Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-06-16
CHAPTER xLyI.

CHAPTER XLVI.
About 6 o'clock in the evening the
guests of RumfOrd began to arrive
At dinner was placed upon the ta-
bic.
Astrea went, as she had promised. to
assist Venus in arranging the first
course. and then she retired for the
evening to her own chamber, where
Venus took care to bring her tea in due
season.
An now. honey, you an me can sit
down an be comfortable togeder the
rest O. de ebenin'. Ole Aunt Cybele,
she don't know muffin It'll bout me
bein' ordered to go back to my lof' to-
night, so she won't AK arter me. An
ole marse too busy; he an de oder
beasts just gone to dere feed" said
Venus, as, after having taken away
the tea service, she dragged in her
mattress, and began to spread it out
underneath Astrea's bedstead.
poor Venus, you'll be half-smoth-
cred under there" said Astrea.
"Not me, honey. Dere's good, cool
draught; sides which, long as you
gwine to keep de candle burnin', it will
be shady under dere, an keep off de
'squitoes, which dem little debbils is
de torment of my life, an makes me
init more sin in cussin' an swearin' to
myself at night dan anything else in dis
worl."
well, my good woman. sat your
self! At least, you will be out of sight
there.''
Honey" said Venus, coming out
from under the bed, and drawing mys-
teriously near to Astrea, ''honey, what
you think?'
IL don't know! What is it?'
"Dere's thirteen sinners set down to
dat dinner table,"
''Well, you told me there was round
dozen invited. Of course, Mr.. Rum
ford makes the thirteenth
Eyes; but, chile, take 'sideration
on to it! thirteen sinners set down to
one dinner table,
well, what of that? That is not a
very large dinner party"
But thirteen, honey; slider dat"'
''Well, do; what of it?'
"Lors, chile, how your edicatiol has
been neglected in some things, to be
sure! Now, l dessay as yo've larned
heap O. music, an paintin', an dane
in, an singin', an dat! but you has
nebber larned what Germs you more to
know"
Il certainly do not know what you
mean, Venus"
"De lors chile; don't you know as
when thirteen sinners sits down to one
table, one O the sinners is sartain sure
to go to de debil afore thirteen days is
over dere heads?' said Venus, in low,
mysterious whisper.
NO: l never knew that. It's only
superstition, Venus" replied Astrea.
Eyes, honey; dessay it's super
striction; but it's truth, for all dat!
l nebber knew it to fail. No more did
Aunt Cybele, or Uncle Sat'un, ole as
dey bofe is-which dey said it DEM
selves dis blessed ebenin'. An now
you look out, honey; fore fortnight
is over our heads, an dat is fourteen
days, we hears OBJ death! An it's
gwinc to be. 90 dem dere gem'en as is
sittin' boozin at dat dere table! May
be ole morse, for aught 1 know; an
deed, if it was, faint Venus as would
be ravin' 'stracted crazy wild grief for
his loss; l tell you dat goodY'
'They are very noisy" said Astrea,
as the sound of their revelry met her
ear.
''Lors, chile. dat amt muffin tall.
Not as knows any ting bout it; but
ole Aunt Cybele say, wait till de cloth
is drawn, an de wine put on de table,
will you? Den you t'ink ole Nick an
all his imps done broke loose! Least
wise, SO ole Aunt Cybele say. an she
ought to Know. Why, it's my belief as
dat is de reason why ole marse nebber
married, cause, you Sc, he knew berry
well how no wife would. cher put up
long O. such high im-be-lung COINS
on in de house! Listen to dat, now!'
said Venus, Indignantly, as the sound
Of wild revelry. rolled in upon their
ears.
''Lors, chile. dat amt muffin tall.
Not as knows any thing bout it; but
ole Aunt Cybele say, wait till de cloth
Is drawn an de wine put on de table,
will you? Den you t'ink ole Nick an
all his imps done broke loose! Least
ways so ole Aunt Cybele say, an she
ought to know. Which it's my belief
as dat is de reason why ole marse neb-
Der married, cause, you see, he knew
berry well how no wife would cher
pat up long O. such high im-be-lung
goings on in de house! Listen to dat,
now!' said Venus, Indignantly, as the
sound Of wild revelry rolled in upon
their ears
Astrea felt shocked and outraged.
Astrea felt shocked and outraged.
AS the evening passed on the orgies
loud talking and boisterous laughter,