Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-10-14

smothpration, DE Lor. dere ann Il
single breaf of air i'm dat dere cup
board when de door am shut replied
the omar gasping.
.'But-h0w came you in that closet.
"Debil. | s'pose. honey! Muffin tall
but de debil. Fact is. ! was in de
room a-dustin' of de furniture while
ole marse was eatin his breakfas', n
SO | heerd him order you to come in
here an talk wild him when breakfas'
was over: an so de debil temp me to
slip i'm dis yere closet an listen, an
see as dere was fair play. eR' Lor'
knows / was punish enough for 1t, too.
of fresh air, an if l had staid dere n
minute longer, | done died with sur
feration. Twas de debil, chile. nuf-
fin but de debil!'
mo, indeed, Venus. l do not think
1t was the devil, but rather some good
angel that inspired you to go into that
closet and watch To see that there was
fair play, as you call 1t. l hope you
heard and saw everything that passed
heard and saw everything that
passed"
.Ebery single ting, honey. deed ds~
IT,
II am glad you did. / am glad to
know that | was not now, md V
have been. alone in q closed room with
that desperate man. But you said that
you hid yourself in there to see that
there was fair play. And l believe
that you Were inspired TO become my
witness. And, tell me, Venus, if there
had MT Innr foir ntnv what nn Won
think you should have done 10 help
mel''
Hi. chile! how I know what de deb
il might o tempted Of me to do? Take
up &c poker an knock ole marse down
for dead, maybe, an den get myself
hungged up by de neck for it! Some
fin like dat, honey, l knows, cause you
see de debil was busy wild mef'
Il hope not, Venus; for, as / said
before, 1t was not Satan that was with
you, bus some good spirit. And now,
Venus. since you heard everything that
passed. you heard of the threatened
visit tonight"
Yes, honey; / heerd it all good;
deed did I!-ole scamp
We'll, Venus, there Is one great ia
yor | shall ask of you."
What dat, honeyi"
40 stay in my room with me to-
night"
Tor, chile, | done 'ceive my orders
contrarywise to dat! Ole marse he say
to NE dis mornin', he say: Venus,
woman. you can go back to your loft
to night; Fora is well enough to 'spense
of your services So dere, you see,
hcney!'
All. Venus, | expected something
like that! but do, my dear girl, try to
elude their vigilance, and conceal your
self in my chamber tonight, You can
hide under the bed, or in the wardrobe,
or in n OF the closets. Will you do
this for me-"
Hi, chile, what good / gwine do you
by 'sposin' my own life to 'structionf'
The same good that you have done
me by hiding yourself in that cup
board to witness the interview be-
tween myself and Mr.. Rumford."
An what dat, honey? For, fore
my Vine Marser in hebbin, | doesn't
known
III was this, Venus. Your presence
in that closet will prevent any one
from being able to say, with truth.
that | was alone for one single mo-
ment. in a closed room, with that man,
Think of that, Venus, 1t was for that
you were led to conceal yourself in
this ROOM
well, Lori do really 'spose it was;
else how | do it,"
And now, my good woman, / would
ave you again perform a similar SER
vice for me! Conceal yourself in my
tonight, 30 that | may be able
still to prove that | never was alone
for one moment, in a closed room, with
Rumford.''
But. hi, honey, who gwine ask you
to 'fend an prove any ting bout it?'
Venus. | have told you before that
l am a wife! 1t is of vital Importance
to me that my honor should be beyond
suspicion. This night may see the last
of my life. But, whether / live or die.
Venus, | wan you for a witness that
L lived and died q pure woman! Now
do YOU understand me?"
"Ies, honey; an l don't know how
1T Is; l is sartain sure | il q great
coward, but | feels as dough / was
bounden to hey you! / 'spose it is de
good spirit as you spoke Of"
That is it, Venus. There are angels
all about us, to inspire and aid us, If
we are good and true!"
An now, honey, what you want me
to do in case ole marse should come in
be obstropolous? Take de poker
an knock him down for dead?'
mo, Venus: | do not even wish Won
to come out from your hiding place. or
TO run any personal risk whatever. |
only wish you to remain on the watch.
see all that passes, and report of me.
living or dead"
Yes, honey: but same time, if ole
marse do misbehave hisse'f, an / sees
him, ar de debil do get into me which
he Is apt to do. l can't be 10 WAYS
~'sponsible for what l shall do! Knock
ole marse brains out wild de poker.
Maybe, an den get hang up by de neck
till I'm dead. An dere's an end o.
Venus"
There is no danger, my dear Venus.
You will be on a holy duty. and will
be protected from all temptation of
the Evil One. And now, my dear wo-
man. you had better not remain too
long in my company, lest your presence
should be observed, and it should ey-
cite suspicion"
Dat berry true. sides which I got
to 10 ole marse's room, blame him
said Venus. as she immediately left