Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-06-21

was towards him, but there was come
thing In her tall, gaunt figure, cold in
russet brown, and wrapped in q .scanty
shawl Of rcd and green plaid, son.cthins
in the determined manner Of her gait,
that had strangely familiar look to old
Gilbert's eyes. He urged the black OF
TO an unwilling trot, and presently over.
took this solitary wayfarer, who turned
her head as she stepped aside, and old
Gilbert recognized Itoxanna White.
"Why, tubbe sho!' he muttered 10
himself. "Whoa, Brandy!p
Gilbert had long ago decided that this
woman was no common "po' bukra."
She commanded his involuntary respect
by the subtle magnetism of character,
and moreover she had the advantage, In
his eyes, Of belonging, in a way, tc
Mawse Nick; wherefore he felt that IL
behooved him TO do his best manners.
"Why, howdye, mistisy' he said, with
broad grin, as he snatched off his hat.
"Huh you dor"
elm middln' well, thankee," said Miss
White, who was not above displaying
proper manners herself when occasion
served. you're Colonel Thorne's man,
Gilbert, onleast I'm mighty mistaken"
Old Gilbert grinned With gratified vani-
ty. "Tubbe shot" he answered, slipping
with alacrity from his seat on the oxcart.
"Ef you mought lax lift, mistis, en-
wouldn' mind ridin in de yoxcyart, l
kin walk"
"Tm obeeged ter YER said Miss
White, promptly. Don't keer il l do
hyst myself for bit o the way. amt
never one o the kind to spite occasion"
The cart was low and Roxanna was
active, so the ''hysting' was not difficult
of accomplishment. She sat fiat down
in the bottoraof the cart, and Immediate
ly took upon herself the burden of con-
yersation. while old Gilbert trudged
along beside the OK.
"Im bound fur Col. Thorno," she an
nounced. "rm fair set To tackle tho
| colonel bout his son Nick, what married
| out OF hand my cousin 'Mandy's daugh-
| ter"
The start with which Gilpert heard
| this gave a jerk to the reins that brought
old Brandy to dead halt. The OK stood
still, while the old man gaped with
amazement at the woman who would
dare name the coloners son in the colo
nel's presence; and yet he felt that If
! anyone could venture successfully upon
such mention it might be this masterful
woman; but he gasped out the words:
"Ye aint-sho'lyy'--
"Ain't |, thought retorted MissWhite.
"Tell you what, thar amt that son O.
Adam stalkin' this yeth what I'm too
peeked to look stret In the face an
speak my mind toe. / amt never
wronged nobody, an amt goin' to see
nobody wronged, ef speech o mine kin
set em squar. The Lord give me a
tongue, an it kin waG. Come, drive up,
ole mani 1t won't be the fust time a
woman's tongue has wagged at stiff
necked sinner"
"Gee! Brandy" shouted old Gilbert,
and staggered on, drunk, so to say, with
1.-THE wine of astonishment.'
pretty doin's," continued Miss White.
"Big pot in the little pot, an all Leon
county dancin' to the tune o iiddles in
the coloners house, an feastin,' an the
colonel's son scutilin for bread yonder
to Tampa. Not but what he does the
best he kin. But job Turnival amt no
mo- in condition to work with the fallin'
of a sill onto his backbone; laid up help
|
whyn't the colonel do somethin' fur his
own flesh an blood, befo' the boy kills
hisself tryin' to mex a livinT'
'Is Mawse Nick ailin agin?" old Gill
bert faltered. with sudden appalling
memory of the vow Missy had exacted.
concerning which he had not felt called
upon to take action as yet.
"Well he amt never goin to be extry
strong, don't reckon" said Miss White
composedly. "Leastwise, he amt the
kind to git livin' thouten niggers an
Ian, Nick Thorne amt.
''Now mind you set me down to the
corner, old man, SOS kin git in roun' by
the front. ! amt a speck ashamed o'my
errand, an amt the kind to go creepin'
in by nobody's back do"
But Miss Roxanna White was saved
the trouble of "goin' in round by the
'front.' for just as they came to the cor.
ner where she had wished to be "set
down a buggy was seen approaching
along the private road that led from Mrs.
Leonard Thorne's place.
"Deh mawster, now," said old Gilbert,
with mingled satisfaction and uneasiness.
lie had burning curiosity to know what
the colonel would say to this bold inter.
ceder for Mawse Nick, and yet he quaked
in prospect of the storm that was likely
to follow. "Hit's mawster, sho's you
live, en- Missile virey. De been over tel
de sister in-law's place"
Roxanna White called halt, ant
scrambled out of the cart to take hel
position by the road side, like IN army
drawn up for battle She raised her hant
as the buggy drew near, "A signal for Il
to stop, and the colonel reined in hi,
horses.
Good evenin' to you, Col. Thorne,
said she, in the high key of excitement.
The colonel lifted his hat with stately
polteness and bowed, but did not speak
"You don't pear to know me, but
know you," said Miss White, the un
terrified. How do, Miss Thorne" sht
nodded familiarly, even a little conde
scendingly, for she regarded Miss Elvirt
as "ruther po' weakly minded crittur.
Mis- Elvira bowed very slightly in re
turn; it was not in her power to adap
herself to such people as Roxanna White
but the colonel made amends by a sec
oud bow, more gracious than the first
, for Col. Thorne knew we'll enough how
to obscure the obi profanum vulgus upoI
occasion, and he was inclined to be vex
ed with himself that he could not re
, member having ever met this woman.
: "I'll tell you who | am," Miss Whit,
proceeded sturdily. My names Rox
{ anna White, second cousin to Amandy
{ Jarvis, what married job Furnival, u
3 you got cause TO mind"
, The blood rushed to the coloners face
and the next instant left it pale. Mis-
Elyira gave "A frightened gasp and sal,