Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-03-07

The girl was long coming tonight,
and Viney's imperious temper was chat
ing under the delay.
"Dog Oh her for a sassy drab! If she
amt here by de time de dinin room
clock strak 'leven she kin grope her own
way to bed in de cold an de dark. l ain
goin stan much mo-"
But before the dining room clock
struck II the kitchen door opened very
softly and Suzanne and a cold puff of
wind entered together.
SIS that you, mammy?"
"Who you lows it is, if it amt
nanny? Who else gwine be fool 'nough
to set up for a good for nothin critter
lax you? Say, gall"
Don't soold tonight, nanny. I got
somethin greet to tell you. Somethin
gre't's goin to happen to we all. To you
and to me and all do black folks. The
spell Of prophecy still sounded in the
girls voice.
Whey tilted her chair forward until
she could reach the chimney jamb with
the bowl of her black pipe. Suzanne
looked at her beseechingly. That with
cred old crone was the one object of alb
ject fear that entered into her life.
Don you 60 to laughin at me,
nanny. It's all here in black and
white in this paper. I'll read it to you
tonight if you say So"
She was down on her knees upon the
bare, hard floor, piling together the
pieces Of wood that had burned in two
and fallen apart during Viney's long
wait. The reunited logs leaped into
ready flames, and Whey stretched her
long, withered hands close above the
dancing sparks. She was very proud Of
that kneeling figure. She knew Suzanne
was handsome. And she was hers-her
very own. Her voice softened under the
girls imploring gaze.
"What you talkin bout, gal? What
greet thing is goin to happen? And who
toll you bout it?"
Then Suzanne, fearful of dissipating
the dawning interest in her mothers
sunken eyes by repeating her expert
ment with the newspaper, said eagerly;
"I'll tell it tonight and read it to-
morrow. The light amt ve'y good. We
all is goin to be sot free, nanny. You
and me and all the black folks. Ole mars
ter say it's boun to come. Mars Adr'n
laugh at him and say he kin whip a doz-
en- of the folks that is comm here to
set US free with one han tied behind
him."
"When all cat gwine happen?" Not
aippantly, only ~questioningly.
Suzanne gasped. She was not pre-.
pared with her details.
Fright off, ! reckon. Mars Adr'n
seems in a big hurry to git ready. He
say he goin to be a capt'in and war a
uniform and ride a horse"
II boun, whatever happen, he gwine
ride a horse if all the res NV the worl
walk. Bless the Lawd, and please, dear
Lawd, let ole Whey live long 'nough to
see de blessed light Of freedom. Su-
zannel"
Viney's descent from spiritual exalta-
ton to colloquial severity was sudden
but permanent.
"Suzanne!"
Eyes, nanny"
II gwine mex you read ev'ry line in
dat paper to me tomorrer mornin fore
you go up to de big house. Igwine hus-
tie you out er bed at crack or day, and
if I don't hear somethin mighty decid
ed bout that freedom talk you is so
glib with l gwine mex you sorry fur
ever bein horned. You yher me, gall"
cts here, nanny, ev'ry word Of it,
90 help me the good Lawd."
"Den git up and go to bed"
Suzanne got up and nodded her head
toward the more habitable portions Of
the cabin.
II amt breshed his clothes yet"
II done it myself. was tired Of
waitin for you"