Evening journal., 1890-01-09
WHITE MARIE.

RE nave pttn commanded 10 Uldffy. Inc
scene is the night before the double wedding
Suzette's cabin is lighted by the red glow
Of a spluttering pine knot in the chimney
She bends over the smoke dyed fame, her
handkerchief covered head sunk deep in her
fat and shining arms
She looks over her shoulder into TIE dark
ness behind her. Her own bulky form is ex-
aggerated into a shadow giantess on tive wall,
and, round this silhouette, weird, snake like
sprites of shade, born of the ropes Of smoke
from the pine, pirouotte gleefully. Traces Of
dried up tears are in the wrinkles Of the dus
ky woman cheeks Hor work hardened fin
gers tremble on her knee, and her frame
quivers convulsvely.
30 my Lawdl" she prays, in deep anguish,
show po' Suzette de right way. Now Wat
kin She do in dis yer trial en- tribulationf
Der amt er spark or light In de wilderness,
en- it's ill wild swamps en- dark ez pitch, en-
no way out. Oh, my Lawd you mus FIJI
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 youlA 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 smile-the smile is
not Forthcoming tonight As the girl languid-
" places her hat ON the bed she eyes the de-
jected old form in a way that shows that she
fully comprehends the woman's feelings She
signs and turns TO the door. She peers out
into the far spreading blackness as one in
dream sees strange. threatening aspects and
feels unable to flee 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 malloyed merriment from FL
vira's domicile subordinate the singing Of
the breeze-touched trees near by. They are
tile harmonious thump Of a banjo and tho
resonant, drum like beating Of bare feet on
puncheou floor Now and then snatches of
happy plantation songs are sung amid bursts
Of hearty laughter
This merrymaking Is intended to do honor
70 the dawning wedding day Of Ike and FL
vira. Neither had sought marriage, perhaps
for the reason that they had not been taught
60 think and decide for themselves in matters
where their own welfare was concerned; but,
now that their banns had 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
% feel quite happy in being the cause Of the
jewelers. turbulent fun making.
The banjo player and "my crowd" a.
be terms me stentorian lunged 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 willowy bend
ing bodies and clapping hands. Cries ones
dance, Ike; shuttle yo'sefn
"Shale dat long foot, you fool darkyl"
shrilly pipes p.ckaninny who is wIiggling
and gyrating in a corner and kicking and
slapping the wall with his feet and hands as
q bewitched with tho music.
"MelS um bofe kick dc high weddin' fingi'
sings out another. Then from the mouth Of
the leader:
DE holler er his foot mex er hole in de groun,
Hole in de groun' hole IN de groun,
Who's been yer sence been gonef
Er long, slim darlfy wild Ct white shut on"
Willing Ike rises from the floor with a
mouth stretching grin, and plants himself in
the center Of the ring Of faces, and begins his
performance by simply swaying his body to
and fro and now and then slapping his bro
gan solo against tho door.
"Git out, Pm wild you'll Dis foo amt gwine
ter hol' me. Oh. I'm er slidin' down de snow
mountainln
"Hump, hump, he humps or long.
Po' ole darky amt much strong"
chimes in the deep voice Of the random
soloist.
HE gettin' In er weavin' way. Ike, do 70
bes'-cut her clean thool Show UNI whar you
been raisedir shouts an enthusiastic admirer
in spasm Of glee
'Aiek Elvira jine fmIr yells the banjoist
"Pull FER out. mex 'er show up. Dey ain'i
fttin' ter marry less'n dey kin dance tergerr
See witch kin outlas' de longes'p
In an instant Elvira is drawn into th'
ring Ike emits defiant guffaw to greet hi
| antagonist.
"Youll find me light yer on dis plank al
sun up, Elvlra," he says; you better moi
try me; TEX er gal, en- one 'at amt Ions
winded"
"Shuhl" This exclamationof supreme ant
defiant disgust Is all that Elvira can spare thl
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'
or savin' 'er win / boun' you see Ike laiC
out lax er tree fen on i'm. done seed 70,
many women shuttle Ike's er fool She kiI
do it en- not half try See 'er hol' Ter dres
LAX she is drivin' er brood Of chickens. Sh
amt even wuk 'er hanSn
The dance continued till Ike began, indeed
to show signs Of tagging. Under the ap
plause and enthusiastic praise of the audience
Elvira kept up brightly and Ike skunk witt
hanging head and quivering knees from tn
ring. For some moments Elvira refused Z
quit the circle, but at last she allowed two
other aspirants for eciat to take her place
and she staggered proudly from the ring
Marie turns gloomily away from the doc
and closes her ears to the sound Of this mer
rlment
NANNY she says, standing behind Su
zette, who is lifting live coal Of fire iron
the hearth to her pipe. The woman has &C
complished the trick innumerable times be
fore with infallible dexterity, but now he
trembling fingers fail In adroitness, aud tn
angry coal inficts burn on her hard palla
Nanny" Marie goes on, painting 50 tha
she can hardly speak, ''havs you heard VIVA
Marse johnson said about me and JalSei"
J The momentary sufferer Of bodily pain np
plies the smaiting spot to her tongue. AM
shen rubs il on her gown over her rouD'
iSsae. With greafer show Of pain than II
Incident calls ~, aAG obviously 70 excus