Wichita eagle., 1890-02-26
BLACK RATES. DEVOTION.

| that the road was especially bad for as Vir-
| ginia roads go it was in tolerahly fair condi-
| ton for locality where even yet one meets
more travellers on horseback than in vehicles
but the taxes had to be worked out, and the
darkies shoveled and dug in the perfunctory
way common to all human beings who do not
feel the animus or pax or recompense to re-
ward their efforts. As they worked they
kept time with the cadences of song or
chant. Who that has heard that wild, weird
work song of the southern slave can ever for
get it! Without words, without meaning,
rising in stentorian accents and anon sinking
into mellow tones, always changing yet ever
the same, the uncouth lips frame the sounds
unconsciouSly and to the listening ear not un-
pleasantly.
Today, as the noontide hour drew near, tho
men ceased their labors at the voice of the
overseer and sat down By the wayside to eat
the food brought from the distant huts by
boy. Their master, unlike his overseer. was
not harsh and had always permitted the men
to have an interval of rest at midday. Now
they threw themselves fat on their backs
and, without even their hats to protect them
from the burning sun, went fast asleep, care
less and with that abandon which character
ICES man without purpose. Even the tramp
of hoofs did not arouse them, and when the
riders drew near only the overseer and the
county supervisor were awake TO greet them
The travellers we're youth and lady, the
former handsome, proud, and refined-the
personiication of the gentleman of the Old
Dominion-the girl shapely and fair, glowing
with the exercise of the gallop from which
they had just reined their horses
The girl nodded to her fathers overseer,
the young man cast careless greeting to the
idlers, and touching up their horses, the
twain disappeared down the road in the direc-
tion of the mansion. For a moment neither
Of the men spoke, then the supervisor said,
Mighty pooty gal, that.n
'Yes," calculated the other, las vain and
stuck up as pritty. That fellow with her, the
hound, has turned her silly head See here,
Sam, Pm jist about tired of this, and I'm
goin' to leave the locality, but when go l
reckon to even up with the old man, and take
some one with me-"
The two became deeply absorbed in low
conversation, in which the overseer did most
of the talking apparently striving earnestly
to persuade his companion to agree with his
views In their preoccupation they forgot
entirely the presence Of the negroes, and it
was only when the overseer, provoked at
some remark of his companion made ALOUD,
angry reply they recoiected their surround
ings and glanced uneasily at the recumbent
figures. The darkies were apparently all
asleep, and, with sigh of relief, the 0, erseer
drew a whistle from his bosom and blew a
shrill blast, which brought every one to his
feet in an instant. The slaves had learned by
sore experience not to delay when the signal
was heard. Cursing roundly at their tardi-
ness, the overseer set them to their task some
distance away and resumed conversation
with his companion. The slaves recommended
their wailing chant, but one stalwart negro
did not join in the refrain. He fingered near
the white men laboring by the roadside dog
gedly and to appearances oblivious to all
but his occupation. His eyes, bent downward,
flashed however, and his muscles twitched, as
he listened unbeknown to the plot being con-
cocted between the worthless near by. "Black
Rafe,n as he was called far and wide on ac-
count Of his intensely dark skin, was no more
a favorite of the overseer than the white task
master was Of the slave
Sharp, the overseer, was well aware Of the |
cause of the negro's stubbornness end lily |
concealed vindictiveness toward him, and |
while he laughed scornfuliy at the warnings /
of his associates he nevertheless felt inse- /
cure when alone with the giant negro, al !,
though he hid his fears under cloak OF re- 1
doubled harshness and i'll treatment He 1
knew that Rafe had sworn to avenge the 4
wrongs of the slave girl, Mary, and on this !
account he had frequently endeavored 70 per-
suade the planter 10 sell Rafe to some Ala
bama or Mississippi dealer, 50 that be might (
forever be rid Of his presence No one but
Sharp had any fault 10 find with Rafe, and
his master had aouted the idea Of parting
with MIN To all but Sharp Rafe was kind,
gentle and obedienG Among tie dArsaes'
cabins Rates was the one al which the men
and women loved TO meet IN the evening. and
the slaves believed IN him 20 the uttermoss
Rates. influence was strong sn,oug the slaves,
as Sharp well knew, and the overseer had on
a number CT occasions deemed it discreet 20
BE- sonewh hat less severe upon his iespised foe
when SEEING the glitter in the eyes OF the
others
So until the distant farm bell sounded tbe
evening SUMMONS for their return the negroes
toiled on the road and the white men scnensed
and plotted by the wayside, the slileu Meme
IS lettering not far away, eagerly drinking
u every word ne could hear.
There was q grand party at the mansion
Old Virginia hospitality was being outpoursd
upon friends and neighbors Of tbs Fa4rdoiphs
IN honor Of tie daughter Anita For days
he preparations had been going oa- AL TIE
female slaves mad bsea called 70 the house.
snd TIE old black maul1alv who had charge ok
.he kitchen was II q gerry of pes, cakes.
-casts and fruits. When Anita t-ssEGEssed
.pcu the domain of tas cock SEE ~as gently
md firmly. albeit respectfully, pushed cut O.
ne door AMID the sniaksrsng Q. tAe psrxarlln-
aies aid the vide gri1ss q thsir eide-x
But now tbs day OK tee gTe1. srert bad
zone kn6 from the E1is.3is OF toe Afternoon
aata dUzz quaint CID carriages tad been roll
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