The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-01-30
SELINA'S REVENGE.
BY }. II. coNNELLY.
copyright 1890, by American Press AssociA.
tiou 1

tion
In the dusk of on carly December day
| Dick Boardsley dismounted at the door oi
| Uncle Job Hauscr's store which, with It's
adjuncts of tavern and ferry, was one of
the most important plaoes-outside real
| towns-on the White river, and known all
over southern Indiana simply as "Hau.
ser's." Responding to the questions put
| by genial Uncle Job, he said that he was
on his way to Bloomington, ION court
| business" but would not cross the river
until the morrow
"That'll he safest, reckon" " replied the
! landlord. They've been crossin on the
| ice since yesterday mornin, but it's sort o.
risky yet. 'Tain't maxim any now, but II
| the wind gets up an loetlo colder may
stiffen considerable by mornin. Can't ex-
pect It to hold your critter, though"
Don't need TO. I'll leave him here and
| hire another over at Arney's."
Eyes, you can do that. Won't you come
| In an take suthinw And the hostler led
| Dicks horse to the stable, and the two
men entered the store, long, low room,
with bar at one end and shoebox, to
hold the United States mails, at the other,
| tho Intermediate space containing q won
drously diversified stock of miscellaneous
goods. Presently supper" was announced,
and they went for it to another building,
back Of the store but Joined TO 1t queerly
through overlapping corners. There were
number of buildings in "Hauser's, "
each of which had the air of being an an
mex to all the others, and the way through
them had quite o labyrinthine effect upon
a stranger.
opotamia-commonly called Mes, "
for short--a black girl, fat, pert and
thoughtless as hUn--waited on tho table.
In moments leisure, while she was in
the kitchen, she said to Selma Hauser,
Uncle Jobs daughter, DE gemman dat
hi'ed me dem two munfs in Tarry Hut is
In da eatin. Hos mos de fines lookin
man eber l see, an u might big lawyah,
dey say. Lorl How he's wife do dress
upl Hm'm'ml An dey got de pootiest
baby eber scr."
With girls natural curiosity to see one
vauntod as fine looking man, Selma en-.
tered the short passageway leading from
the kitchen to the dining room and looked
into the latter, through the augur hole
bored in the door to enable observation
OF the dozen or more men at the table she
saw only one, and though his back was
toward her she knew him. His curly
black hair, soft white hand gesticulating
much and melliluous voice that seemed
to go on steadily by itself, whether he was
eating or not, established his identity to
her perfectly. But he could not have been
the man.
Turning to Mes, who stood at her ell
bow, she asked in a tone of bewildered
surprise, You didn't mean Mr.. Boards.
ley, did your"
Eyes, miss, dat him; dat's his name. "
Summoned by a Gathering spoon and
cup, the waitress darted into the dining
room to supply somebody's demand for
more coffee Selma leaned against the
wall to support herself and grew white to
the lips.
Selma" cried her mother from the
fireplace, whats on 'a'th are you peekin
thar for9 Them minces must be het up
by this time. Get 'em up and send 'em
in afore they're burned to coal"
The girl resumed her culinary duties,
working mechanically, almost uncon-
soiously, with mans face in her mind s
eye all the time-a handsome, impudent,
sensual looking face.
AS the men at. the table got through eat
ing they went out stopping to light pipes
at the door, until only the landlord and
Dick were left at the table. Presently
Uncle Job was called, and Dick sat alone,
making up for the time he had lost in
talking. Mes was busy carrying armfuls
Of dishes to the kitchen.
Mes" Selma whispered to her as she
passed, "ask him how his wife and child
are. Stand on the far side of the table,
SO that he'll speak up and l can hear what
he says"
A. tbo Rret or,,o,trpit,- ,,-bnn bv emma
excessive clatter she had caught his atten'
tion, Mes asked him, with giggle, Don't
you know me, Mistah Bea' 'dsleyS"
He started, glanced nervously around
and with an air of gratifed surprise ex,
claimed, "Why, declare it's Mesopota'
mia"
Eyes, sab, it's me. I know'd you dc
mint seed you, sab. Nobody can't done
fo'get you, sab. How's Missus Bea' 'dsley
an de baby?'
Again h. looked cautiously about be
fore replying in a lower tone, "Oh, they're
very we'll"
The girl behind the door staggered as Il
from a blow.
"Mons'us fine chile, dat ah baby, Mis-
tab Bea' 'dsley. Jes like he's daddy"
"Come around here, Mes
She went to him, and he continued al
he put a coin in her hand: Here's dol
lar from him for your remembering him.
but you needn't say anything here abou,
knowing my family. Don't let on yor
know me at all, and I'll bring you MIC,
dress pattern from Bloomington for you
Christmas.
! "You's pow'ful good, Mistah Bea' 'dsley
won't say muffin to nobody" But II
the kitchen she whispered with an excited
giggle, to Selma, "He done CUB me dol
lah to keep my mouf shet"
~ heard him" the girl replied, turning
with haggard white face to her work.
A couple of hours later Selma drew
heavy shawl over her head, slipped out
and went to q giant sycamore tree-th,
one to which the guide line Of the ferr,
scow was made fast-near the edge OF th'
bluff clay bank, here some 20 feet abov,
the river. There, as she had expected, sh'
found Dick Beardsley waiting for her
Darling" he exclaimed, show Ions
you've been coming II love hadn't KEEP
me warm, I'd have frozen" He attempt
ed to embrace her, but she eluded him and
asked in a voice low, but vibrant with In
tense feeling, "How are your wife an(
child in Terre Haute"
"D-n that niggerl" he muttered be
tween his teeth, but forcing an uneas!
laugh, replied IL suppose there's no us,
denying, since you know. loved you 81
much, Selma, couldn't bring myself Il
Tell you before, and you must see oouldn'
help 1t that had the misfortune TO b.
married before fell in love with you.
I'd known you first, of course 1t woul'
have been you would have married"
but you asked me to be your wife
You promised to marry me before"-
Something seemed to choke her and pre-