The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-08

she said 20 herself, sand my throat
parched. Besides Aunt Phemy ought {
be clad 20 see me- l hope she will no
be cross, rs she was the last time
'Marse Robert, he better had be tole d
trufe,' she said then. AS il anything
could make me tell himl Ny darlin,
daddy. would suffer torture first. "
The cabin stood only little way of
the mill road. Passersby often stopped
there for a drink from the spring. In
her heart Aunt Phemy was glad to see
them, though she kept her face impas
sive. Company What did II matteri
she said She had her pigs, her fowls
and her big dog Tige, who was Lions
full brother and the savager beast OF the
two.
! In his guard she was safe. no matter
who came or went. The cabin sat in q
screen Of tangle. The path TO it ran
| jaggedly through vagrant growths OF
sumac, sassafras and fruitful young
grapevines. 1t wound so, indeed, COM
ing in from the front, you hardly saw
the roof until you were in the shade of
the gourd arbor above the door. Thus
Rob was almost facing her before she
saw that the old woman was not alone,
but sight of the visitor in nowise dis
comfited her. 1t was apparently tall,
lean woman, with powerful shoulders,
yet q stopping, hollow chest, who sat
upen the doorstep, with arms locked
about the knees.
In spite of the heat the stranger was
huddled in frouzy shawl. A deep sun
bonnet shrouded head and face. The
long lower limbs showed gaunt and
shrunken beneath the thin folds of a
faded calico skirt. AS Rob's shadow
fell on the earth the creature started and
drew the poor skirt yet closer about her
feet, as though seeking to hide poverty,
yet more pitiful Rob noted the action
with q sympathetic thrill, then said
with civil nod:
Good morning, madam. Aunt Phe-
my, how are you? Don't get mad when
tel you my lost turkey hen has come
home WIKI ten fine young ones, for all
you werc so certain the foxes had caught
her. The little ones are beauties and so
pert. Why, they can outrun me now.
Though they are so late, mean to raise
them just to show you wise people that
you don't know everything.
"Uph! Dat dest your owdacious luck
Had er been my ole turkey hen her
haid'd been off an Br'er Fox done had
er dinner er whole mont ago." Aunt
Phemy said, pretending to frown, though
she gave really mild chuckle.
"Ah, how jealous you arel Aunt Phe-
my, didn't think that of you," Rob
retorted, letting her eyes rest casually
upon the hands of the visitor. They
were hard and brown, two masses of
knotted muscle, with long, coarse hair
struggling over them and curious pale
ring OH the skin about one wrist.
Though Rob looked away instantly, she
knew the strange woman had felt her
gaze and been disquieted by its note of
details, for the knotted hands were
drawn back and began nervously to
wrap themselves in the ends of the thin
shawl.
Aunt Phemy, too, noted the move
ment. She half turned in her chair and
said slowly: II amt gredgin you no
res, Miss Who-eber-you-is, but specs
you better had be trabblin. / done KEEP
you now longer'n tole you you mought
stay when you come yere ter my do
fore de Earn er day"
"Oh. don't send her away, Aunt
Phemy! 1t is hot, and she looks so very
tired" Rob said, plucking at the black
woman's sleeve. Maybe she is more
sick than tired. Keep her until tomor-
row. / know that is what pappy would
say"
"Umph! Yes; Marse Robert, he'd
take keer de whole worl an let um cheat
him outen he eyeteefs," Aunt Phemy
said.
The stranger got up, saying so hoarse-
ly the sound made Rob shudder, 81 will
60 in jest err little while.''
Rob opened her mouth to protest, but
before she could speak Tige sprang up
and gave tremendous howl. The
strange woman made wild, backward
spring, gathering her limp skirt as
though to run, then sank down, breath
hh6 hoiu' Auho ucLuy Ddu Dt6u lOOk-
ing toward the path. Rob alone had
seen beneath the Tapping garment boots
and trousers miserably ragged and the
dull CLEAN of an iron ring about one
ankle.
go inside and lie down. Quiokl Let
me help you'll" she said imperatively,
looking full in the strange woman's
eyes. They dropped before hers, but the
tall figure Strengthened slowly and
lurched within as hail came over the
matted growth in front:
"Hello, the housed Aunt Phemy, tie
up your dawg. We're comm fer WATER
o mans voice called cheerily. Next
breath three stout fellows had ridden in
sight, dismounted and flung themselves
down beside the slipping runnel. At
sight of Rob in the doorway the FORE
most of them rose, touched his hat and
said awkwardly:
"Oh, howdy do, Miss RobP My, but
we're thirstyl Been racin an chasin all
dav after one or them trifiin oonvicts
g.. got erway. You see, they're leased
cut, al they had 'em at work, with ball