The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-09
He done cotch, jess like / done tole
you" Mary James, still holding on to

Jou. "d1 SILL 1OluHlS Ou W
Sis Lies snuff bottle, had crept Up
to the scene of the accident, Trim
blin' in the jints" came upon her once
again; she seated herself upon the roots
Of the immense oak, and seemed trying
to rally her forces, then exclaimed:
dat gal amt cotch i'm. I amt gwine
ter b'leeve no sich tale. Dat gal
nigh bout 80 year ole. She nuthin' but
ole maid no how. I amt gwine ter
b1eeve dat tale on Mr.. Gooden." But
the mournful eyes in her thin face
contradicted her words, and made the
poor creature look, as Miss Rosebud
had said, 'sad and tragic
A Cup of Tea.
Meanwhile Mr.. Gooden, having "got
shed W. little Ebenezer, wended his
way to Miss Beckys, sure that she
would offer him a cup of tea. AS she
handed it to him she said, Eyes, I
does have a good time. I meeks my
own money, an drinks my tea, an
gifts lots of comfort. I don't cyar ef
Miss Mar yJanes do call me a ole maid,
like [ hear she do. Ole maid has
mighty good times desc days. Dere
amt nobody ter be bossin' me round.
Dat de moest cumfort dan heaps Nv
folks has"
'Ain nobody ter be bossin' Nv you
roun', Miss Becky? Dat what you
studyin' bout, is it? Look hyar, Miss
Becky, dish yer niger would like
nightly ter boss you round. He would
dat With coquettish toss Of her
head Miss Becky exclaimed, "Oh, git
out, Mr.. Goodenu' He picked up his
hat-his Sunday beaver-a1d started
to the door, laughing; then paused a,
moment, and, with bis eyes on her nut
brown face, said: EFF I gets out now,
Becky, I gwine ter stay out. lint
g'vine ter ever get in. Does you want
me git cut fur good? Say, gal?' Becky
drained the last drop Of tea In the cup,
seemingly unconscious Of her lovers
presence; then said: "Is you got good
sense, Mr.. Gooden?" Turning he en-
tered the room, took the cup from her
hand, placed it on the mantelpiece,
and taking both of her hands in his
looked down into her face Then, as
her head dropped, he said: Eyes, gal;
Use got heap a sense; dat huccolne I
done pick you out, and done come here
dis mornin' ter 'suade you not to con-
tnue on de road Nv ole maid whar
ain got nobody ter boss. EN- round,
but to 'cept Nv me an gin me leave tn
boss YOU an gin you some happiness
anu SatlSIactlOn. DIN love you, gal,
ever sense we alls went to school, but
you SO discontemtious you sorter skeer
ed me off. I done come to de pint
now. 1 gwinter git in or out. Eff you
gwinter be a ole maid and wants me
ter git out kim His arm had stolen
around her waise now, and the hand
below her chin seemed ready to turn
her, face up to the ardent face bent
above it. Becky, does you persist in
bein Nv a ole maid? I loves you,
Becky. Is my gal gwine ter send me
way, jest on de 'casion Nv bein' a
ole maid an drinkin' Nv tea all by
herself?'
II loves you, gal; must git out?"
With a sudden movement B ecky hid
her face on his shoulder and said You
done downed me; Ize a fool, too, jess
like de turr girls. I eyarnt hold out
no longer; dat I cyarnt. I'LL doan
want you ter git out" The old spirit
reasserted itself for a moment, and,
raising her head, she again gave it
a coQuettish toss and exclaimed: But
I amt gwine ter let you boss me toe
much. Hear dat?''
Can you guess how he answered her
question?
Eleanor Churchill Gibbs.