The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-08
CHAPTER I.
LITTLE MISSY.

May morning ''up to town, as they said
on the plantations around Tallahassee In
the days before the war; and the entire
domestic retinue OF Thorne Hill were as
Eembled TO speed her departure. Her
brother, the colonel, had preceded her on
horseback, for be was man of too many
inches 10 endure q carriage In drive OF
nine long miles. II may have been be-
cause of these extra inches that he was
called colonel, but his world acknowledged
the title without inquiry.
The colonels only daughter, Miss Win
fired, a motherless lass of eleven, was
doomed this day to be left at home IN
charge of GlOry-Ann, the old family
nurse, whose name Miss Winifred had
transformed into MON Bee"
'See that Winfred does not run in the
SUM-" Mics Elvira said, as she sank back
against the cushions and opened little
well-worn volume of Bishop ken's DE
votions." Miss Elvira spent her day, for
the most part, reading this good book she
had formed the habit when she gave up
Sir Walter SCOTS novels, nobody knew
how long ago-or nobody told. 1t was a
practice that enabled her TO forget little
Miss Winifred. who was a young lady of
exsspersting devices.
"Wouldn't s'prise me ef Missy wuz in
dishyer sun now dis minute" grumbied
Glory-Ann, as the carriage rolled away.
"Yit she mought be a-pOutin' somewheres
bout de house" she amended, as che be-
gan laboriously to mount the stairs.
The house at Thorne Hill had third
story under the roof, lighted by window
IN each gable, and deep, high peaked
dormers back and front. The stair-land-
ing divided this story into two long rooms,
which were used chiefly for storing odds
and ends. In the cool north room was
Winiired's chosen den, and here, in an
old discarded armchair beside the gable
window, GlOry-Ann found her.
\ Withholding child she was. very
small for her eleven wears, with scant
promise OF beauty. She had large ewes Of
dark uncertain color. mouth for which
her teeth seemed too many, and an insic-
niicant nose. Stregks of sun burned yellow
marred the beauty of her curling and
abundant reddish-brown hair; moreover,
her face was freckled. She wore q faded
green bingham dress, which marked her
growth by two bands of deeper color in
the skirt, where the proyident tucks had
been let out. Her arms and shoulders
were bare, but pantsiettes of piece
with her dress hung nearly to her ankles
and obscured her white stockings Her
shoes, every way too large, laced up the
front
Praise de kingdom - GIory-Ann eiacu-
lated pAusing in the doorway, her arms
skimbo. "You deb, honey"
go way Lemme lone :" was honey's
response.
But Glory-Ann subsidized to the floor
beside the armchair, slowly and with a
sigh. and there she crouched, her
hands clasping her knees. She
foresaw that the exhortation to duty she
felt bound TO deliver would occupy por-
tor of time distinctly appreciate by her
stiff and elderly joints "Whyn't YOU
mind yo' book, Missy ?" she began.
I'm tired OF this old plantation!" Missy
declared. irrelevantly. 81 want TO go ever
an ever so far away" This was the bur
den OF the young lady's lament whenever
her aunt went up TO town without her.
You'd be TUX wild a mighty honin' ter
git back, said Glory-Ann. you ter talk
bout quittin' here, when you can't so
much as dress yOse she concluded, half
in pity half in reprOachfnl pride.
Il CAM retorted Missy, Indignantly,
as she tugged at the stringy and made
Quate blue ribbon that was supposed to
keep in subsection her rebellious hair.
Den hukkom you don't nuver do lt?"
demanded Glory-Ann. with sly humor.
To this thrust Missy made no reply, and
the old nurse began anew to exhort her to
mind her book" 'DO. now, Missy, lax
good chile, es' as Missle-virey said an
I'm gwan mex de incest little ginger pone,
tubbe sho,"
Tempted b. this prospect, Missy slowly
rose. and clasping her small sun-browned
hands on the top of her head, stood con-
templating. with law indifference, her old
nurses struggling achievement OF the per-
pendicular. When at last Nom Bee. with
grunt of thanksgiving, stood upon her
feet, Missy's eyes had found an attraction
in the home field beyond the garden fence.
where the corn in the burrows was making
promising show of green. In an instant
her languor and indifference vanished.
MON Bee Nom Bee :" she cried ex-
ciiedly. There's Daddy Gilbert IN the
home field; you reckon he's goin' to the
branch?"
"Jes' lis'n at dat, now :" said Glory Ann,
in discouraged tone. "Why amt you
mindiu' yo' book, stidder studyin' dat ole
nigger's doin's?"
'I'm a goin' with him" Missy an.
nounced, as she rushed from the room and
went tearing down stairs, deaf to all re-
monstrsnce.
"Jes look at her now ~ lamented Glory
Ann, as the child slipped through gap
in the garden paling and made wild haste
across the burrows, reckless of damage To
the growing corn. ''She Is les as head Y
as Mawse Nick heself an mawster ain
got no room ter compla when his chillen
tex dey own way; dey is made after his
own pattern plum
"Pm a-goin' with you" painted Missy,
as soon as she was within hearing dis
lance of her fathers much-indulged slave,
who, being slightly lame and duly consid
crate OF the corn crop. was making bis
way leisurely.
"Aawster above" exclaimed the old
man. with a grin that displayed his bic
white teeth. Here YOU come tromplinl
de Gavin lax so much pusley, an gittin 70
skin tanned up. Whyn't you satisfied lei
set in de gret house, lax de lady YOU waz
bawn?"
II want to 90 wadin', !" said Missy.
amt Rwan to no branch" said old
Gilbert with decision; and before the
child could recover from the surprise Of
her disappointment. he asked with pa
thetic eagerness, rs mawster hearn fun
Mawse Nick lately, ez you knows on ?"
There, nowi" cried Missy. angrily, 81
was just forgettin' bout Brer Methodist
amt come out here for YOU to 20 talk Il
me bout Brer Nicholas; Il makes me
all-sweIled-just here" And Missy
with her slender hands across her heart,
began IN sob