, I'm wild you'll Dis foo