The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-09-14
POPLARVILLE MISS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER A. 1s93

l dare not face him--now. 1t was fear
--wretched fear that sent me back to
your cabin to wait for you. o, Cephas,
You will be my peacemaker, won't
you?"
"Now yo'ze talkin'l De ginerl, he's
powerful streenyus. He's nightly sot
in his ways, he is. But den-he's got
elin's-he's got feelin's. You is de
very one ter git down to EN-, Miss
Mildred Yo' set still an let ole Ce-
phas tend ter de ginerl. I'll study up
some plan. He's up ter de big house
now, eatin' de best dinner in Dinwid
die Kyounty is de one ter say SO.
Full stommick make full heart Fust
news yo' know, my iii gal'll be a
hangin' on 'er fathers neck, an l
knows, in reason, bout wat II hap
pen den"
The butler drew up his best chair
and made Mildred sit down. Then, as
he stood beside her with finger on lip,
his brow deeply corrugated, he gently
patted her bowed head as he set him
self to "study'' out the situation.
yes yo'self, chile, - he said, sooth-
ingly. after long pause. ''W'en yo'
get back yo' strenk, we've slip up ter
de big house an see wat yo' father is
adoin'. If de ginerl jess know'd wat
me an yo' is a-fxin' up fer him, he'd
be a-shoutin' glory, dis yere very min
ute. Dass my opinion, honey, shores
yo' born"
In the dining room at the great
house the flow of revelry was at its
height. The toasts were beginning to
be drunk. But when the ladies, under
the wing of Miss Euphemia, the gen
erals sister, would have withdrawn,
the general objected,
Hang it all, Euphemia |" he said,
with after dinner frankness. t'why can
you ladies not remain? 1t is my birth
day we are almost family party,
and assure you we men will behave
ourselves. Besides, have few trifes
to bestow upon you. I'm too old to
have birthday presents myself, so as
you know, Iinhictmy revenge in kind
upon my guests. Here, Alabam, bring
in that basket"
Alabam appeared at the pantry door,
but was summarily displaced by old
Cephas, who relieved the girl of her
burden. The butler came forward and
placed the we'll laden basket by his
masters chair Then he stood wait
ing silently behind the general, with a
smile on his lips and asuspicious mois-
ture in his eye, ready to distribute the
presents.
"My friends" began the general,
rising to make the formal little speech
he had made each succeeding birthday
for twenty years or more, "here are a
few trihes, worth but little in them
selves, but which hope you will value
for the sake of the good will and af-
lection, of which they are only too in
efficient token. Cephas, hand them
round. You will find your names at
tached. Don't make mistakes, Cephas.
Alabam packed the basket and she is
immaculate in the way of constructing
frst-class blunders. ;"
While the general talked the butler
silently placed the presents at each
plate, amid the pleased ordinations
of the recipients. They were merely
little tokens of grateful acknowledge
ment, on the part of their host, of his
friends presence there that night.
There was book for one, gloves for
another, silk handkerchief for a
third, and so on. The General was
practical, even in his gifts. Then the
old butler, after handing the empty
basket to Alabam, came and stood
again behind his masters chair. At
every plate but that of the General
was present of some kind.
"Marse," whispered Cephas, bend
ing down, "dis yere is yo' own birf-
day Don't yo' reck'n dey'd orter be
sompin' er mother fer yo'?"
The general smiled Then smile
of gentle pleasure lighted up his fine
face.
mo, Cephas, he said, half turning
in his seat. ''But as it is, my pleas
ure is the greatest, and | am egotisti-
cal enough to speak of it here. They
only receive URINE, Dut III lS IHine "
give them that trife with hear. over
flowing with affection.
Cephas bent lower still.
''Dey is one ting, Marse; ; yo' amt
give yo'self nuttin. Yo'ze been
maxim out fer a long time like yo'
amt got nutting ter give ter yo'self.
Yet yo' have got suttin, yo' cert'n'y
have. Yo' knows it, Marse, an hit
makes yo' feel bad ever time yo' see
chile kiss its nanny"
The face of the general, indulgently
smiling at first, darkened suddenly.
He rose to his feet regardless of the
company, and frowned upon his ser
want, who, unmindful of his own te-
merity, added in broken voice;
eyes, Marse, yo' gives to ever one
but yoself. Desc other folks dey
hearts is full; hits yo'ze dat stays
empty, while yo' keeps de door shet.
"Confound you! Win you hush y
The general spoke passionately, but
the bitter truth---faltering enough
:, 4.Lbol hin, lilo a Enifa