The Portland daily press., 1898-02-14
[Continued.l


over the broad, sun flecked fields in girl
ism enjoyment of her new possession.
ga riding horse Of my very own has
been one Of my loveliest air castles,
built ages ago, and here [ am really on
one of the prsttiest nags ever backed by
happy girl and escorted by the hand
soonest and best papa in the world. "
The colonel smiled at her gratefully.
If she would only stay bright and happy
as she was at this moment and stop tor
turing him and herself with unanswer-
able questions, it would take very little
to reconcile him to her invasion OF his
bachelor freedom.
He turned sideways in his saddle to
scrutinize the animal under her critic
silly.
81 think we've got hold of pretty
satisfactory bit OF horsehesh. You don't
sit her at all as if you were new to the
saddle.
Jessica laughed gayly.
ooh, I'm not Mrs Shorter used to
send me to mill ON her old flea bitten
mare twice week, but now, father,
my education must be carried on upon
new lines"
She lifted her arm and waved her
pretty riding whip Complementary over
the landscape.
Chow ooulent these fields of cotton
look after Mrs. Shorter's rocky patches
of buckwheat! I love to watch those
nimble fingered blacks pick it out of
the rich brown bolls, and do love their
strange, weird songs, but, do you know,
father, their dialect is as foreign Ian
guage to me? I am sure shall find it
harder to master than German was.''
''Oh, nor'
"Yes''-and note of sadness orept
into her voice-"to all intents and pur-
poses am stranger in astrange land. "
ssOh, we'll, but, you know, that won't
last. You will soon get used to us and
our ways
ST hope SO. I am sure that good old
Susette, who comes every night to see
if my little maid has served me proper
ly, thinks I am a poor apology for
fine lady because I will not let her
either comb my hair CT battle my feet.
She iabbered at me for full ten minutes
this morning, and all I could make out
was, Missy never treated the ole wom-
an so.' Who was missy father?''
tThey used to call my sister, your
Aunt Ellen, missy Susette is good
old soul You had better let her do for
you. She is very efficient. y
"Shade of Mrs. Shorter, imagine my
being laved and groomed by obsequious
slave hands. Is my Aunt Ellen dead,
too, father"
The colonel ignored her question en-
tirely: 'tSlave hands, yes, but the best,
most loyal and gentlest of hands. Su-
settle was maid to my sister, and they
loved and trusted each other to the end.
Doubtless, but the better, gentler
and more loyal they the more monstrous
the crime of their. bondage.
The colonel frowned.
"Oh, say, my dear girl, you will
find plenty of windmills to fight if you
are hankering after the role of Don
Quixote in petticoats. But you and ]
cannot afford to quarrel along abolition
lines
"We cannot afford to quarrel along
any line. Certainly not with such
wealth of beauty and fragrance to abb
sorb u.s. :"
They had left the fields of whitening
cotton and turned their horses heads
toward a strip of woodland that sep
arated the corn lands from them. Myr-
lad mocking birds were singing blithe-
~ in the tall trees over their heads. The
subtle fragrance Of the sweet gum float
ed on the air. Blue and white morning
glories still held their pearly chalices
wide open for bee and butterfly to dip
into. The horses. with unshod feet,
made noiso1ess progress past the high
rail fence where the goldenrod grew
in tall clunps. 1t was very still sun
lit world, which Jessica and her father
seemed 20 have ali to themselves. She
began to realize the possibility Of
great longing Tor the stir and civiliza-
tion Of Boston il the ;lsar future. The
intense stiffness oppressed her.
Without Other warning shan the low
surly growl Of al unseen dog they found
themselves within fow rods Of a small
hut located Oh 1do edge Of the woods.
The tiny building was painted red, and
its MOSS grown roof was entirely cano-
pied by the branches of gigantic black
walnut tree. A wreath OF D.lc smoke
curled skyward from rrirl' Kinney Of
laths and mortar.
Jessica's eyes frightened at sight of
ii.
sch, how picturesque! must bring
my portfolio and pencils along next
time I could make lovely little
sketch ont Of that hut and it's superb old
tree. Who lives there?''
''That is the home of old Savanna, the
wise woman of,the plantation; 'voodoo
queen, the darkies call her. doubt if
you would enjoy her society much. she
is poor demented creature. There she
is now"
Coming toward them through the tall
mustard and rank okra growth which
iiIled her small garden spot Jessica saw
a eaunt figure Of commanding proper