Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-10-07
CHAPTER XIII.


CHAPTER XIII.
Astrea descended from her hiding
place with so much caution, and so ST.
lently, that Sans drowsy ear received
M intimation Of her presence. After
reaching the ground. she remained be-
hind the huge trunk of the cypress
while getting herself up for the
part she vas TO play. Her resources
for preparing TO ~personate the spirit
of tile swamp were limited: but she
felt confident that she could present n
sufficiently startling appearance to up
set Sans self-possession long enough
TO enable her TO accomplish her object,
especially as it was becoming so dusky
Ia the thick gloom of the swamp that,
ut Il little distance. an innocent object
might be magnified by a mind SO fear
full and superstitious as the negroes
into a terror-inspiring apparition.
Taking Ter bl~oOd-blotched pocket
handkerchief, she cut holes In 1t for
her yes and mouth, and then tied it
tightly over her face. This sim
pie continuance. taken in connection
with her flowing white dress, gave her
n really ghostiy and fear-inspirfng
c~ountenance: and on looking at her
self in the mirror furnished by the
water of the brook, TO which she eau
tiously advanced. she was certain that
she needed nothing more, except the
assumption of a sepulchral tone Of
voice. TO enable her to drive the SUI
perstitious groom as nearly out of his
senses as would be necessary for her
purpose.
she crossed the brook and, keeping
a tree between her and the negro, she
cautiously advanced toward the spot
where Saladin was quietly standing
beneath the branches of a wide-spread-
ing cypress. On arriving at Saladin's
side. she pulled her sun bonnet over
her face. that he might not be fright
ened by her unusual appearance, and
pattlng him gently. she spoke cooingly
to him. In n low tone. so as To win his
confidence. Finding him gentle. and
rot mt all disposed TO resent her famil-
iarity. she quietly loosed him from the
tree.
Thus far she had not attracted Sans
attention III the slightest degree. He
sat perfectly still at the foot of the
! tree against which he was leaning,
and seemed to be either sound asleep
OF else utterly absorbed In meditation.
So still and unconscious did he ap-
pear that Astrea began to hope that
she would be able to Mount Saladin
and dash away before Sam would he
aroused, and which she probably
might have Core had not she stepped
upon a dry stick that snapped like a
pistol shot beneath her foot and
caused the dosing groom TO Omen his
eyes and gaze around with a startled
look.
.Astrea Immediately pushed her bon
ret from her face and. drawing up her
form to its utmost height, she raised
her right arm ~dkeeping hold of Sala-
din's bride with her left hand, which
was behind herr. and shook her finger
~nenacingly ut the astounded negro.
For n Toment Astrea was at a loss
what To DO n~ext-whether to try to
mount s"iadin. without saying a word,
before sam could offer any interfer-
ence. or whether to seek to deepen the
effect Of her appearance on him by
making n few remarks appropriate
to the OCCASION Fearing that an at.
tempt to get upon Saladsn's back might
seem such an unspiritual operation to
the groom as to disiflude him to a dan
StTOUS NtgTPt, Snc ItSOINeu 10 CHI VII
her vocal powers to help her play out
the game to the safest possible conclu-
sion.
She therefore advanced n few steps
toward the quaking negro and, glover
ing upon him in as ghOstly n manner
"a she knew how to assume, she again
raised her hand. and, In the most sep
uichral tones. said:
sIpach fpfrr1din~ mon vrhaf oro xo,,
doing there upon the sacred spot where
my body has so long lain buried?'
The effect of this address upon Sam
VIA highly electrical. Giving n sud.
den leap and scramble to one side, he
again came upon his knees. clasped his
hands. and raising them ~deprecating
ly toward what he verify believed the
dreaded Swamp Spirit" he groaned
out:
81 didn't know 1t! deed an deed
didn't. Mist'us Sperit. / neber knowet
as how your sacred body was buried
anywhere. deed didn't-leastways n
de foot oh dat tree, or | neber would
hab sot dis we're ole carcase down ders
-nebcr, SO help me heaben an all liz
angels-neber."
''That is false" replied Astrea. In hel
best ghost tOue. You k lew that m
bones We're lying there. and you cam,
here TO dig them up and carry then
away"
"Fore God. Mist'us Sperit," criet
Sam. with the Precipitation startini
upon his face. ''dis yer chile nebei
fought oh such a ting In all de born
days OBJ his life. l jes' sot down der,
to wait for Marse Rumford to com
back after he an de houn's had TAX
n look for Miss Fora, who's run,
nway from de plantation into dis We
swamp. An dat's jes' de blesset
trnfe. an muffin else; an eff you'll jes
wait till Marse Ramford gets back
an OATS his yell now" exclaimes
Sam. In n tone of relief, as n loud hal
loo rang through the swami: "he ain
fur away, an Ill jes' yell back again