Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-10-15
bones and claws, which he carefully

crem0ted, ana then went 10 sleep.
The very next morning Mrs. Marston
missed the yellow hen, and then count
ed the others. '2There were thirty miss
Ing, and her wrath was fearful to see.
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. 81, IT,
Pete" she said. sharply, II cotch er
smile In yo' eye! Yo' 10 de t'ief!'
Pete turned as pale as his skin
would allow. while his heart, II his
own narrative be worthy Of credence.
went plump against the chicken lying
inside him.
mis- -Marston," said rete. II didn't
see yaller hen las night, i" ..-
f1"P'raps not. Pete. dough yo' eat dat
hen and twenty nine along Nv her"
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 tufr.
ur he mought er forgiben er niggah fer
stealth ef dat niggah gifts likes ct he
| wars his boans inside out" ----
The Creole looked mt Pete as II she
could have Whipped him with her own
hands. / @aA1~ =
"Yo niggah" she cried. "Yo' speak
to a pure white Teddy like dat? Use
Mis- Marston. who owns every bOan
In yo' tieven' brack body. Id like ter
have you whipped agin, but don't 60
ter splle de hide Nv er niggah wuth
hundreds Nv dollahs-sO Use goin' ter
sell 20! An Peblo. de wust planter In
virginny. wants yo' bad. an he'll bid
high fer 20 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 . stone, while the other
slaves tried to console him, but In vain.
At last Pete got up and went on with
bis work In the cotton row. but his
brawny limbs trembled with fear OF
Peblo. the Spanish planter. '-' 60
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 mart-looking negress. in q
striped cotton dress. opened the door.
i "Dinah." said Pete, come out. come
out! It's fer de las time" I "a
Am DAT you, Peter the girl said
and their lips met. @S &Ef
Pete. tas. soon az he foand the neces
+ sary courage, told her what had hap
pened. Then she said quickly ant
tearfully:
~ ''Yo'. Pete: yo's t'ief! Err spectacle
}, cullur'd Teddy didn't oughter be MAR
FRED ter yo'v' -.,...
IL After time Dinah's anger calmes
down, md as the two stood talking tn
, / sound Of footsteps drew near. an,
! 1then Dinah's master, Jackson. cam
. upon the lovers.
''Why. you black niggers!' he said
vi with q queer little catch In his voice
. aren't you Ashamed Of yourselves
! hugging ADD kissing each Other liz
e that where the stars can see you. an
n which know that neither Of you ha
j any right to do 10, not being whites!"
r Dinah turned with all the pathos o
I A white woman In her voice as she mr.
/ lowered:
!. mo. sab; case dis Iyer's my ma
!. Pete! He's bin gone an gobbled u
9 Mis- Marston's yaller hen. an Is t.
e be sold termOrer fer It! Likes not "
u nebber meet agin In dis worl. al
y pears ter me we mOught have er dyil
kiss ter think on. till we meets wha
p niggers 10 white. an amt sold. but
vi ransomed NV de Lord!'
n "Sho" said jackson. surprised at tn
= outburst from the usually patient D
n nah. "And 30 you're going to be sol
l. are you, Peter alA a4l4t4,I
" Pete explained that Peblo was G
b. pected to bid for him.
It .fThen you'd better say your pra
E. ers.' laughed Jackson. Pete"
er sddei. whats your black body wort
n ehT" s~t Nh fs i
y Eight hundred dollars. about ms
* sa."l said Pete with y CULVER of his lir
~ "'.That's the worth Of you, Is it?' az
W ec jackson. renectiyely; "a good de
y more than Tim pessOnally worth. An
bow. 1t serves you right; thief mu
he EXPECT to be sold. and shall come
We tlsei sale tomorrow. and enjoy the Il
of seeing your price toted up-and l
'le IL Hrilg Dipah. too Now Dinah. Just
ve In and shut ahe dsorr,a But Jacks
lis went ii kimself nrst.
10 Daylight found Pete sitting In,
ne hut with his hands Clasped and pre-
ON ed against his knees. Mrs. Marst
~ sent for him.
les go an Be- sold. 20 t1ef!' said I
lcer Creole when Pete entered her pr
me ence; and he was taken q short d
"a rance. where al preparations b
ed been made for sale Of negroes. e
fet To make matters worse for Pete;
~ nah was there. and, jostling her v
to through the crowd. sho went up
> :. ,hiuas saying:
nd "Pete. ,yo's, t'ief! 30 yo's gwine