Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-05-31


The sun was down. and the moon mot
yet risen, when he came out on the other
side Of tho barren, where he ceased his
singing, being now near his journeys
end; for at the foot of the slope was the
large red gate that gave entrance to Sun
rise plantation.
Old Gilbert dismounted, with some
rheumatic grunts, to open this gate. A
whippoorwill was calling in the grove
through which he had TO drive to the
house; and as he climbed back upon the
cart, a screech owl uttered its upcanny
cry.
''Drat dat crittur!' the old negro NUT
tered, in fear and anger, as he stopped
with haste to pull of his left shoe. "Hit's
sich bad sign ter hear screech owl;
but dc do say, cf you put of yo' left shoe,
yo' put off de bad luck. I.awd, SEN no
bad luck ain gwan fall ter Mawse Nick,
long o. dat 'sturbance what dat Jesse
Furnival named ter me. Lemmc git outen
dishyer grove quick ez ole Brandy kin
tote me-"
But old Gilbert had to endure the sere-
made Of the scrcech owl yet some minutes
longer, before he came to the second
gate in front of the house OF hewed logs,
which was neither cramped nor COM
fortress dwelling, though II moved the
scorn Of the old negro fresh from the
grandeur of Thorne Hill. "Sich place
fur Mawse Nickr' he calculated con.
temptuously, as he halted his OK.
A vociferous chorus from the dogs
greeted his arrival. and Gilbert prudently
kept his perch ON the cart, shouting
Justify, "Hello!'
"Hello, yourselfl" answered voice
through the dusk.
"Dat's him, bless GloryW the old man
chucklcd, as he clambered down from
the cart, while the same voice was heard
silcncing tho dogs.
Nicholas was standing on the piazza
dimly outlined in the uncertain light Of
tho new risen moon; goodly young fell
low, tall, broad shouldered and straight
as an arrow; his great brown eyes, his
curling dark hair, his straight nose and
rounded checks, his broad forehead, and
his mouth and chin with the silky, red
brown beard Of early manhood, old Gil
bert knew by heart.
"How dye, Mawsc Nicbolasl huh you
do?" he shouted, with chuckle Of ex-
uberant delight, as he stumbled up the
steps Of sawn blocks.
"Why, where in thunder did you come
from p cried Nicholas. Anything the
matter at honor"
"No, Mawse Nick, doan you be un.
easy. DE is all peart. Hits jes' me,
come fur change"
"Ahal come .courtin'!" Nicholas
returned with laugh. "Can'tfool me;
you're gotten up to kill"
"Now, Mawse Nicki Pokin' fun at
dis ole niggerl come a-puppose TO sec
you. Pears lax hits so lonesome ter dc
Hill, douten you; en- Missle-virey, she
sont you box o goodies. I'll jes' step
back en- fetch EN- outen dc cyart."
But Nicholas forbade. "Here, Virgil,
go bring in those things he commanded
negro boy who was hanging about the
piazza. Hungry and tired, I reckon
you are, old man2'
"No, Mawse Nick, ain so hongry;
but ridin' is pow'ful stiffenin', en- ef you
please, sub. I'll jes' drap down here on
dc steps. Hits a monstous good sight
jes' ter look at ye, Mawse Nick"
"Well, I'm not sure but the sentiment
Is reciprocated In my own personality"
Nicholas responded sonorously.
"Wha' dat, Mawse NicholasY'
''What mean to say" replied Nicho-
las, with due gravity, "is, that the visual
perception Of your material essence awak-
ems sensation In the cardiac region that
completely eliminates any inclination Ia
dependency"
"Mawse Nicholas" said old Gilbert, in
solemn admiration, "you orter go bout
dc kentry talkin' politics, you orti You'd
git lected ter somethin', sho' ez shootin'
But min now, Mawse Nick" he sudden.
ly interrupted himself, starting up, "dat
boy orter be mighty kerful how he han'les
dem tings, he mout bus do bottom outen
dat box what Missle-virey put do goodies
In. En- dere's my rumberilla!" he ex-
claimed, excitedly, as Virgil staggered
through the gate. "Min' how you tote dat
rumberilla, you plantation niggerl
Han'tcheri You gwan brek dem ribs,
en- den what2 Dishyer rumberilla Is
older den you is. Mawse Nick" he ex.
planned with pride. as no spread II open
to satisfy himself that it was unbroken
"Hit was yo' gran'paw gin him ter me
| en- I'se toted hit over you many's de
time, when you wuz baby. We doan
see no sich cv'ry day." he declared, shut
ting the umbrella with snap. and turn
ing TO caution Virgil about the box.
missy charged mo TO tell you derc IL
sugar heart in dat same box she sont
| you, Mawse Nick, det she kissed II when
she wropped hit up"
Dear little sisterl' Nicholas sighed
half TO himself. "How wish she were
nearer my own age"
"Deres Miss Flora, you KNOW said
Gilbert, insinuatingly. "She's gwan or
10. Glory! Mawse Nick, you jes' ortel
! see Miss Flora sense she come home outer
school. De way she can clatter de pi
amer, tubbe sho! En- she's ez pretty e;
pink"
'rRed head and freckled face!' said
Nicholas.
"Now, Mawse Nick! You ter be jokin
dat way, when you know Miss Flora Il
got hair LAX de inside o a chincapin burr
en- her face is lilies en- roses, en- her eye'
do il stars"
"Go on, poeta nasciturP Nicholas CRIED
gayly.
"Tell you what's fac, Mawse Nick
you orter be settin' up ter Miss Flora va
now"
"Hum" said Nicholas. "How man,
times week do you think ! could rid
back and forth. these thirty miles, TO
her sweet sakef'
r. 4 4 A L. r. L. ..,I L.,
thought before he said;
"You mought--straighten hit wi'
mawster, en- git ter be at home"
"No, I'll be hanged! Here was sent
and hero l mean TO stay until I'm invite'