St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-10
CHAPTER ".

Despite my wrath, I slept, though my
sleep was troubled by terrible dreams.
When awoke night was past, and sweet
er day was never born. The birds were
singing, a flood of perfume came up from the
garden, but my mood was unchanged.
Sitting up in bed, saw that Aunt Sally had
placed my bathtub and clean towels where
they should be. She had polished my shoes,
and the blue dress was replaced by pink
muslin, outgrown by Cousin Adelaide, of
course.
With glance of scorn at this, I began to
wash myself, and scrubbed until my skin
smarted. Then, but without going to the
glass, combed my hair and braided it into
a pigtail, which wound up at the back OF
my head and fastened with twenty pins, and
opening my wardrobe, hung up the pink
froek and took down gray linen one. Two
years before, my uncle had taken me to
Richmond with him, and this was the travel
ing dress used on that occasion. It was
rather tight, short in the skirt and sleeves,
but it would do. dragged it on and but
toned myself into it, and took from the
closet a bag in which had been used to
''tote" my school books, when Miss Penny,
for short time, kept school across the
bridge.
Into this bag Iput some changes of UNDER
wear, certain books I had had given me, a
volume of Mrs. Heman's poems which had
been my lost mothers, and which bore on
the title-paSe this inscription: Presented
to Eta Malcolm, on her fifteenth birthday,
by her affectionate brother, William" and a
email hihla rvhiah oonfoiDa6 fho ~
my birth. also took my mothers marriage
certificate, which was engrossed on parch-
ment. I did this because it had been my
mothers, for had none of those feelings
which older people would have had concern
ing its preservation.
One valuable article Of jewelry possessed
"a necklace of gold chains, in the clasp of
which diamond was set. 1t had been given
to my mother on her wedding day, by her
husbands father. One Christmas my uncle
had given it to me, despite my aunt's proph-
ecies that would break or lose it.
I had been very careful. Now I drew it
from the folded chamois skin in which it had
been wrapped, put it on, and covered it with
a scarlet handkerchief that my uncle had
bought for me when I was with him in
Richmond.
And now had only to put on little gray
straw hat and pair of gray gloves, to be
ready for departure.
had searched for my small store of spend
ing money, and fifty cents jingled in my
pocket. Then I heaped up the bed quilts so
that any one peeping in would fancy me still
lying on my pillow, drew the blinds shut, and
crept on tip-toe downstairs. The debris of
last nights refreshments were upon the
dining-room table. I satisfied my hunger
with these, wrapped a piece of cake in a
paper, and left the house by a door not visi-
BILE from the kitchen.
Goodbye, Aunt Elizabeth, I've done with
you and with all the rest of your tribe" I
said, bitterly. But my lip did culver as I
remembered my uncle, who had been kind
to me whenever he had time to think If me.
And did wish that I could have told him
that it was not to spite any one that 1 shat
tered the mirror. would have helped him
out of his troubles if could, and prayed
that some change would come before he
broke down under all his cares. But did
not pretend to myself that I forgave my
aunt. I knew did not, and thought then
that never could.
AS for Mandy and Sally, repeated to my
self all the scornfuf things that were ever
said about their race, and meant every word
uttered. 49,
So passed on until came to the great
gate that opened on the road there paused
and looked back. I1@ iti
The smoke arose from the outside kitchen.
where had had SO many comfortable mo-
ments, and believed myself welcome.
Out of the windows Of my little cousins
room foated tiny white curtain, as if way
ing me farewell. ~. ,z,t 80