The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-09-09


moment.
Chouchoute dismounted fastened his
horse to the fencepost and proceeded to-
ward the house,
The room, crowded with people young
and old, was long and low, with rough
beams across the ceiling, blackened by
smoke and time. Upon the high man
telpiece single coal oil lamp burned
and none too brightly.
In a far corner, upon platform of
boards laid across two flour barrels, sat
Uncle Ben, playing upon squealy fid.
die and shouting the Figures"
'Ahl Via Chouchoutep some one
called.
'Ehl Chouchoute!"
Jus in time, Chouchoute; yere's Miss
Leontine waitin fer a partna,"
''S'lute yo' partnasp Uncle Ben was
laundering forth; and Chouchout, with
one hand gracefully behind him, made a
profound bow to Miss Leontine, as he
offered her the other
Now Chouchoute was noted far and
wide for his skill rs a dancer. The mo-
ment he stood upon the floor q fresh
spirit seemed to enter into all present.
1t was with renewed vigor that Uncle
Ben intoned his "Balancy ALL Fus TO
fo'ard an back"
The spectators drew close about the
couples to watch Chouehoute's wonder
full dancing.
''It takes Chouehoute to show 'em de
step, val" proclaimed Gros Leon, with
fat satisfaction, to the audience at large.
''Loolc 'iml look i'm yonda! Ole Ben
got to work hard an dat if he want to
keep up wild Chouchoute, va!'
So it was; encouragement and adula-
ton on all sides, till, from the praise
that was showered on him, Chouchoute's
head was as light as his feet.
At the windows appeared the dusky
faces OF the negroes, their bright eyes
cleaning as they viewed the scene
within and mingled their loud outlaws
with the medley of sound that was al
ready deafening.
The time was speeding. The air was
heavy in the room, but no one seemed
to mind this. Uncle Ben was calling
the figures now with rhythmic sing
song:
Fright an lef all 'roun Swing
co'nasl"
Chouchoute turned with u smile tc
Miss Felicie on his left. his hand ex
tended, when, what should break upon
his ear but the long, narrowing wall o.
locomotive.
Then he vanished from the room
Miss Felicie stood as he left her, witt
hand uplifted, rooted to the spot will
astonishment
1t was the train whistling for his sta
ton, and he mile and more away II,
knew he was too late, and that he coult
not make the distance; but the soun(
had been rude reminder that he wa
not at his post of duty.
However. he would do what he coult
now. He ran swiftly to the outer road
and to the spot where he had left hi
pony.
The horse was gone, and with it tn
United States mail bag!
For an instant Chouchoute stood hal
stunned with terror. Then, III ON
quick flash. came to his mind vision 0
possibilities that sickened him. Dis
grace overtaking him in this position o
trust; poverty his portion again; and hi
dear mother forced to share both will
him.
He turned desperately to some negroes
who had followed him, seeing his will
, rush from the house:
"Who saw my boss? Wat you all die
, with my boss, sayy'
fap xfoi up
grumbled Gustave, sullen looking
mulatto. you didn' have no call tt
lef i'm in de road, fus' place"
"'Pear to me like | heahed hos
a-lopin down de road jis' now; didn' you
Uncle Jake% ventured second.
"Neva heahed nuttin-nuttin 7 al
'cep' dat big mouf Ben in yonda makil
mo fuss AN t'unda sto'm.'
"Boysr cried Chouchoute excitedly
''bring me boss, quick, one of you
I'm boun to have onel I'm bonn to
I'll give two dolla to the frs man bring
, me boss"
Near at hand, in the "lot" that ad
joined Uncle Jake's cabin, was his littl
creole pony, nibbling the cool, wet gras
that he found along the edges and in tn
corners of the fence.
The negro led the pony forth. Wit
no further word and with one boun'
Chouchoute was upon the animals back
He wanted neither saddle nor bride, fo
there were few horses in the neighbor
hood that had not been trained to b
, guided by the simple motions of tn
riders body.
, Once mounted, he threw himself for
ward with u certain violent impulse
| leaning till his cheek touched the ami
, mails name.
He uttered sharp Heir and a
once, as if possessed by sudden frenzy
, the horse dashed forward, leaving tn
, bewildered black man in cloud o
dust
What mad ride it was On one sid
was the river bank, steep in places ant
crumbling away; on the other an un
broken line of fencing, now in straigh
lines of neat planking, now treacherou
barbed wire, sometimes the Zigzag rail
The night was black, with only sucl
faint light as the stars were shedding
No sound was 10 be heard save the quicl
, thud of the horses hoofs upon the har'
dirt road, the animals heavy breathing
and the boys feyerish "hei, heir whel
: he fancied the speed slackened.
} Occasionally marauding dog starte
. from the obscurity to bark and give use
less chase.
"To the road, to the road, Bon-a-rienl
painted Chouchoute, for the horse in hi
, wild race had approached so closely 1
the rivers edge that the bank crumble
: beneath his flying feet. 1t was only b
) q desperate lunge and bound that /
3 saved himself and rider from plungin
7 into the water below.
{ Chouchoute hardly knew what he WI
, pursuing so madly. 1t was rather som
thing that drove him-fear, hope, de
3 peration.
. He was rushing to the station, becaus
Q 1t seemed to him, naturally, the fir
thing to do. There was the faint hoI
n that his own horse had broken rein an
,xof.o 4bara ~ hin otu,, oroorI. b11t cI1p