The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-12
IMP o. SATAN.


very near the surface. Indeed, her
glasses we're already little dim when
she regained her self control, and each
quick movement, as she rearranged the
pillows of her invalid mothers chair, be-
tokened that she was still much irri-
tated. Mrs. Martin looked keenly at
her daughters flushed face.
Nanny again? she questioned, anx-
iously.
Nanny" burst out Miss Katherine
"Nannyl should think SO! It's always
Nanny. She vexes me on purpose, do
believe. If wasn't forty years old and
a member of the church I'd box her
ears
Mrs. Martins gentle face looked sad,
and she patted her daughters bent
head as wistfully as she had done when
Katherine was little girl.
Miss Katherine rose after a moment,
and started from the room. At The door
she started back, half smiling. "Never
mind, mother dear. I'm sorry | spoke
so sharply; but there is no use disputing
the fact; Nanny is an imp OF Satan it
eve
The little black figure crouching out
side the door rose and slipped away un-
perceived, with heart full of anger and
defiance, and sullen frown gathering
over the heavy face. 1t was Nanny and
she had heard every word Miss Kathe-
rine said. $50 I'm an imp O. Satan, am
T.? she thought. as she slammed the
kitchen door and ran out to the barn.
The barn was Nanny's City of Refuge
on all occasions, and often she had fled
from Miss Katherine to hide herself in
the big hay-mow, and sometimes to cry
herself to sleep. There was no sleep for
her to day, however; she was too rebel
lious and miserable for that, so she sat
down by the open window and her four
teen year old brain surged with childish
bitterness.
"Anyhow with vindictiveness-"I
made Miss Kath'ripe cry, an I'm jes' as
glad as can be. Wisht she'd cry an cry
till she cried her eyes out. Laws!
wouldn't she be ugly with two holes in
her head std O. eyes! But l know
what I'm goin' to do" went on the
angry thoughts, IAN I'll see if she calls
me an imp O. Satan again-hateful thing!
l don't love her-not bit. l don't love
anybody only Mis- Martin and Tobe."
This last was an afterthought as lobe
arched his sleek back under Nanny's
hand, and gave vent to his satisfaction
in long drawn purr.
The next morning when Miss Kathe.
rine came downstairs she glanced quickly
at Nanny, noted the still sullen face, and
sighed.
If only knew how to make good
girl out of her." she said within herself.
Usually the breakfast table, arranged
by the small black hands that could be
so deft on occasion, was irreproachable
in it's order. This morning every dish
was awry, and the knives and forks we're
socially reposing in pile in the middle.
Nanny Miss Katherine spoke sharply
Come here and do this work properly.
l am surprised"
Nanny scowled, came reluctantly. and
occupied herself fifteen minutes in put
ting the articles in place,
But this was only the beginning All
Nanny's work through the day suffered
the same fate. She hindered the cook
whenever she could, until that much
tormented soul came Indignantly up
stairs to demand that Nanny be forbid
den in her domains.
"She's wearin' the heart out av me
entoirely," said Ellen, with wrath; and
Miss Katherine had no reason to doubt
her truthfulness.
At luncheon Mr.. Swain, the lawyer.
unexpectedly appeared. Now Nanny
disliked the unexpected always, AID she
particularly disliked Mr.. Swain under
any circumstances, chiefly because he
called her "Topsy." That insult to her
dignity she resented.
Therefore. having placed herself in an
advantageous position in the dining
room doorway, and observing that Mr..
Swain cast look of recognition in her
direction. she grew furious at once, drew
her ebony features into every contortion
which ingenuity and much previous
practice could devise, and made face"
at the highly amused lawyer, who burst
into shouts of laughter. Miss Katherine
grew scarlet with modification. dis
missed Nanny sternly from the room,
and determined in her heart Of hearts
that the child should go back the very
next day to the wretched home from
which she had been taken.
In the afternoon Miss Katherine went
out to the kitchen and discovered the
object of her reflections laboriously
writing with a stump of pencil in a
huge blank book. The sight soothed
her irritated nerves, for it seemed to
promise amendment. Among other
things which she had striven to teach
her troublesome charge was the art OF
writing and to that end she required at
the end of every day few lines written
ao oorafullv nc Doeeihle Thaaa eyarci.