The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1894-09-01
CHAPTER vIIL-tContinued)


furnished Vivette with one of her own
maids to attend the room of her
guest and act as personal attendant.
This colored girl" as Mrs. Blake had
called her, was woman of near forty
years, an intelligent mulatto and Il
slave. She took" to Vivette las she
told the other servants, because she
said please" when she wished any
thing done. Besides, she thought
Viyettc mighty good lookin'," which
was in itself strong recommendation
And then, like most negro servants
who have seen cultured and polite peo-
pie, she knew as by intuition that
''Miss Bivette was a lady, an none o
your white trash" From this woman
viyette learned many facts in the
history OF Mrs. Blake, cole Masr Tom
Blake,r and the whole family, past
and present. Mrs. Blake also com
municated some facts of her personal
history.
At one time Vivette said: "What is
your name beside Eliza" to her maid.
My names nothin' but Liza" was
the reply, "Cullud folks don't have
but one name. Does you b'long to a
free state, missus?
81 live ut Cincinnati" replied vi
gettc.
Must be mighty nice to have two
names, Missus All de cullud folks
have two names in Cincinnati?"
''Yes. | think so, Eliza. Names cost
nothing. How long have you lived
herc?"
Lived on de place ever since | was
Dawn"
Here in the hotcl?'
20 da' wasn't any hotel. was
Ole Mas'r Tom Blake's niger"
why, you are not black, Eliza; why
do you call yourself negro?"
"All de same, Missus," said Liza
with q chuckle. de black folk call me
white Niger kaze da' SO black dem
selves" [still dressing Vivette's hairl.
''Who is that fine, tall gentleman
who appears TO be at the head Of
affairs" asked Vivctte.
"Dats Masr Sam Blake. lie don't
own nuthin' hisself Ole Mas'r Tom
blake own all de whole place; an he
let's Nas'r Sam run de hotel. Mas'r
Tom glib me to the Missus; and when
she die ! IL to be free. But hope she
nebbcr die.
Your mistress appears to be an eX.
eellent lady, Eliza"
Miss Myra-po' Jeifs wilder
She's-she's de hes lady in de worlI'
N'llow long has her husband been
dead, Eliza"
Don't know when he died; don't
know he am dead at all. Went away
twelve yc'rs ago an never come back.
Nas'r Sam want to marry de wilder.
Eli. ch!' with nasal exclamation
which defics photography. "Missus
keeps putin him off an putin him
or. Dannow, look in de glass, young
Missus Your ha'r almos' as purity as
you-kasc dun fix it de lates' fash
ION"
Vivette thanked the girl without
looking in the glass, and the maid went
cut.
; a short time after, Mrs. Blake called
on Tivet SC in kindly way, and after
some general conversation said
II suppose Liza has been giving you
che flnriky history, including her own,
as she feels herself one of the Blake
samily?"
''She has given me only few gem
rraI facts" replied Vjvette. "She has
not been indscreet"
''Oh, mol can trust Liza. But in
justice To, myself would like to make
a brief statement to avoid miscon-
struction."
Il do not seek to know your history,
Mrs Blake. But indeed l am under
obligations to you for your kindness
20 an entire stranger"
But you came from land of free
dom-from city where there are no
slaves, and where it is not crime to
,each a colored child to read, and to
tell him he has an immortal soul.
.And is that crime in Kentucky"
.My husband was disinherited for
marrying u woman who, in the gross
language of the people here, had
Taught "a niger school. My father
WINS n Christian minister, and taught
me to hate slavery, and to make no
difference between white and black,
bond and free"
And your husband disappeared you
know not how or where? as Eliza
says"
A knock at the door interrupted the
euuyersation. Adolf Molier came in
and Mrs. Blake was about to leave.
.1Nr. Molier is my cousin-my IA
sser:s nephew, madam" said Vivette
earuestly; 'pray do not leave"
Adolf Joined in the request, and Mrs.
Rake remained. Molier talked OF
nothing bat cholera; his panic had not
xubsidcd.
al have paper from Cfncinnati; the
rity is being dccimated," be said
my poor father" exclaimed Vivette.
-would that had remained despite
his protests"