The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-12-28

ne mean IL all loo.
81 ain interfere but once. an den is
ak Marse Steny if he ain shame 'eself
ter disagree wild he pa SO. MOI sezee,
wild de fire a-fashin from he eye.
ain shame because I is rite An dat
settled it. | knowed den dat dem two
members OF de family wouldn't nebber
come tergeder gain in dis worl. l Is
hide i'm dat night in my well war wuz
all dry an big nuf ter let i'm make
'imself purity comferble on de bottom.
sDe nex' night Marse Steny is sen me
out wild anudder letter. Dis one wuz
dress ter Missile Grace. We is step out
side de cabin tergeder. Prince sezee,
wien yo' git ter de Elliott nanshun yo'll
fin big party goin on, an jess yo' go in
de serbants' hall an ak for Missile Grace.
An Prince sezee, press on her dat ef-
she cum wild you youse kin show her
war l is, an tell 'er dat is got to go
way right off, why don't you ak her
ter cum en- de letter. SEE 1. Cos,
sezee, missile Grace don't know war is.
ssShoah nuf, a party was goin on at de
Elliott manshun, an arter sum dem low
down hired nigger--de Ellio5ts' ain own
no niggers-is sass me, Miss Grace is
cum out she self.
"sWell, Prince SEE she. 'Missie,' sezi
an scrapes, here am letter from Marse
Steny.'
miss Grace read de letter an turn
wife. will I nebber see i'm gain? she
say, an dat reminds me. SO SEE, missile
Grace, jess cum wild me all by yo'self,
an kin show you war e is in my WELL
g is it true? she say, sorter ter she
self. Den turnin ter me she say, Prince,
I'll go wild you.'
'sMissie Grace wuz berry nerbous. De
ribber is a-risin all de time, an we has
mighty ibely time of it a-gittin cross.
Wen we is git ter de cabin an l is clare
de weeds way bout de well fer her ter
git trough she is laff scared like.
ssJess as she was goin ter lean for'ard
Marse Steny is step from benin de canes.
Grace, sezee an opens his arms. An
Missile Grace jess turn, an de mex mint
she an Marse Steny wuz clasp tergeder.
II amt eenterup, but arter awhile | is
yeah Marse Steny say, 4 done meek &c
test, an he ain goin to forgib, but dot
mecks no matter. We lubs, an dere is
minister yere ter marry u.s.
81 know by dat dat Marse Steny means
me, so steps ard, an wild Gawd as
my judge eff Miss Grace didn't put she
han en- Marse Steny's an say, Yes, l
will be yo' wife eff Prince'll marry us
tergeder' Dat wuz de proudes' mint
en- my life, an it aim teck dis niger long
fer ter marry dem two.
ST aim no mo- dan git trou fob de
SCUM Of dogs an people is herd cumin
cross de ribber in boats. De water is
a-ragin fearful by dis time. Dey is dis
cubber dat Missile Grace is gone an is
hunt for she.
"sJump en- my boat sezi, pushin
missile Grace and Marse Steny befo' me.
An dey is, an as Marse Steny is shub off
he call ter me, wait fer us, Prince; we
will be back
'sAn dey will cum. Dey is boun ter.
Marse Steny nebber broke he word en-
he life." And the aged negro arose from
his seat. A new life seemed to course
through his veins.
1Ou yOu ACdu NCi14 SdA14As AAO Ca
claimed, pointing his long, thin arm to
the open door.
There was no sound in the darkness
without but that of the rushing river,
which was now boiling and surging
around the little island, almost all of
which had been washed away but the
little plot on which the cabin stood. AS
r 10 po1d doc cd
into my face. 1t was the water of the
river. A few more minutes and Princes
cabin would be borne away on the tide.
/ turned to see if there was any means
of escape. Prince was behind me point
ing in the darkness up the river.
'Dey is cumin for Prince! See? Dey
is cumin!' he shouted.
Then stretching out both arms he
stood with the water splashing about his
feet awaiting the coming of his master.
Awed by his strange demeanor, fol-
lowed his CLASSY gaze. For a moment /
forgot the flood and my danger, for
there outlined in the darkness was a
white robed form in light boat ap-
preaching. 1t came rapidly toward us.
Il have COluO LII yOu, 1AAS0. 9AOoVOa
a silvery, girlish voice.
ssIze ready, Missile Grace" came in
stentorian tones from the lips of the
aged negro. Then Strengthening his
bent form he took step back, and as
the skiff, swept in the current, struck
the little clod of land before the cabin
door light figure in white stepped out
"Quick, Prince; come with mel" ex-
claimed voice that thrilled me through.
But Prince answered never a word.
Stiff and stark his body lay on the cabin
floor. He had already joined his master
and mistress.
AS Mabel and I were whirled out into
the stream the old log cabin toppled
over and fell.
1 stopped plying the paddle long
enough to say, eve met at Princes
Well"
1t was not long before we celebrated
our deliverance from a watery grave by
giving an entertainment at which cler-
gyman presided. On my very wedding
c-,,,o -,,a +old mo IF how ssNTarso