Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-04-22
THE ORCHARD GHOST.


Green Turtle bayou, in Arkansas. was
dead.
He was very popular divine. and
it had been his boast that he had
plunged mo- dirty sinners in dc Mis-
sissip'" than any other brother min
lister in the state. Naturally he had
great following in the colored com
nunity in which he dwelt, and when
the tidings OF his sudden decease be- 4
came generally circulated there was
much wailing abroad in the land. His
cabin was soon thronged with visitors
and lamenting friends from all parts
of Green Turtle bayou. who had hur-
ricd in to pay their last sad respects
- the memory of Exodus Sarcoxie.
About q half score of friends vol
unteered 70 remain and sit up with
the corpse. which was not to be in
aerred until the following afternoon.
Among those holding this solemn
vigil was the good mans favorite
niece. Miss Venus Louisa Sarcoxie.
who had come 40 miles from her
home up in the hills to gaze her last
npon the venerable face of her uncle.
Miss Venus was a maiden past 50,
with stout rotund figure. and crown
III jetty kinks covering head always
held defiantly high. Like all of her
race She did not look her age, and
had not her friends possessed fertile
memories, she might easily have
passed for 20. But Miss SarcoXie had
no ambition to appear younger than
she really was. The ridicule OF being
an old maid had never disturbed her.
Her intimates had always feared her
caustic tongue too much to attempt
passing Jokes on her age.
Ten years before Venus had passed
several happy months in the Rev.
Sarc1xie's household. assisting his
wife in various domestic duties. At
the same time job Robson. Mrs. Sar-
coxic's nephew from Alabama, was
employed to help with the cotton and
the vans ON the little cultivated
uatch over on the hillside.
Job and Venus, thrown almost con-
stantly together, formed warm at
tachment for each other. At every
eampmecting. or place of amusement
wlich shg attended. the Alabama
darl.ey was her shadow When the
girl gave up dancing and joined her
nncle's church. the lover followed
suit; and If. as his associates dared
assert. JOB had '.gal religion" the
time had been when he had made
some powerful prayers.
job and Venus. with the full APP
progal Of uncle and aunt. became en-
gagged to be married. But trifing
quarrel ruffied the surface Of their
stream OF love, and they foolishly
drifted into the frigid sea of estrange-
rnent.
Dispute the honest, if laundering EFF
forts of the Rev. and Mrs. Sarcoxie tC
bring about reconciliation between
the separated lovers, the gulf widened
and the engagement was declared off
Venus returned to her home among
the bills. and Job cOnsoled himself by
hackslidin@ and "going with" Other
bellies Of Green Turtle Bayou.
Venus Sarcoxie had never married
but Job took for wife one Of the sa
HE daughters Of the neighborhood
and for eight years he had beer
wretchedly hen-pecked. At last deati
had removed his dark Xantippe, anC
the Toung widower was again strut
ting about with all the freedom of |
man rid Of an incubus which had un
mercifully held him pinned to tn
wall for eight remorseless years.
Now, job Robson, too, was one 0
the watchers at the Sarcoxie cabin
Since their disagreement 10 years be
t,n1 ~ af a
though they had brushed agains
each other in the cabin. had shed tear
side by side over the pastors dear
body they had never spoken to eacl
other.
Venus went out doors and sat dow
on bench in the moonlight. 10
had been to the spring for a buckle
of fresh water. Having deposite,
his burden on table near the door
and having quaffed literally from
big rourd dipper. he remarked:
Miss Venus | beliebe, and he ar
Trosched her.
Venus looked up from her medits
,tion.
II low no ones amin to hinde
yos from beliebin' it, she rcturne
unencouragingly.
job had been through the mill. II
had been subjected to far sharpe
things from womans tongue tina
that, else ne might have gone ava
without making further attempt
open conversation, for Miss Sal
.coxie'5 tone was decidedly cool.
"But yo's must member dat il
been er powerful sence is done sa
yo's las Miss Venus" he pursue
"a his most deferential manne
,.Gouldn't be quite sho' dat it wa
,o's until yo speak. Yo's hahn
changed much in all desc yeahs, eel
10 grow mo- beautifuller. F"
don't yo's tink lis change
rnuchP" she asked, half-placatc
BIZ his seductive compliment. Blu
quickly resolving not to be won ovc
20 easily. she changed her tom