The sun., 1898-01-23
wIDDLES GETS REVENGE.
EIoROIsEs AN IMPRoMPTU DEVIL
FROM THE RANGE

on the end OF tho Kitchen table furthcst from
Martha and whimpered. Martha, with her
black face set in glum determination, regarded
wlddlcs not, but pounded tho iron down on the
! blue and white shirt waist that was stretched
on the padded board before her. With thump
and gentle hiss Of steam from tho damp shirt
the iron wlgglod from collar 10 waistband and
back again. Tho smell Of linen not quito
scorchod rllcd the kitchen.
"Pleaso, Martha" whined widdcs, "I think
| you might"
Bump, bump, bump" went Marthn's iron
| on the blue shirt waist. Her face grew even
| sternor.
Just one; one little bit Of doughnut
Martha" he pleaded. Il won't ask for another.
honest just one"
| Martha Strengthened the shirt waist on tho
board with an angry twist She turned hor hoad
| toward Widdles, and when no saw how angry she
| was he was almost. but not quite. frightened.
"You chile" she said, II wish to goodness
| gracious sakes alive you'd stay out Of this
| kitchen and go on into the house with white
| folks. whore you belong" THAT the kitchen
| under the same roof with the rest of tho Leslie
house did not shake Martha's loyalty to tho
traditions of the plantation. where it was al
ways out of the kitchen into the house.) II amt
| got no tinne to traffic with you for doughnuts
nor no such kind Of appurtenances. Go on outer
here"
widdles swung his feet, looked hurt, and
| wisely kept his peace.
| II don know what's took your ma She
| think can do three days wash In one day,
and cook for you all. too, and then sends the
chillen down here to fuss round and keep get
| ting in my way and hollerinR. Martha, give mo
a doughnut. Please Martial Just one. It's
Martha, give me this and that and run here and
there an fix my collar and tie my shoes till I'm
plumb tired. and amt soin' to stand It. Deed
| aint. Miss Jane can keep her chillen out Of
| here. or else 60, that's all. Deed amt going
| to stand 1t. I'm going to tell her so.''
She went to the door which opened on tho
kitchen stairs.
"You. Miss Jane" she called. widdleR noted
with tremendous satisfaction that Martha kept
her voice so low that his mother in the sowing
room at the other side of tho house could not
possibly hear her. "You. Miss Jane. make this
here chile get out Of my kitchen. Take him out
of here or I'll break his worthless back with
fro shovel I got too much TO do hore. You got
nurse for your chillen; why amt she take care
of them. like she's paid TO dor
With a theatrical scowl at widdlcs she closed
the door and returned to the ironing board.
"Teeny pushed mo of tho front steps yester-
WSSaSs lid ss ha Pon o,
ait eiInos. broke my arm, continued the
awful mean sometimes"
Martha looked at him IN shrewd suspicion;
Grieved innocence and rubbed his elbow ten
s,nt you said nothing about your arm
%Its Just begun to hurt again" he said. He
pgeEered with apparent pain,
Martha carried her iron to the stove, took tho
pocket and started across the room ghost OF
smile fitted over the corners of Widdles's
ne 9 ss 70 r4S ns n s eee Tfs
mnde no sound. but the woman wheeled on him
as though he had laughed out loud. He grim.
Martha dsrtcd at him with outstretohed, clutch.
ihE 9on, Reae' she howled. "you. you limb of Satan
widdles dropped from tho table and wiegied
the chair on which one end of the board rested.
Of the pan OF boiled starch on the table.
.,"You, leave me lone, he .schucklod. "or III
Martha stood with hor big fists resting ON tho
white ironing board board and glSTe5a H;5d at thin him;
Of Miss JAMES ia % chiiien She shifted With rage
my pore sore sso whRsd n wrn,hH
ase On snS make
ths oalS .frs friend Fos left Go on child
Widdies calmly held the starch pan poised
over the floor.
"oh, 60 on, child" she answered scornfnIiy.
ain't botherlng my head with n you | got too
~ got better things to fill my ZINE than an trafiiek-
with tSd s sF m M o%
Widdles placed the starchpan on the table and
| walked thoughtfully to the range. He contem-
plated the red-hot spaces between the hatrons
tho1ghtIully, u,, :. =, o,s oo,.,,u 49,,
Gq hs as shs
him she gave no sign:
Martha slowly turned her head and regarded
him with mingled rage and suspicion.
%Devil, ,""he said "f you arc in the stove.
,." =. Yop: boy!" she CRIED anErily. "oome away
| Wddes waved his hand in q commanding
| gesture. You leave mo alone" he said. I'm
mot talking to you. Devil in the stovo' say
,"BoyI You! Mars WSily!" MsIths was
hffHhh. her frsht. Pons. please % slr aoht talk that
MHy ssH You ssnn don't kHow what you're doing Stop
widdies grew pale little. but he planted his
| feet further apart and thrust his hands deep
into ,aSs his tiny 6ystI .Tpaisss Ss sdsS pHIke''
Martha threw open the door that led ON the
miss Jpnei" she sereamed as loud as her
now. now Miss janet Oh: Miss janet Come on
In the corner OF his trousers pocket widdles
graEDeQ an OBJECT smooth ana nara AS I0 re-
hected, divided between persistencs In his con-
jurinR and flight before his mothers wrath. he
drew IL out. 1t was a brass pistol cartridge
drawer week before. A fendish grin over
spread his face Marthas cries ceased for tho
moment: she was listening. Upstairs he heard
the tramping OF running feet.
"Deyil. devil. DEVIL" he screamed In his high
est treble. "come outl'
Amid an uproar Of renewed calls for his mother
from Martha he set the cartridge on tho stove,
fiat end down. and scuttled out the back door.
lie had scarcely reached the dde OF tho yard
whom Martha's shouts were interrupted by q
tremendous report
"Bang r. It went, and in another instant the
kitchen windows were clouded inside with
smoke Then came shrieks and screams and
prayers for mercy and tho crash of tipped.over
tables and falling clothes racks.
q LORD no heard heard ldIt6 Martha sn9%pti intonns
this poor nlggor now. just cause white folks
ask for deyil TO come, don't, LORD, let him take
my doiDgs. lIordl LordI'
In a moment the kitchen door burst open and
| l ll . III Z IAN n 10 - -