The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-02-15
CHAPTER ENTERTAINMENTS

friends. almost on sight. Mrs. Blake
furnished Vivette with one of her WI
maids to attend the room of her
guest and act as personal attendant.
This colored s'g:rl," as Mrs. Blake had
called her, raj a woman of ear forty
years, an intelligent mulatto and a
slave. She 'took' to Vivette las she
told the other servants), because she
said please" when she wished any
thing done. Besides, she thought
Vivette mighty good lookin'," which
was in itself a strong recommendation.
And then, like most negro servants
who have seen cultured and polite peo-
pie, she knew as by intuition that
s'Miss Bivette was a lady, an none O.
your white trash" From this woman
Vivette learned many facts in the
history of Mrs. Blake, ''Ole Mas'r Tom
Blake 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?'
II live at Cincinnati replied vi
vette.
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
here?''
Lived or de place ever since l was
bawn.''
Here in the hote 2"
go da' wasn't any hotel. I was
Ole Mas'r Tom Blake's nigger."
'Why, you are not black, Eliza; why
do you call yourself a negro?'
.'AH de same, Missus,'' said Liza
with a chuckle. ssDe 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 Vivette.
sDat,s Mas'r Sam Blake. He don't
nuthin' hisself. Ole Mas'r Tom
Blake own all de whole place; an he
lets Mas'r Sam run de hotel. Mas'r
Tom glib me to the Missus; and when
she die is to be free. But I hope she
nebber die"
Your mistress appears to be an ex-
eellent lady, Eliza"
Miss Myra-po' Jef's wilder?
She's-she's de bes' lady in de worl'!"
a&@4 t6EJNvr 10rr hoe lo- I...1.-l 1----
dead, Eliza"
Don't know when he died; don't
know he am dead at all. Went away
twelve ye'rs ago an never come back.
Mas'r Sam want to marry de wilder.
Eth, ehr' with a nasal exclamation
which defes photography. "Missus
keeps putin him off an putin him
of. Oar now, look in de glass, young
Missus. Your ha'r almos' as purity as
~you--kase | dun fix it de lates' fash
ion. $. Sz55
Vivette thanked the girl without
looking in the glass, and the maid went
out.
A short time after, Mrs. Blake called
on Vlvette IN a kindly way, and after
some general conversation said:
~ suppose Liza has been giving you
the family history, including her own,
as she feels herself one Of the Blake
family?:o
"she has given me only a few gem
leral facts replied Vivette. ssShe has
not been indiscreet."
oh, no! | can trust Liza. But in
justice TO myself Iwordd like to make
q brief statement to avoid miscon-
struction."
AI do not seek to know your history,
Mrs. Blake. But indeed I am under
obligations to you for your kindness
to an entire stranger
but you came from a land Of free
dom-from q city where there are no
slaves, and where it is not a crime to
teach q colored child to read, and to
tell him he has an immortal soul.
sAnd is that q crime in Kentucky?"
my husband was d~isinherited for
marrying . woman who, in the gross
language Of the people here, had
taught "a niger school. Ny father
was . Christian minister, and taught
metsto hate slavery, and to make no
difference between white and black,
bond and free.
sAnd your husband disappeared you
know not how Il where? as Eliza
says,"