The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-27
CHAPTER iii.


the very brutes in her kingdom wher
Manager Martins wife forgot to pull
the rope TO the big plantation bell pre-
cisely as the harsh voiced clock on hel
dining room mantslpiece struck the
hour of noon.
Duke, the overseers favorite setter
as spokesman for his less privileged
companions, got up from his recumben
posture ON the lowest step, stalked TO-
ward her and looked into her face with
reproachful solsmnity.
The occurrence was actually without
precedent. There was no room for error
on his part, for he had been educated
by years of practical experience into 8
knowledge of the fact that when that
clock struck IL it was Mrs. Martin 4
imperious duty to seize the big rope fas-
tened to the big clapper of the big plan
tation bell, planted on post at the end
of her front gallery, and set the bell
into ponderous activity
In immediate consequence of which
the silent and deserted quarter lot
would become the arena of an activity
thoroughly agreeable to Dukes degraded
social instincts.
Mules, burdened with loose jingling
trace chains and whistling pillow boys,
would trot cheerfully through the lot,
requiring no spur, in the direction of tho
cribs, piled high with their MONDAY al
lowancs of fodder or sweet smelling
pea hay. From the threats of 100 clum-
sy mud and earth chimneys the smoke
| of culinary preparation would ascend
together, floating lazily over the wav-
ing plumes of the China trees that
formed a long green avenue between the
two rows of cabins. Responsive 10 the
pungent odor of frying bacon and boil
ing mustard greens, Dukes delicate
nostrils would culver approximately.
From his superior position on the gal
lery of the overseer's house he could
take in all this delightful midday stir
without detraction from his own digni-
ty The browning delight, however,
the one in which he was himself most
Immediately concerned, was the home
coming of Manager Martin and "the
boys.
No leisurely dalliance before meal
time, no luxurious refreshment Of per-
son before assembling at table, would
intervene between the home coming of
the overseer and the boys and dinner
Duke himself was not more Indifferent
TO such troublesome exsrtions A hasty
hand washing at the tin basin. which
could be seen of all mon, ON It's shelf on
the front gallery; brief, brisk conflict
with the coarse roller towel, whose re-
newsl was one of Mrs Martins Sab
bath day ceremonies, and Overseer Mar
tin, fresh and rosy, would be "ready
for grub. F"
Perhaps, after all, Dukes interest in
Mrs. Martins punctuality was self
seeking. Reasoning from cause to effect,
according to hls lights, if no bellrope
was pulled no dinner would ensue. He
raised his soft brown eyes reproachful-
ly to his mistress face and sighed au-
dibly. Translated:
What could the woman be thinking
about?'
Mrs. Martin, with her stoutly booted
feet planted on the round of one chair,
the amplitude of her blue cotton skirts
completely obscuring another, was act
ing i'll manner for which Duke could
find no precedent
She was Smelling beans Dried beans
that ratified from the blunt extremities
OF her active fingers in resounding vol
leys into a tin pan firmly clasped by
her two knees. She was getting the dry
lima beans ready for the seed bags in
1.-The madam's storeroom'' up at the
big house.
Duke knew perfectly we'll the signifi-
canoe Of that succulent hailsterm. He
was familiar with the procession Of in
dustriss that marched through the
months, but he had never before known
the dried limas to affect his mistress so
obliviously
Five more precious, understandable
minutes lapsed, and Duke vsntured up
on a second protest. Laying his long
pointed nose delicatsly on the plump
arm from which Mrs. Martin had roll
ed back her blue calico sleeve, he sniff.
ed suggsstively.
The touch Of his cold nozzle secured
him brief attsntion, but only increased
his perplsxity. He was not unused to
being made q confdant Of when his
master and the boys were afeld, and
when his mistress turned her troubled
blue eyes in his direction he assured her
in advance Of his full sympathy by dig
nifsd oscillations Of his handsome tail.
Your master and me have made a
mistake, Duke, a terrible bad mistake,
and dom see any way out Of the mess.
That's what's pesterin me. We'd better
nv lef' well 'nough alone, Duke, but
we didn' have the sense to see it at the
right time. 4"
Wiping her fingers free from the
stains Of pea pods, she reverently lifted
an imperial photograph from where it
had been propped against the back of
the chair in front of her.
This is her picture, Duke, your lit
tie Miss ELIAS, that used to pull your
ears mos out by the roots, and you new
err even snapped bout it. She signs her
name Liza now, like it was spelled
with double ee. How Martin laughed
when she wrote us word how to pro-