The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-16

HE sire M may be the great, lmpid rest
ful arm q God extended 10 embrace be,.
They should find her floating somewhere ON
the morrow, and should know then that they
had made a mistake IN trying 70 dispose Of
her as they had. Perhaps the sun would be
shining then over the place she loved so we'll.
for the hurrying clouds, with their vivid
CLEANS OF lightning, seemed only 70 boast Of
their power % storm. The good. kind old
colonel, who had not, she was sure. given tho
order Tor her sacrifice, would be back AZ Oak
lawn ere her burial. and would look ON her
pale face with sadness. She knew he would.
and that tho water of sorrow would rise into
his kind eyes, Tor ho had a good heart and
loved her IN his way, and had spoken kindly
TO her many times
Mrs Bickcrstaif, away down in Charleston.
should read the news and cry. FOR tho kind
hearted lady had wept over tho death Of
slaves not so much favored as she had been.
And Harry might be no Miss Iaura's side
whom he heard OF h. His manly face should
undergo n change He, too, would recall
some scenes which were before her minds
eve, and which panied her even more than
the prospect Of death. He would want 20 be
back at the plantation on the day they laid
her In a grave among the other slaves. II he
could Doe 90 Oaklawn he would lay flowers on
her coffin and look sadly on her face With
tie flowers might be some red roses like those
hc once twined among her raven tressos
She moved down 10 the cddying waters
edge and laved her hand in it, A dazzling
Cash from the clouds reveals the rugged river
bottom Mud clogged logs and monster Shiny
powders he in repose there. Absently she
tos.es "a siono into the whispering. bubble
sirewn liquid-thus would she sink, save her
long, unbound hair, which would throw out
its many arms 20 the streams clutches. She
would lie there among those iinny and creep
ing things. they would crawl over her face
with their tiny feet and crunching hungry
mouths, and rest in the orbits Of her eyes as
they might in the crevice Of a stone.
She shuddercd, but she knew she should not
know 10. She herself would not be there, for
she would DO at rest-rest, sweet rest But
she would not want them 90 have trouble IN
finding her ON the morrow. She had read
how people were traced 10 their watery
graves by some part Of their attire being left
on the shore She must leave something.
The ribbon in her hair viii suffice. She un-
ties 10 from her warm mass Of hair, and
makes a bow Of it on bush. She remem-
bors now that She essayed % teach Harry TO
tie a bow once, as this thought warns her
mind. she fingers and draws the bows flying
stroamers in and out 20 make its parts
smooth Then she unlaces her shoes and
tosses them on the shore behind her.
Her features are now passive. She won
ders if the plunge into blackness viii give her
pain. Something touches her on the shout
der.
IL is Suzette, with cleaning eyes and heav-
ing bosom.
"No, no, honey, she pants, after her hard
running. $40, at amt right You tex yo
lu shoes. my precious baby, my onlies' DID
girl Yer le'me put um ON fur YOU No, my
chile amt gwino 20 forgit wat dc Good Book
say. You mus put yo' trus' in Him en- never
shrink back He mus try His sheep, but it
all I'm His name ! know what you Is got in
so mind: but honey, dat amt de bes way.
You mus bear up. DE Lawd got His eye on
YOU. hind at black cloud up deh same "a de
moon hyered over Now, honey, lay yo
hand i'm my lap DIES lax you usster, she went
on porsuasively, pulling the stunned girl
down upon the sand. 81 done been prayins
en- now Gawd sen me light ATS right, cry
I'M cwine do you good Now lay still; mus
talk ter de Lawd ergin, kase l kin see you is
rittin in De reconcile way.
"Iawd my greet master" then prayed
Suzette with upliftei eyes and her hand ON
Marie's tresses. as the girl sobbcd IN her lap.
"Tawd. You know an bout me en- dis yer lill
chile l done been comm ter you time en-
ercin en- got now strength; but, good Lawd,
dis yer is dc wuss yit-wuss'n all put togefr.
She need some hep FUN high up, for she Is
sore picked wild de cup 'at won't pass Ger
now Lawd, / gwino hush up now, but I'm
still waitin'. Dis do seem LAX 10 wrong, but
you Knowles en- me en- her is willin' ter
ibile bv vo' will Hep us ter keep we-all's
feet i'm De narrow road. / done feel bmis-
sive. Lawd, but show dc po' ill chile, too,
LAX vo done show me. Amen"
The humble suppncator dropped her trem.
bling lips upon the white neck In her lap,
and both were still for a moment Then SUI
zetto whispered earnestly;
"Prav-pray ter I'm, honey"
suzette could feel the girls dumb lips
moving IN her apron Then silence fell upon
the pair. save the murmuring Of the tapping
.gater and the voice Of the wind I'D the trees
on the mountain.
rose from suzettc's lap damp with tears.
"What, honeyp
81 know was wrong, and you are right
God shows me now.n The wide sleeves fell
from tho white. soft arms that stole round
The womans yellow neck, and the young face
was pressed close against the old. "lt seemed
like / Just could not stand it, The young
voice continued. "Let's go home now. God
out me by birth in Jakcs race, but proudly
rebelled. and had my vain soul placed on a
higher worldly liie and so locked my Creator
out of being. ! viii do as they say"
She shuddered as they walked arm in arm
bomeWard
NANNY" presently.
eyes. my chller
"Will YOU always stay 10y mel
"Ez Gawl is my helper"
"But. NANNY. YOU must keep ON praying.
will need IT, God must not quit my side.
The clouds were thinning; waves of moon
Iebt fen over the rolling lands. All was
quiet on the piantaticn.-Wl1 Marie 10y