Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-21

I
| up she told him"
There had been suspicious of Thomson.
it appeared, in regard to some church
moneys that were in his hands. Oh, yes.
Rene admitted, he had paid the money
back, but not until after they had lost
their little hoard.
Il knows nav, she sets store by pay.
| still" 81 Rene, ''but this fellow talks so
smooth he's fair bewitched her. I did
write to paw where we ben, and I'm hopiu'
he'll git round. 1 sent him all the money
nav let me keep outer my wages and my
grips"
The grips, suppose, were Reme's tips.
which he received on various occasions.
'Maw'Q get her enforcement in two
weeks, she says" Rene went on gloomilv.
"and she lows to go back t. the country
right strait, out I amt going with her if
you all will keep me-
Reme's prediction came true. With a
profusion of thanks for our kindness, Vic
/ tory gave US warning. She was going back
in three weeks to her own house We
couldn't complain as far as we were con-
cerned, especially as she had hunted up a
| new cook of great gifts in sauces and sal
ads according to her former employer,
| neat, industrious, indeed lacking little of
perfection except a good temper
Rene, on this official confirmation, as it
were, of his fears, became a walking statue
of gloom. 1t was at this period that he
| broke Royal Worcester plate and three
cut glass wineglasses, all of which of
course just slipped from his hands while
| he wasn't doing nothing" His misery
over the wreck was such that Kate hadn't
the heart to scold him
He came to us later and begged Kate not
to take any money out of his wages, due
the next day.
NAV, she said you'd keep most ALL" he
whimpered "'cause they're the incest kind
of dishes and cost terrible sight, she saws.
But if you'd please not this month, I'll
sure work for you all next month"
Kate treasured him. She wasn't going
to take his money, but why was he so anx-
ious to have the wages this month?
Then Rene confessed that his father was
in town, and so was Mr. Thompson.
And Thompson, he's all fixed up" cried
Rene, ''out of our money. In a black
preacher coat and silk hat Oh, he looks
mighty fine. But paw does look pint
blank gashly. You see, Mrs. Temple, he
did ben sick ever sence he went home the
last time, and the house where he ben
ulInSu no" Ii anu lie lOSU HIS SOOU clOC06S
and ever cent er money, and now he's
come here all ragged, amin to git some
work and some clothes and make it up to
nav. And don't want nav t. see him all
in his rags and Thompson strutting round
in his high hat. So was reckoning I'd buy
him some clothes"
We sympathized with Rene, but as it
turned out our sympathy came to naught
Eithar Nintorutc Low no
sooner than he expected, or Victory her
self found the money sooner; anyhow, a
few evenings later Kate came to me to say
that Thompson was calling on Victory.
at once wanted to look at a new expert
ment in buildings, left in the "cod closet"
to reach which one must pass through the
kitchen.
True enough, there sat SNUG faced, six
foot negro, cleaning all over, in a black
broadcloth, with a gorgeous gold watch
chain and dazzling linen.
Victory would not let US pass without in
Producing him.
1t was at this moment that there came
timid kind of half hearted knock at the
door
Victory opened it and absolutely stag
gered back. "My Lawd. Liger she
screamed, "whut's got ye?''
Lige indeed it was, and forloner specta-
Gle than he presented is difficult to picture.
He looked sick and wretched, and his
clothes were no better than rags. What a
contrast to the resplendent Thompson!
eyes, Vict'ry, it's me-" said poor Iige.
81 know l amt fit t. come t. see ye in SIGH
close, but did wanter see we so badp'
All Victory said was. "Mymyl mymyl
Liger'
By this time-for half unconsciously Vic
tory had opened the door-Lige had sham
bled into the circles of light. He saw
Thompson. AS if by magic his humility
was rent from him. His limp form straight
ened. Head erect and eyes burning he
shook his fist at the preacher.
you black niger! is you DARN come
'twiXt me an my wife?"
Mania, who was on the ether side of the
table, an admiring listener to Brother
Thompson's eloquence. jumped up with a
scream.
'You hushp' SAID Victory quietly, don't
ye be skeered up, Mandy, be won't do no
harm!" She turned herself to Lige With
actual dignity: who you takin' bout,
Mist Sanders? Not me. | amt no wife
er yourn got my bill O. enforcement dis
very day"
l1lSC SrtSpCu 1E0 UCciS IOIlCO W eyes
"Onyhow, she amt amin to demean her
self to a low down, tramDin' niger like
you," said Thompson, from his glistening
height of broadcloth, Miss Vict'ry lows t.
become the bride of a gentleman in the
perfession"-
A swift blow from Lige's fist knocked
the rest of the sentence out of time.
Like tiger Lige flew at the white shirt
bosom and the gorgeous watch chain.
But, weakened by illness, he was no match
for the brawny preacher, who knocked him
half across the kitchen.
Manda Uttered.
"Stopl" cried Mrs. Temple, "Victoryi
stop!" Needing her no more than the
wind, as Lige, bleeding but undismayed,
dashed agaiE at Thompson, Victory her
self flung the dish towel tight over Thomp-
sons unsuspecting head, pulling from be-
hind with such force and fury that, thus
harassed in the rear, he made a misstep
and all three went down together, under
Lige's onslaught.
"Git YOU razor, Ligel'' shrieked Victory.
"You let my husband lone or he cut you
wild a razorp'
| believe that it was quite as much the
bewildering effect of Victory's conduct as
Mrs. Temples commands that sent calm
on the turmoil
Thompson crawled to his feet and glared
at Lige, also on his feet, fourishing razor,
while Victory painted, supporting herself
by the table, and Mandy called on the po-
lice out of the dining room door, as if they
were hidden up stairs.
Reme's appearance at this moment ra-
Their helped the confusion, since he sup
posed the house to be aire and ran to the
water faucets.
'What does all this mean, Victory"