Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-09-19
then began with dry distinctness and mar


went out for an early walk this morning
and has NOT returned. 1t is possible she
may have lost her way among your wheat.
Have you seen anything of her?'
Dawson raised his eyes from his work
and glanced slowly around at his com
panions rs If taking tho heavy scene Of the
assembly. One or two shook their heads
mechanically and returned to their sus-
pended labor. He said coolly;
Nobody here seems to-"
She felt that they were lying. She was
only woman against five men; she was
only petty domestic tyrant. She might
have been a larger one, but she had all the
courage Of that possibility.
Mai. Randolph and my son are away"
she went on, drawing herself erect. But
| know that tho major will pay literally if
these men will search the field, besides
making it all right with your employers
for tho loss of time
Dawson uttered a single word in low
voice to the man nearest him. who appar-
emily communicated it to the others, for
the four men stopped unloading and moved
away one after the other even the driver
Joining in the exodus. Mrs. Randolph
smiled sarcastically; it was plain that these
people with all their boosted Independence
were quite amenable to pecuniary consid-
eratiuns. Nevertheless, az Dawson re
manned looking quietly at her, she said;
"Thcn | suppose they've concluded to 20
and seey"
"No, I've sent them away so that they
couldn't hear
clear WHAT"
"What I've got to say to you"
She looked at him suddenly. Then she
said with disdainful glance around her;
Il see = am helpless here, and, thanks to
your tnckery alone. Have II cage, sir. |
warn you that you will have to answer to
Maj. Randolph for any insolence"
Il reckon You won't tell Maj. Randolph
/ what | have to say to YOU" he returned
coOily.
Her lips were nearly grayish hue, but
she said scomfully; And why notf Do
you know who you are taking to-"
The man came lazily forward to the
carryall, carelessly brushed aside the slack
rens, aud resting his elbows on the horses
back laid his chin on his hands as he
looked up in the woman's face
Yes, know who I'm talking to-" he
said coolly But as the major don't,
reckon you won't tell him"
STAND away from that horse" she said,
her whole face taking the grayish color Of
/ her lips but her black eyes growing smaller
and brighter Hand me those reins and
let me pass. What canaille are you to stop
mel"
~ thought So returned the man with
out altering his position. You don't
know me. You never saw Inc before
Well, I'm jim Dawson, the nephew II
L'IIomrnadieu, your old ma-ter'
She gripped the iron rail Of the seat rs if
to leap from it, but checked herself sudden
~ and leaned back witha set smile on her
mouth that seemed stamped there. 1t was
remarkable that with that smile she flung
away her old a1fectatiou Of superciious-
ness for an older and ruder audacity, and
that not only he expression but the type
OF her face appeared to have changed
81 don't say continued the man quiet
ly, that he didn't marry you before ne
died But you know as well as do that
the laws OF his state didn't recognize the
marriage Of master with his octuroon
slave, And you know rs we'll as do that
even if he had freed you he couldn't change
your blood. Why, ii I'd been willing to
stay at ANOyclles to be u niger driver like
him the plantation Of DE FuutaEes,"
whose name You have taken, would have
been left tome. If you had stlid there You
might have been my property instead Of
your owning a square man like Randolph.
You didn't think of that when YOU came
here, did YOU? he added composedly
"Oh, mon Dicu' she said, dropping rap
idly into a different accent, with her white
teeth and fixed, Ilirthless smile, $50 it is u
claim Tor property, eh} You're wanting
monoy-youy Tres bicn. You forget we
are in California, where one does not own
a slave. And you have a fine story there,
my poor friend. Very pretty, but very
hard TO prove, N sicu And these peasants
are in it, eli? Working it on shares like the
farm CHI
"Wcll," said Dawson, slightly changing
his position and passing his hand over the
horse neck with half wcarieI contempt,
Zone of tAe-e men is from Plaquemine and
the other from Coupee. They know all the
LIIommadieu's history. And they know
streak Of lie tar brush when they see it
They took your measure when they came
here last year and sized you mp fairly Sc
had |, for the matter Of that, when first
saw you. Aud we compared notes. But
the major is a square man, for all he is youi
husband, and we rcckoned he had a big
enough contract on his hands to take care
of you and L'Hommadieu' half breeds
and Sole tossed he reina CuutemptuOus
ly asidc-"we kept this to ourselves"
And now you want what, CHI"
eve want an end to this foolery," he
broke out roughly, stepping back from the
vehicle and facing her suddenly with hi,
first angry gesture. 1--WE want an end &c
these airs and grimaces and all this dandy
niger business We want an end to thi,
cake walking through the wheat and
floating Of the honest labor of your betters
We want you and your de Fontages' tc
climb down. And we want an end to this
ropin' in of white folks to suit your little
game. We want an end TO your trying to
mix your Niger blood with any one here
and we intend to stop it, We draw the
line at the major
I.ashed "a she had been by those words
apparently out Of all semblance Of her fop
mer social arrogance, "a lower and NOR,
stubborn resistance seemed TO have sprune
up in her as she sat sideways watching hin
with her set smile and contracting eyes.
All" she said dryly $50 she is here
thought SO. Which of you is it, Ell? IT.,
good spec; MaIlorys rich man. She,
not particular"
The man had stopped as if listening, hi,
head turned toward the road Then h,
turned carelessly and facing her aGaiI