The times., 1891-02-06

ICu OH anu NaIciy hhV - AieuS 6AA
in story she had read; and however de-
cided Missy might be as to dying of star
walton, she had no mind TO live on bread
and water; so she made haste back to the
house, and was lucky to get in unseen.
Glory-Ann was still snoring, and Missy
stuffed her bundle under the wardrobe
again, tore off her clothes, and curled
herself up in bed.
1t was a mystery Nom Bee was never
able to explain how Missys clothes came
to be scattered all over the room; but she
had her suspicious. when, a few hours
lamr, she discovered the bundle under
the wardrobe.
"Who in dc lam put dis here?" she in
quired.
"Me," said Missy.
"What fur, I'd lax ter know"
"'Cause." And no coaxing could make
Missy say further.
Meanwhile old Gilbert pursued his
journey sadly. Once in the silent woods
he essayed to sing, for his comfort:
Zion Zion is my home.
I'm trav'lin' de hebeny road:
uup hc ciiucu Will a. sigh, anu uTONc Oh,
mute.
Toward sundown Miss Roxanna White,
sitting on the top step of the porch. and
enjoying her evening dip" in solitude,
espied the OK cart coming along the road.
In that primitive and secluded hamlet
the passage of an OK cart was an excit-
ing event. Miss White watched it with
an interest that was almost breathless.
1t seemed too good to be true that this
cart, with the strong. black OK and the
very respectable old negro driver, was
actually going to stop before the house
where, for the time being. she had her
abiding place.
"Whose ole nigger are you?" she de-
manded, in shrill excitement, as Gilbert
dismounted.
81 is Gilbert, ma'am; Kernel Thorne's
man Gilbert, FUN over i'm Leon" he re-
sponded, removing his hat and bowling
low.
''In the name o peace an plentyw ex-
claimed Roxanna, rising to the full ex-
tent Of her numerous inches, and peer
ing at the cart from the height of the top
step. Brought Nick Thorne's trunk,
eh?"
eyes, mistis."
"Well, 'tain't no mon simple justice,
'cordin' to my way o. thinkin'; but as
officer O justice, you're powerful laggard
in yo' movements. Whyn't ye come q
day sooner:"
II cum soon ez de circumstances wuz
qualified. ma'am," old Gilbert explained,
deferentially.
"An' you come too late; Nick Thorne
amt cher" Miss White announced, COM
pactly.
Old Gilbert stood agape and stupefied.
"Whey-whey he den, mistis?" he STAN
mered.
''That's mon kin tell. He kited off
to Sunrise plantation yestiddy, two hours
be-sun, an, rs 1 hear tell, he sol that
black hawse o. his'n to the overseer fur
a hund'ed an fifty, which it was wuth
five bundled, if it was wuth n dime; an
he come back with Johnson's rickety ole
buggy an blin' mare, an this mawnin',
by daybreak, him an Dosia TUX up their
line o. march to seek their fortune, l
s'pose. They amt said naire word to
me. They're pair o turkle doves, to-
be-shore; what kin you expect but what
they'd fly? But whar they'll light
don't undertake to prophesy. All I
know is, they're gone, an I'm left alone
here, lax sparrer on the housetop, or
mo- lakly, a buzzard on rail-consid-
erin Of my size"
"Tubbe sho!' old Gilbert calculated,
with polite assent. He looked to the
right and he looked to the left, up at the
sky and down at the ground, rubbing his
forehead with his horny forefinger.
"What gwan do, nex'?" he sighed.
"You kin carry that trunk back, an
wait fur OCCASION" said Miss White.
"Jt's mighty foolish business, this mar
ryin' 'thout security fur meat n bread
but cussin' won't mend it none, an you
kin tell Colonel Thorne I sesso."
"Dullaw, mistis!' said old Gilbert.
with uplifted hand. 81 wouldn't so much
ez name Mawse Nick to mawster-not
fur freedom!"
Miss White cacklcd harshly.
Gilbert, recalling Miss Elvira's instruc-
tions as to the contents of the provision
basket, thought that it might be well to
make propitiatory offering to this Sc
we're giantess, who seemed somehow to
be linked with his young masters fate.
"Dey is a little matter o. goodies out
yander in de cyart," he said, with hesi-
tating humility; ''mebbe you mought
lax ter tas' 'em"
Miss White spat viciously. "No,
thankee." said she. ''They'd d sour on my
stomik."
"You mought set 'em aside ontel
Mawse Nick come back" old Gilbert
suggested, timidly.
''Hc amt a-comin' back" Miss White
declared, with decision so energetic that
old Gilbert's heart sank with the fear
that his young master was turned out Of
doors on all sides. EN- me a-countin'
on old Mawse job Furnival ter tex care
on him." thought the old negro, sadly,
as he stood twirling his hat, and casting
furtive glances at the inexorable ANA
zon on the doorstep; but Miss White had