The record-union., 1892-09-03
A VIRGINIA SILHOUETTE.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
A dull November afternoon. Not a
glimpse o. CLINT Of brightness as far as
the eye could see; 4" the heavens above
and the earth beneath' were all of the
same monotonous hues of dingy brown
and gray. The heavy, Ieaden clouds
hung low and motionless over the
leaef3ss woods ard colorless. melancholy
fields.
Columbia, otherwise Glumpy, Jackson
stood gazing on the cherries landscape
with round, solemn eyes. She was car
rying large rabbit trap which she in
tended TO set, and had put it down for an
instant to rest her tired arms. The little
iootpath on which she was standing ran
along the side of an old corndeld, be-
tween it and small creek which was
concealed from the passer-by by the thick
underbrusl growing along its banks, but
which betrayed its existence by the rip
pie of its water over The stony bottom,
ripple which sounded peculiarly chilly
on a bleak November day. Nothing more
dismal than the appearance OF a held Of
Indian corn III November can be lmag-
Ined. Robbed long ago OF fodder, tops
and ears, the withered, broken stalks
stand bent and crooked, thrusting them
up through the dull red, sodden clay.
The cherries prospect had no effect on
GlUmpy. she was u little negro of about
l3, with q round, black face, solemn roll
ing eyes, and very White teeth, which
seemed 10 reflect brightness over her
whole face when she smiled But Glumpy
seldom smiled. Her face usually wore
an expression Of preternatural gravity,
and, ii any one laughed at her, of injured
dignity. Clad in a long, dingy blue
checked apron down to her ankles, her
thick wool twisted into numerous tight
little tufts, which stuck out from her
round head, she presented a comical fig
ure enough as she plodded through the
mud, her arms clasped tightly round the
long box of the rabbit trap winch she
carried in front of her.
Suddenly sound of voices came from
across the creek. Glumpy stopped, list
ening intently. The voices drew nearer;
some one was down in the creek, cross
ing the stepping stones and ascending the
bank. With a sudden, swift movement.
Glumpy concealed the trap among the
underbrush, and, rolling her hands in her
apron, stood gazing before her with inno-
cent eyes.
The bushes on the bank of the creek a
little way in front Of her were pushed
aside, and boy and girl of l3 and 10
climbed up into the cornlield. With re-
liefGlumpy recognized her white folks" !"
whom she trusted implicitly and from
whom she feared no evil. The pair were
bright, brOwn-eyed children, with hon
est. merry faces and their hands filled
with autumn leaves and everlastiugs.
They stopped, surprised at the sight OF
GIumpy standing meditativeIy amid the
cOruStallIS.
Hail, Columbia" exclaimed the boy,
laughing.
Why, Glumpy," said the girl, shave
you gore to the Wilderness"
Glumpy looked grayely from one to the
other. 'Evenin'. Miss Jennie, evenin',
Arthur she said calmly.
Arthur seated himself sociably on a
stone. what are you doing?" he in-
quired.
GIumpy met his gaze steadfastly, and
then, STOPPING, drew the trap from it's
hiding place
That doesn't look a good place for set
ting trap observed Jennie. Arthur
waited for an explanation.
II want gwine set it THAR" said GIum-
py. Il jes' pitched it inter the bresh
when l hear you all comin'.n
"Why?"
81 wuz scared es how it mought be
somebody es I'D tell Hannibal Martin
wha' l wUZ settin' ii"
know"
'Kase," said Glumpy, excitedly, she's
the meanes' little ole black nigger in all
Cam'ell County, let alone Firginia, an [
ain gwine let him steal my rabbits, no 1
AIM"
"Why," said Arthur, 81 thought you
and Hannibal were the greatest cronies.'
HE aim no chrome O mine, l kin tell
yOu," was the indignant response. II
AK him to mex me rabbit trap an he
wouldn't do it, not fo' nuthin', an 'twuz
mighty mean on him too, kase I done
help him pick up chips an fotch the cows
an everythin'. AM L jes' told him I'd
mex a trap heap better'n any of his ole
things, an [ done it too. But he say
tain fit To- nuthin,' jes' kase l done mex
il, an ne say tain gwine cOtch no rab-
bits, am | jes' know he'll rob it ef he
kin"
Glumpy stopped, out of breath. from
this recital Of her wrongs.
Jennie smiled. THAT was very mean
of Hannibal" she said sympathetically
Nv here are you going to set your trap?
We won't tell"
Right down hyah," answered Glun-
py, lifting her trap and leading the way
down the path, followed by the white
children. At last she stopped at the fence
dividing the cornfieid from a bit of
marshy land by the side of the creek.
Three heavily laden persimmon trees
grew along the fence, and to these Glumpy
triumphantly pointed. "Jes' look d thar. y
she cried. Don't it seem like es ef this
hyah place wuz jes' natcherly made fo'
rabbit traps.''
That it does" assented Arthur. heart
lly, STOPPING and examining the fence
and ground in an interested fashion.
Nv hy, it's famous place! Those per-
simmons alone are sure to attract the
! q Il n foil
the fence, and here, see, this is first-rate
path; look at the jolly little footmarks.
while those old stacks pointing to some
stacks of marsh hay on the other side of
the fence, ARE just the places where the
little rogues will shelter themselves on
these cold nights. Why, Glumpy, YOU
couldn't ma more promising place in
/ Virginia"
! GIumpy grunted with satisfaction. and
STOPPING, busted herself setting and bait
ing her trap. She produced an onion
ana half rotten apple, which, after rub
bing them well over the trap, she threw
them into 1t. Arthur shook down sew
eral persimmons and added them to the
onion and apple, and then the sraD was
placed with It's entrance 10 the gnaw in
the fence. Then, after carefully adjust
ing the trigger and swinging the door, the
/ three children stood munuhing persim-
mons and regarding their work in ST.
lence.
Glumpy spoke at last. "'Pears like it
oughter do, don't it? But sazes alive. e1
don't ketch somethin' tonight dunno
what Pll do"
You are too inpatient" said Jennie,
"They do not usually come into tran
the first night.''
Il know it, said Glumpy, shaking hel
head solemnly. But Pm boun' to ketch
one tonight, kase I tole Hannibal that
wuz plumb, suttin to do it, kase my trar
wuz sech a good one. l know didn'i
oughter say it, but he mex me so mad
that ! jes said it 'thout thinkin', an
then I wuz boun' to hol' by it, o. co'se."
1T was rash,' said Arthur.