New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-17

I
pie Reckon by your s'prise MISS DT'"oy' as
Miss Temple amt got yere YETI
mo" SAID Almina She stu stood directly In
the way, and the ponys white face was within
yard Of he- own face
"Of co'se." sail Sally. "dey must Of wrote
'I amt got no letter" was the Response.
Then Aln,na tried 10 rouse herself.
She stepped back, and the pony put himself
over the dropped bars with little jump, plainly
assuming that jump was the easiest way to get
over and showing in every slightest movement
that he was not in the leas; like any Northern
horse.
Won't you walk 'n?' said Almina.
She instantly corrected herself.
Il mean, come right over to the house. I'm
real glad to see We. though I'm so stonished
can't collect my wits. ~ we'll put the pony in
the barn. n fodder him. He looks kinder used
up. n that's fact"
As she talked Almina gathering her
senses which seemed far afeld.
she turned and retraced her steps across the
road.
She was surprised that she should feel so de
cded a pleasure at sight of this yellow woman.
To see Sally was like having back again bit
of that strange life in the Carolina mountains.
Alnina had been glad to get home but hun
dred times since her return she had suddenly
caught herself wishing for day among those
mountains one day Of the strange. rnconvention-
al life.
And she had longed to Temple. She could
not tell why she so desired to see that girl OF
course a proper amount of longing would be
strictly the right thing, but sometimes she had
felt like crying out for glimpse Of that young,
strong face with its signs of supera bundant life
and emotion.
On one occasion in an expansive mood, after a
cup Of tea with Mrs. Wilson. she had confided to
her sister this feeling she had about that girl
II d'know how it's" said Almina. but she
amt grain Ike common girls. have spells OF
ben actually hungry and thirsty for a sight Of
her. She was like sunshine n fresh air; n
then. again. she was like nights when there
amt moon, n the, stars shine. n the air is
Jest as full of sweet smells
"Alminy" her sister had interrupted her
sharply. 81 guess you'd better stop talkn'. I'm
glad there amt no one but me to hear such talk
l know what folks would say. Jest to think
of human bein that was like night when
there amt no moon. n all that stuff. declare
YOU do put me out of patience. Alniny, Put
YOU always was odd. Member that time when
you wouldn't marry the doctor? | wish you'd
pass me the sugar"
Almina passed the sugar and smiled TO herself
as she did SO. She was thinking that Freddy's
mother though she had Freddy, yet lacked
some resources which she the old maid. pos
sessed and Of which one could deprive her.
What made YOU come by that cartpath?'
Almina rut this trivial question she stopped
at the barn door and took the paddock from the
staple preparatory to rolling the door back.
Sally was pulling her foot from the stiTrup.
She replied that she done couldn't tell why. less
twas cos man told her de path war er short
curt to old maid Drowdys."
Here she rolled her eyes toward Amna. who
laughed slightly She had hardly heard the an
swer for she was wondering how 1t happened
that she was so pleased to hear that negro voice
and that mixture of dialect which Sally used.
Almina could not remember that she had par
ticulary cared for II when she was In Carolina.
The two women went into the barn. Sallys
fingers attacked the buckles and straps Of he
saddle.
The pony reached his head up toward the hay
loft from which dangled few spears OF hay.
Mr. Wilson gifts in my grass" remarked Al
nina "Sence | got home from Caroliny amt
KEEP a cow: but I'VE got meal n shorts have
for my hens n pig.
Where is Temple now"
Laws how'd know? | done thought ia
find her hyar. She ben preachin n prayin'
trew de land fur de Lawd. She ben up Norf
hyar"
Has she?
"Yasm'
'Is her work biessed?"
Powerful" with JUNCTION: $50 dey say De
Iawd sends His Sperrt right down.
The yellow woman flung the saddle on the floor
She pulled Thimbles bride down over his ears
and dropped that on the saddle.
Then she suddenly sat herself fat on the floor
and began TO sob loudly and rock herself TO and
fro.
Almna. inexpressively distressed, gazed blank
" al her She was running over In her mind oil
the restoratives she had in the house.
Naturally she thought Of red lavender, but FOR
some reason this remedy did not seem appropriate
for a tall yellow woman who was swaying like
that.
"Oh. Lawd Gawd Almighty cried Sally, II jes
want Miss Temple, / jes' want my Miss Tenn
ple, She mus be daid, She mus shorely be
daid"'
Almina took hold Of Say's arm and shook H.
Stop she said. sharply.
But Sally did not stop. She went on worse and
worse Her voice sounded out from the barn and
along the road.
Sally was tired. and hungry, and bewildered
She was also much disappointed 10 find that TEN
pie was not here She had fuly expected 10 Hhu
her And she was deathly homesick The more
homeslck she felt the louder she shouted her calls
upon "Gawd Almighty" And she slapped the
palms OF her hands together almost as II she mad
the power upon her
Almina was at her wits end. She caught up
barrel cover and tried to fan Sally She dropped
the cover and began to pound her on the back as
II she choking.
well as he could in the small space occasionally
finding grain Of corn oats among the chaff
on the floor.
In the midst OF this sharp high voice cried
out:
"Par, Par, les come here m see What Auntie'S