Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-03-15

She uds fhRg the rumpled strings Of n
green ginghdm sunbOnnst.
with yellow hair and the quick wit that
my Gabrielle used to be 81 fond Of hav-
in up here from the quarters
II didn't know whether TO feel mad
or proud at her astonishment. boys
Sounded something like she didn u think
our Liza had any right 10 her good looks
and her proud air. think she seen that
I wasn't particularly complimented, for
she said very quick and very sweet:
she was always very pretty and
very bright, but this is the picture Of a
patrician beauty.
"Thcn says: i suppose You mean
she don't look like she belonged to Mar
tin and me- reckon the books and the
smooth days and ways has done a heap
for her. Brooms and dishwater don t
help nobody's good looks. warnt as
rough lookin by u deal when l went 10
live in the quarter lot, and I've seen
many a worse loOkin feller then my
Eben.
Now, Eben, don't let that silly old
head Of yours get turned. The madam
sorter smiled when spoke up 80 spunky
and said, Mr.. Martin Is an unusually
handsome man. Rebecca, and if You had
cared 'nough for appearances You would
have been as good lookin today as when
you We're married.
Here Mrs. Martin waved such small
plea lntries aside with broad sweep Of
her blunt fingered hand.
'Eut that's neither here nor there,
Mrs Strong I said, short and crisp. Il
wanted to talk to you about my glrl.
You was the one that urged us on to
sendin her away from the quarters till
her schoolin was done. You was the
one that done all the letter writin for
me and helped to keep her in the dark
without orr ever thinkin of the day
when she'd 'after come back to it all.
But she's C, min. We can't keep her
away no longer She's finished. Don I
you reckon we'll be somethin of a shock
tO utI-uS uoW III uoiIit, \ aiiu
Martin and the boys!'"
What did she say, nanny"
1t was a moment If thrilling interest
to them all. Mrs Strong's opinion car
ried incalculable weight with il. Mrs.
Martin had paused retiectively.
''She IL great woman, Seth. She
weighs her words as exact AS she weighs
out the suoar for black Suzanne TO pre-
serve Wi b. Speakin Of preserves, Eben,
she wan.., you to have them gherkins
gathered for the pickles She says CHER
kins is Adrien's favorite pickle. "
"All right about the gherkins-but
bout Liza. What did she say?'
"Nothin. She asked me to leave the
picture there. She wanted to show il to
her father She came down stairs still
a.holdin ON to it. Her face looked sober
er than when we went up to fix Adrien's S
room. reckon she was thinkin how
sweet it would be il her Gabrielle was
comm home lookin like that to sleep i'll
the rose scented room that looks out over
TIC my pouS-
''She didn't say nothinl" Seth's voice
was full Of disappointment.
"Nothin that counted, Seth. She just
said oncet or twicet, Mrs Martin, l
envy you. The idea of her envyin me !"
The overseer tilted his broad shoulders
sidewise, the better to consult huge
silver watch by the light Of the moon.
A broad beam of white light fell athwart
the recumbent form ON the steps. Char
lie had taken no part in the family
council. His eyes were closed and his
folded arms rose regularly with the rise
and fall Of his jeans waistcoat. Seth
leaned forward and took him gently by
the shoulder.
"Blest II the boy amt gone sound
asleep! He's just tuckered out He knew
/ wanted to finish that fence, and he
stuck by me. Wake up, old chap! Nine
O'Clock. Bedtime!"
Better blow the horn fus', eeth. I
hear them niggers In the dancehouse
yit."
From nail in the side Of the back
door Seth took down the long tin horn
and, putting it to his lips, executed q soft
melody more in unison with the quiet
serenity Of the stars and the tender, wan
light Of the moon than with its own
sordid mission. It was the plantation
.ta&oo.