Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-10-14


She closely questioned the negroes on
her plantation, male and female, as to
what they knew about her loss.
When Mrs. Marston came to Pete.
who stood halfway in the struggling
line in which the slaves were drawn
up, she eyed him closely.
"Pete," she said, sharply, II cotch err
smile in yo' eye! Yo' is de t'ief"
Pete turned as pale as his skin
would allow, while his heart, If his
own narrative be worthy of credence,
went plump against the chicken lying
inside him.
mis- Marston," said Pete, Il didn't
see yaller hen las night, L"
"P'raps not, Pete, dough yo' eat dat
hen and twenty-nine along Nv herr
the Creole answered.
Pete's blood was us. He thought OF
old Master Marston and of the change
his Creole widow had made.
"Massa Marston he lie under de tuff,
ur he mought err forgiben er nigSah fer
stealth eff dat niggah gifts likes eff he
wars his boans inside out"
The Creole looked ut Pete as If she
could have whipped him with her own
hands.
"Yo niggahw she cried. "Yo' speak
to pure white Teddy like dat? Use
Mis- Marston, who owns every bOan
in yo' t'ieven' brack body. I'd like ter
have you whipped agin, but l don't go
ter Spite de hide NV err niggah wuth
hundreds Nv dollahs-so Use goin' ter
sell yo'! An Peblo de wust planter in
Virginny, wants yo' bad. an he'll bid
high fer yo' carcass! Yo' odder mig.
gahs disremember dis as wahnin'"
Mrs. Marston turned and walked to-
wards her house, leaving Pete plunged
in the depths of stony despair. He sat
down upon a stone, while the other
slaves tried to console him, but in vain.
At last Pete got up and went on with
his work in the cotton row, but his
brawny limbs trembled with fear Of
Peblo, the Spanish planter.
That night the clouds dispersed, and
In the light of the stars Pete made his
way to the nearest planters, Jackson's,
house. He ratified the hasp of the back
door. A smart-looking negress, in a
striped cotton dress, opened the door.
"Dinah," said Pete, "come out, come
out! It's fer de las time"
cam dat you, Peter the girl said,
and their lips met.
Pete, as soon asshe found the ncces
sary courage, told her what had hap
~1,
tearfully:
"Yo, Pete! yo's t'ief! Err spectacle
cullur'd Teddy didn't oughter be mair
red ter YOU
After time Dinah's anger Gained
down, and as the two stood talking the
sound of footsteps drew near, and
then Dinah's master, Jackson, came
upon the lovers.
"Why, you black niggers!" he said,
with a queer little catch in his voice,
aren't you ashamed Of yourselves,
hugging and kissing each other like
that where the stars can see you, and
which know that neither of you has
any right to do so, not being whites"
Dinah turned with all the pathos of
a white woman in her voice as she an
swered:
mo, sab; case dis yer's my man
Pete! He's bin gone an gobbled up
Mis- Marston's yaller hen, an is ter
be sold termorer fer it! Likes not we
nebber meet agin in dis worl', an
pears ter me we mought have err dyln'
kiss ter think on, till we meets whar
niggers is white. an amt sold, but Is
ransomed Nv de Lordr'
'Sho" said Jackson, surprised at this
outburst from the usually patient Di-
nah. "And so you're going to be sold,
are you, PeteY
Pete explained that Peblo was ex-
pected to bid for him.
'"Then you'd better say your pray
ers" laughed Jackson. Pete" he
added, whats your black body worth,
eh?"
Eight hundred dollars, about mas
sa,' said Pete, with culver of his lips.
That's the worth of you, is it?' ask
ed Jackson, refiectively; "a good deal
more than I'm personally worth. Any
how, 1t serves you right: thief must
expect to be sold, and 1 shall come to
the sale tomorrow. and enjoy the fun
of seeing your price toted up-and I'll
bring Dinah, too. Now, Dinah, just 20
In and shut the door,! But Jackson
went in himself first.
Daylight found Pete sitting in his
hut with his hands clasped and press
ed against his knees. Mrs. Marston
sent for him.
go an be sold, yo' t'iefv' said the
Creole when Pete entered her pres
ence; and he was taken a short dis
lance, where all preparations had
been made for sale of negroes.
To make matters worse for Pete. Di-
nah was there, and, jostling her way
through the crowd, she went IN to
him, saying:
pete, yo's t'ief! So yo's gwine ter
be solo,
A number of planters went up to
Pete, opening his jaws to see his teeth,
and feeling the whipcord Of his arms
| The sale ORA pnd its Uov olopr +;u