Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-06-14


petuous passion, and stood, dripping and
haggard, In the light of tho pine knot
blazing In tho hearth.
Old Gilbert, seated on the sweet gum
block, was patching an ancient jacket.
Bending low TO catch the light from the
pine knot, and pccring through pair Of
clumsy spectacles. he was pushing at his
needle by means OF leathern circle In
the palm Of his hand. His needle was
big, his thread was coarse, and monstrous
were his stitches.
Missy, with wild cry, as il she were
the blast incarnate, swept tho jacket
from bis hands into the hearth, where IL
lay and scorched and was forgotten.
"In de name o de Lawdr' Gilbert ejac-
ulated. Ode chile is sho'ly possessed
"Brer Nicholas ia gone! gone! gone!'
Missy howled, "ncver TO come no mo!
He Is married 10 Dosia Furnival. and my
father has drove him awayv' And Missy,
in sheer exhaustion, threw herself upon
the floor.
"Dat squeech owcl!' muttcred the old
negro, with superstitious shudder.
Startling as was Missy's statement, II
was received with absolute conviction.
"Dc Lawd's will be done!' he sighed.
"You mean old nigger!' cried the out
rageous Missy, lifting her face. "Tain't
the Lords will It's my fathers will
And want Brer Nicholas back! Icould
a rode behind him; but for all my calm
he wouldn't come back, nor he wouldn't
answer"
Honey" said old Gilbert, persuasive
L. az. ,.g. n
matters get sorter seasoned"
81 WON'T" said Missy; and down went
her head again, and her waiing filed
the poor little cabin.
Old Gilbert felt utterly helpless. lie
looked at the child in silence, and then.
unable to bear the sight. he turned his
eyes away in the direction. as it Glanced,
Of the blazing and smoking pine knot,
and mechanically drew his jacket out OF
the ashes. But he had no heart to re-
turn to his patching. Hits mizzablo
night" hc said; but whether he referred
TO the rain beating sullenly on the roof,
or to the dire news Missy had brought,
he did not know. He began to sing
hymn for comfort.
81 don't want you to sing" howled
pllShys II You WIS JuSb " "lChtu
man, I'd like YOU to--cuss"
Look a-herer' exclaimed old Gilbert,
in fright. "De sperritof de Thornes is
strong In desc chilcn. tubbe shol De
Lawd alter yo' min, chile
Missy sobbed. She was sorry for what
she had said, but she was not going tG
confess IL.
en- you is fairly drippin wild de rain.
Woner whey is Glory-Ann det she let
you git loose, dishver way?'
He rose stiilly from his block, and un.
locking rude cupboard in tho corner,
he took out his cherished umbrella. 81
gwan tote dis chile home" ho said. 81
gwan shame Glory-Ann outen her shoes.
She settin' up in white folkses' kitchen,
| jaw, jaw, jawin', en- she doan no mo-
know whey dis chile is den de way ter
Jericho"
Mssy's tears having spent their force,
she sat up and wiped her eyes. II amt
nothin' but just little girl" said she
mournfully.
"Dasso, honey; en- you mus min tei
be II good little gal, SOS ter be a comfort
ter Missle-virey en- yo' paw" old Gilbert
counseled, rs he spread open the um
brella, and regarded 1t proudly.
81 shan MT be goodN' cried Missy. 81
mean to be just as bad rs can be on pur
pose. I'll worry the life out of em all,
till get Brer Nicholas back"
dat amt no way fur you ter talk"
said old Gilbert, with authority. lyon
climb onter my back; gwau tote you
home"
Missy prepared to obey, nothing 10th.
She felt weak and tired, and "a ride upon
old Gilbert's back still had its charm for
her.
"You hor on ter me wild one han, en-
de rumberlla with dc yuther," the old
man directed II gwan mex sturrups
outen bof my hans"
He had sat down upon the Doorstep
that Missy might the more conveniently
Chamber upon his back,
"llere we gov' he exclaimed, chccrily.
rs he rose, staggering little under her
weight; and 1t was at no rapid gait that
he made his way in the dark. splashing
through the puddles In the lane.
Missy felt her heart tighten little
under the exhilaration of this ride.
Daddy" said she, briskly, 81 tell you
what want you to go after Brer Mich.
olas.'
"Me2 Lawd bless yo' soul, honey
what a po', no count ole nigger gwan
TO do with bumptious young gomman
lax Mawse Nick?'
"You can't do nothin' with him, but
you can do something for him. said the
practical child, He amt got no mig.
gers
Oats a fac" old Gilbert assentcd, So
berly; "nur dem Furnivals, nuther En-
Mawse Nick, he warn't fotch up ter wuk,
praise de Lawd"
Missy began to cry again.
"Now doan you so fret, honey"
coaxed old Gilbert, 81 gwan do de bes'
l kin, en- bombye Mawse Nick gwan
come home"
These words, spoken with serene as
surance, comforted Missy; she laughed
when she saw the light In the kitchen
door. They'll be 'stonished when they
see me ridin' in the rain on such horse
as you" she said, with glee.
"De will dat" old Gilbert declared.
with satisfaction. lie had set his heart
on astonishing Glory-Ann.
The kitchen was at the end of the long,
half enclosed gallery extending from the
back piazza. The door stood wide open,
and the light blazing in the hearth
Streamed out, dazzling old Gilbert as he
shambled along, half spent. missy,
you is growed, tubbe sho, sence de las
time toted you,' he painted,
Within the kitchen was confusion Of
tongues mingled with loud laughter.
Supper was over; Dicey, the cook was
taking her ease in the chair with the