The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-22
DElrANps A PRoMIs


Glory-Anu came struggling up the steps,
half-dragging. half-carrying Missy, fam
tastic figure, clad in q long white gown, on
her head little cap fashioned OF the
broad, stiff magnolia leaves, pinned to-
gether with thorns, in her hand a long
wand OF spirea, with three green leaves
atop.
'Missle-virey, you see dis chile? p
Glory-Ann painted. "Hit's time de wuz q
stop put ter ali dis projeckin' en- cAvortin'
in de moonshine, mekin' b'leve in sper-
rits, en- witches. en- what-not. Whey
you 'spect l foun' Missy? Out un'er de
Soup pernong arbor, fiat on de Sroun', wild
ner face kivered up. en- jes' a-howlin' all
by herself, en- plum skeered wild her own
foolishuiss. Whey dat fool-nIgger, Amity,
ls, don't know"
81 aTnt scared OF nothin'," Missy pro-
tested, though her white face belied her
words. Pm mad That's what And as
for Anity. | drove her off; she amt no
mo- good than If she didn' belong to me.
She don't know nothin' bout play-sctin' /;
she won't understand; and l amt goin'
10 have no mo- play-Rctin's of characters. p"
At this there was general laugh, aud
Missy was born waiting to bed.
In spite OF all prOteststions to the con-
Tary. Glory-Ann was confirmed in the
spinion that Missy had frightened herself
with her own performances. when the
child insisted upon saying her prayers
over and over again.
+" 'Tain't 'ligion, hit amt" the old
nurse commented TO herself. en- she
gwan have bad dreams"
Glory-Apn had an apartment of her own
IN the house OF her daughter. Tom Quash' g
mother, but being high authority in all
childish ailments, she always slept upon a
pallet in Missy's room.
Late IN the night, Missy awoke and
rallied: Nom Beel Nom Beel Wake
mp"
Nom Bee, sleeping the sleep of the just,
was hard to arouse, and scant OF sym
pethy. "Wha' de matter, honey? Whyn't
you 90 TO sleep?" she grumbled.
al can'tw gssped Missy. ''Samethin' is
goin' to happen"
"No, de ain nothin' gwan happen"
said Mon Be, with sleepy security. You
les dreRmin'."
II amt dreamin'r" retorted Missy, in
dIgnantly. "And 1 can't stay to sleep,
Nom Be; tell me bout the rabbit and the
tar-baby."
So Nom Bee reused herself to recite the
dramatic adventure, which, long before
the day of Uncle Remus' introduction to
the general public, had done duty In
southern nurseries.
But Missy soon interrupted. I'm sick
of the rabbit and the everlastin' brier-
patch" she declared, ungratefully. 81
wish it would be day"
"Hit gwan-be day-b'om.bye," said
Nom Bee, with mighty yawn.
When day came Missy was asleep, and
her aunt, upon hearing GlorY-Ann's re-
port, would not have her called for break
fast. It was the day for her music lesson
but Missy slept so late that the trip tC
town had to be abandoned.
Flora's night had been no happier thar
Bissy's. She was very fond Of her cousin
Nicholas in a way, and through the dark
ness and silence her sentiments under
went a reaction in his favor; but il was
reaction in which Dosia had noshare what
ever. Nicholas marriage was, in Flora't
opinion, an injury not to be forgiven by
any of his family; hut she found hersel
wishing that, somehow, the consequences
of that rash step might be visited upoI
Dosia alone. who was-so Flora believed
alone 70 blame. Dosia, as q clever anC
useful dependent of Mrs. Henry (tha
cousin of the Thornes on whom Miss FL
Vira leaned for guidance In all perplexi
ties. was well enough, Flora thought
She had grace, she had beauty, she had
fair education and pleasing manners, AM
Flora was quite willing to concsde that
Cousin Myrtilla Henry chose to advance
her protege, DOsia might Law claim to som
notice from the social world of Tai
lahassee-but married to Nicholas
The thought was intolerable. An,
the day would surely come
Miss Flora was convinced-whe
Nicholas himself would bitterl
repent it, Surely some way might be de
vised by which the secret marriage nigh
be secretly dissolved. aud Nicholas free
from the bonds into which he had Above
himself TO be entrapped. Money nigh
do it; the Furniyals were poor; the
might be bribed 10 take themselves off I
parts unknown. And Flora decided tina
It should be her task to make Nichols
listen TO reason.
In spite of a sleeplsss night, che wa
early at breakfast the next morning; bu
Nicholas had already breakfasted an
gonel
"Gone where?" Flora faltered, consciou
that she was pale and trembling
"Gone to hurry Furnival," the colonC
explained. The workmen are losin
time"
"Oh?'' said Flora, and the color rushe
back to Der face.
FOR all that we are in no hurry 10 hay
you leave Va, Flora" the colonel said, pa
ting her hand.
Nicholas remained away until long afte
tea, and as Aleck Gage came not Mi:
Flora walked alone in the shrubberl
Never yet had she been so eager TO we
come Aleck Gage. for her cousins seert
was fast becoming terrifying burden
seemed to her that she could not live al
other day and bear it alone, and there WI
no one 10 whom she dare tell it excel
Aleck Gage; but the DAYS went By an
Aleck kept alOof, and Nicholas, resentir
her lack of sympathy, was careful not
give her an opportunity to speak wit
him alone.
The strain in these three or four da,
was beginning 70 tel upon Flora TO an O.
tent that could hardly have escaped motto
but that Missy had now attracted the an
ious attention of her family. Night aft
night the child walked Nom Bee with Il
piteous complaint that she could n
"stay to sleep"
"De laws-a-mAssy exclaimed Glor
Ann. "What all de chile? Honey, wh'