The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-01

there with anger III neT lace, 1OuIlg
Grizzly took off his hat and bowed
low. There were pieces of sticking
plaster on his forehead and cheek
bones. He caught his breath and STAN
mered: i beg your pardon, ma'am,
T.
Uncle Abe, said the Young Mis-
tress, go to the house and tell father
that Mr.. Gossett-Mr. George Gossett-
has called to see him on business, but
has missed his way
Not at all, Miss Rachel. Not at all.
I beg ten thousand pardons! | was
hunting a runaway niger in the set
Element, and / thought perhaps-may-
bel might find him here. A runaway
niger, you know, Miss Rachel, is just
as apt to be in one place as another
In this way spoke young Grizzly, as he
backed out at the door, still bowling.
"'Then, Uncle Abe, tell father that
Mr.. George Gosseett believes one of
his runaways is hid on his place, and
wants to find him
"'By no means, Miss Rachel-by no
means! Not for the world. You know
me too well not to know that / never
intended any disrespect to you. Not
the least bit in the world So said
young Grizzly.
"'Who are your companions, sir@
asked the Young Mistress, going to-
ward the door
"'Just some of the neighbor boys,
maam | asked them to come with
me. None of us meant the least harm
and certainly no disrespect to you.
Thus spoke young Grizzly.
"By this time his companions had
taken to their heels and young Grizzly
was quick to follow their example as
soon as he got out of reach of the
Young Mistress's eyes. So said the
man named Abee, and he was standing
where he could see, having pretended
to go after the White-haired Master.
Never have / seen a white man more
frightened than young Grizzly was"
what was he afraid of?'' asked
Sweetest Susan.
s'Buckshot," replied Aaron.
Rambler yawned, and then con-
tinued:
"The Little Master was even angrier
than the Young Mistress, but nc had
said nothing. When me door was shut
he struck the floor with his crutch
and cried out:
Oh, hope it is Aaron they are af-
ter and / hope they will never get
him.
Aaron is his name, said the man
named Abe.
Tie rode my FLY home to-day, the
Young Mistress said.
Did he? Did he? I'll kiss you,
sis, for that!' So spoke the Little Mas
ter, and he was as good as his word.
He hoped nearly across the floor on
his crutches and smacked the Young
Mistress right in the mouth.
II was wondering whether the Son Of
Ben Ali was sleeping all this time, so
/ went and sat by the closet. ! could
hear the Son of Ben Ali breathing very
hard, and / said to myself, if he is not
asleep he is sitting in there crying"
Sweetest Susan looked at Aaron, and
her beautiful eyes were full of tears.
Aaron shook his head and smiled, and
then pretended to be gazing at some
ing in the fireplace.
"He may have been laughing" con-
tinued Rambler, licking his foreleg,
where briar had scratched it, "but as
there was nothing to laugh at, that
/ could see, / thought maybe he was
crying. But maybe he was not. I'm
never certain Of anything until / get
my nose on it, and there was a wall
between the Son of Ben Ali and me.
'.The Young Mistress and the Little
Master were very angry, but before
they could say much a very curious
thing happened. The door Of the
closet flew open, and the Son of Ben
Ali tumbled out in a heap on the floor.
The Young Mistress fell back a step
or two and gave little scream, but the
Little Master stood his ground and
lifted his crutch in a threatening man
ner. But the Son of Ben Ali simply
fell out Of the closet in heap. He
was still stiff and sore, and by the time
he had gatherer himself together the
Young Mistress knew who he was, and
in moment, too, the Little Master
knew him.
Why, it's Aaron!' he cried, though
nobody ever told me why any one ever
called the Son of Ben Ali Aaron.
"'Then he sliced the Son of Ben Ais
hand and stood leaning against him
for support, as he did many and many
a day and night after, as / have seen.
The Little Masters head came no
higher than the Son of Ben Ais shout
der, though the child was standing on
his feet, and the Son of Ben Ali on his
knees.
''The Young Mistress said: IF you
stay here they will catch you, sure
''The Son of Ben Ali shook his head,
and the man named Abe made his re-
ply: No, mann, they'll not come
back here in a hurry, after hearing
what you said
'At this they all laughed, except the
Son of Ben Ali. You may be certain
he said, that I'll not stay here where
can be seen. The Gossett negroes go
hungry every day in the year, and for
an extra pint Of meal they would tell
everything they know and more, too.
And would be the last to blame them
''Then suddenly the Little. Master
spoke: Can you climb tree"
by this time / ought to know how,
said the Son of Ben Ali
Then come. III show you So
saying, the Little Master swung him
self on his crutches and went hopping