The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-10

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= "She don't fear yoat.n
me in peace all the days Of my life to
So turn back in yo' tracks an take tina
! smilin face out of my sight. An lisn
Murrimun Bascum, lis'n good. Ell eve
you or yo'ne tries to set foot over m,
, do'sill, may 20 right foot be withered
May the dry rot seize yo' tongue. Ma,
the salt rheum settle in yo' eyes. Swan
; ma knows you, an"-here she drew hel
tall, gaunt figure up to its utmost heigh
Fan she hates you. Mind, she dom
fear you; she JUS hates you, an eff yor
know what is good for them red cheeks
flashing look at Jessica-"you'll
keep her away too. I done said my last
word. The next time you hear from me
it will be in the lightnin's flash an
the thunder s crash.
"You COMPOUNDED old lunatic, I've
half mind to put you off The place and
let you starve to death!" said the
colonel, angrily refining in his horse
with such force as to bring it back on
its launches. Savanna looked him fear
lessly in the face and laughed his threat
to scorn.
'Now you is talkin JUS to hear yo'
own voice"
The colonel turned a flushed face to-
ward Jessica.
ave may as we'll turn back. When
she gets one Of these spells on, the devil
himself could not control her. You'll
get nothing but insults from her today"
Jessica wheeled her horse obediently,
following the colonel in retreat A dis
tinctly triumphant chuckle pursued
them.
"Do you know, father" said Jessica
after they had ridden a little way in
silence, II should have liked to stay
longer, although could not understand
word she said. She looked like ma
jestic old pythoness or an avepging
Nemesis.
The colonel pricked his horse's tanks
sharply with the spur
"You are fanciful my dear girl"
"No-only very much interested in
an entirely new type"
"Well, that specimen of tho new type
you may as well give the 60 by to. 1
should prefer you not to cultivate Sa-
wanna. She is al old bag who has her
sphere and knows she is useful in it. In
her young days she was my mothers
own maid, and she is quite correct in
defying me when / threaten to put her
off the place. My mother made me
promise she should never be disturbed
in possession of that house. Savanna
holds trump card"
Jessica laughed and glanced back over
her shoulder.
Look at her, father. She really
makes picture worth painting. The
would simply be delicious"
The colonel glanced back with an i'm
patient "Pish!" Standing just where
they had left her, her tall figure brought
into fine relief by the dark, rich foliage |
of pomegranate bush, her gayly tur-
baned head raised deflantly, her black
thorn stick still held at an aggressive
angle, her thick, yellow lips moving rap
idly, Savanna sent after them torrent
Of invective mercifully swallowed up
BY the hoof beats of their two horses
md the clear chanting of lordly roost-
II, who, flying to position on the
ence within touch of the old crone's
land, added another spot Of vivid color
% the picture.
"By all means have the rooster in
our picture,' said the colonel trihe
Then, with returning sense
+ justice, he added, 81 did not know
ou reckoned painting among your &C.
The temptation to
ell him that he had taken scant trouble
0 inform himself about her acquire
,ents beset Jessica sorely, but her ma
IRE was essentially sweet and she could
20 that the interview with Savanna
ad left him distinctly ruffied. Why,
10 could not divine. So she lightly
lrned his attention to the selection Of
suitable name for her beautiful little
ARE.
When a turn Of the road hid them
ON sight, Savanna walked back to
Or doorstep. Softly opening the rough.
ank door to her cabin, she put her
lrbaned head far enough beyond it to
ii, in voice soft as the note of wood
geon:
"Honey-little mistiss!'
No answer came back to her, and
it'll chuckle of satisfaction she closed
e door as softly as she had opened it
d resumed her pepper stringing.
When the colonel and Jessica reached
house after morning spent in the
On air, they found DR.. Hillary North.
% impatiently awaiting their return.
CHAPTER V.
When snow white screech owl with
ninous, jeweled eyes had daringly
GIFTED two evenings in succession on
cape jasmine bush that grew Just
side the parlor window at Belhaven
Marianne Belknap spilled the salt ,
breakfast on tho morning Of the day =
brother Reginald was expected
no, Miss Varina Monckton looked L
gic. G
something frightful must follow in =
wake of two such incontestble signs n
bad luck. Her heart grew still heav. ,
when, CHANGING to catch a glimpse
Master Max Belknap's tan oolored :,
rs, she discovered that one of them :,
J wrong side out. 81
Hiss Varina Monckton was governess
companion to Miss Marianne Bel. !.