The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-10-08

of the hill when they came clattering
along the dusty road. Heavens! Would
the brOomstraw hide his tall young form
from their searching eyes2 With her
arms about her mothers waist Glen
strained her own sight to watch him,
while sob rose in her throat. Maum
Betsey. with her fat arms akimbo, stood
at the corner Of the house, alternately
watching the disappearance Of her Oldest
nursling and the rapid approach Of q
squad Of cavalrymen as they drew nearer
and nearer in a cloud Of dust.
"My Gawdi Miss May, it is de
Yanks, sho' 'nuff, she gasped, with her
eyes starting from her head. 81 clar to
grashus, dey's a stoppin', and dar's dat
boy Nelse hangin' on to de front gate
an talkin' to 'em, like as ef his black
hide nd tu'n bullet. Wisht dey would
pepper him onct, ennyhow. I'll give him
Yankee Doodle when / gifts holt o him
again, see ef don't"
A new fear pierced the mothers heart.
Were the soldiers about to enter this de-
fenseless home? But no; after q brief
consultation with Nelse the party
wheeled across the road and entered
grove Of live oaks just opposite the
mansion.
Ne,se hung on to the gate with out
stretched neck and starting eyes until
the last blue coat was out of sight, and
then dropping of, sped like bullet up
the avenue and around the house into
Maum Betsey's wrathful presence.
"LawdyP he painted, nimbly dodging
cuff which she directed at his ear. ''Is
you seen dem Yanks, mammyT'
But before Maum Betsey's ire could
burst forth, Glen left her mothers side
and turned her stern young face inquir-
ingly upon the boy.
"What did you tell those men, NelseT'
she asked.
.'Lawdyi I amt done tell 'em muffin,
Miss Glen. Hope l may die, ef did.
Dey up an axed me who lived here, an
l tole 'em ies you an ole Miss, an
Missy-an' me an mammy-since all
dem yuther niggers done ruined of"
"And what did they say them"
Nelse writhed under her steady eye.
Den dey TUX an axed me war dere no
gen1'men bout de place, an l tole 'em
ole marster he done tux an died TO de
wah-an'-an' dat was all.
"And you said nothing about your
young MASTER
"Lawdy, Miss Glen, I hope / may die
ef l did" his black body twisting in EN-.
phatic denial "You jes go an az 'em,
ef you don't b'ieve me. you jes go an
AZ en-"
But Maum Betsey was no longer to be
kept out Of the conversation. "YOu
look heah, niger" She had managed
in the heat Of the discussion to grasp the
wary Nelse by the shoulder and was
pushing him before her to the kitchen
doorway, near which they were stand
ing. "You les lemme ketch you hang
in on to dat front gate agin, projeckin
wid YanlIs, will your An il ever heah
q word out o your black mouf bout
Mars Frank gittin' away III skin you
like a eel, boy. You heah me, don't
your
As the pair disappeared Mrs. Helen
lifted her anxious eyes to her daughters
face. "Glen, do you think he told
themy" she whispered.
81 am afraid he did, dear, but moth
er, don't give up 90. They must have
learned it sooner or later. They have
made no move as yet to search for
him, and he is out Of their reach now, or
soon will be. He knows every foot Of
these woods and hills, and there are
plenty Of doors open to him. He will
not lack for food and shelter. Besides,
we can still communicate with him, and
they will surely not be stationed long
in this out Of the way place. What q
mercy he escaped them"
But, oh, my childl think Of the fear
full outrages these struggling bands Of
soldiers have committed through the
country. Oh, il had but been wise
enough to have sent you away, and kept
only Missy with mei''
Now, mother. listen. l am not
afraid Of a whole regiment Of Yankees,
and what in the world would you have
done without me? You must come right
in now and have a cup Of tea and lie
down. and II Missy's nap is out RI
bring her down to keep you company
while I watch the movements Of the
blue coated gentry over in the grove q
little and keep my eye on Nelse, for he'll
slip through Maum Betsey's fingers like
an eel, sure enough"
But when her mother had been com
fOrtably established on the sitting room
sofa with Missy, warm and rosy from
her afternoon nap. chattering happily