Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-05-12

ST OR kingdom come, Miss Mary
run here, quick!" Priscilla's
agonized tones sent me flying to the Ii
brary. where l found her mounted on
the top step of the stepladder armed
with the long-handled brush, with
which she had been polishing the coun-
tenance of my ancestors. Her eyes,
observed, were stretched to twice their
natural size.
What on earth is the matterT
asked.
Matter enough, chile. Dis ole lad
der is powerful onsartain, an Jist now
when | wuz dustin ole Marster's peter
hit 'peared ter me, he kinder smiled at
me. same like ez he useter do, an lwuz
dat skeered pretty nigh tumbled OIL
[ looked at the portrait of my stately
old grandfather and fTowned; Priscll-
las love of sensation was apt to carry
her far, but until now she had respected
my relatives.
Don't be absurd" l said, crushingly,
and instead of holding the ladder, as l
was evidently expected to do, l crossed
the room and retired to the shelter OF
the window seat.
Priscilla, however, was not easily sub
dued; indeed, l had often contided to
Fred that in my mind she had all the
qualifications of a social leader-su-
preme self-confdence and magniti-
cent capacity for ignoring snubs; So,
having successfully inyeigled me into
the library, after a moments silence,
she proceeded smoothly:
''Mr. Fred's the Twin bornd image of
ole marster; SEE ter Hinery yistidday:
'Hinery,' SEE l, if MIR. Fred wuz ez ole ez
his granpa, l clar ter gracious
couldn't know de diffrunce between
en-"
Her conversational efforts fell un-
needed on my ears, for did not reply,
but continued to stare out of the win
dow at the vivid sweep of live oak
branches beyond
Priscilla climbed down and moved the
ladder before a portrait of my mother.
''Lor," she said, passing the brush
carefully over the lovely young face,
"Lor, Miss Mary, | members yore mas
weddin' day jist like hit wuz yistidday;
she sholy wuz a beauty, an young, too,
only 10 when she married Marse Ralph.
She paused and looked over at me.
Miss Mary, huccome you amt never
marriedW
THAT is my own affair."" l replied,
steruly.
Il lows you had lots of chances. Mo-
deste Fowler sez Betty Green DEITY
was my maid) tole her you done los de
count of de gemman what aXed you ter
marry 'em." OF course it was despic-
ably weak of me, but l felt my heart
warm towards Betty. "She SEE es how
you wuz a jinuine belle when you lived
in de city"
Did she, indeed?" l said, feigning an
indifference that l was far from feel.
ing; that was certainly kind of her"
But eff you amt never felt no leanin
todes marryin', Miss Mary, you done
right ter stay single, an reckon wher
you count hit all up, you hez done
choosed de better part"
| laughed. That is rather hard OF
Henry, Priscilla
"Hinery is a good husban' ez husbans
go, Miss Mary" she said, but when {
'ooman marries she amt free no long
er; she's bleeged ter insult anoder pus
son about everything, an deres times
when dat gifts kinder tiresome like"
| did not tell Priscilla so, but in &
crude way she had expressed my OWL
objections to matrimony.
Il wuz young and foolish in dose
days" she went on, IAN he wuz de bes
dancer an de bes' fiddler on de planta
ton, an de oder niger gals wuz fairly
wild ter ketch him, an lowed ez
warn't gwne ter let 'em git ahead O
me, so when Hinery axed me, ups an
sez yes fore l knowed what l wui
COIN"
We'll, he has made you a good hus
band l said Mr. Fred thinks
great deal of Henry"
Priscilla pursed up her lips; her ex
preston conveyed the idea that sh,
could tell much IAN she would" bu
aloud she only said:
Use got money laid up, Miss Mary;
reckon hits with while fur Hiuery te
be consartin' hisself kerrect Wild me
my ole mother (bless herr sez ter me d.
night I wuz married, 'SyIa,' sez she
don you never let Hinery git hole o