Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-12
AN AMBUSCADE.

Hre ana courage as are given to women
was in a state of collapse NoW, if 1t had
been somebody eIse's son. somebody else's
Drother, who had been brought to their
house wounded, these ladies would have
bean entirely equal to the occasion. But it
was JACK, of all persons in the world; it
was the son, the brother Courage fled
Ike shadow, and all resources were dis
sfrated as If they had been so much vapor
Inc wounded man had slept fairly well
curing the night, but in the early hours of
morning his fever began to rise-as was to
be expected-and then he became delirious
He TAXED and laughed and ratified away
Win ms 1okes-he was noted for his dry
humor-and occasionally he paused to take
breath and groan. And all that the re-
sourceful Mrs. Fitzpatrick and the cour-
ageous Flora could do was to sit and gaze
az each other and wipe their overlooking
eyes with trembling hands.
Plato was sent to the village nine miles
away for the family doctor, but he re-
turned with note from that fat and
amlable old gentleman. saying that he had
just been informed that the entirs federal
army was marching to surround the vii
iage, and. as for him, he proposed to stay
and defend his family. This news went to
aunt Candace. the plantation nurse. in
short order. Plato was her son, and he
felt called on to tell her about it,
Aunt Candace made no comment what
ever. She knocked the ashes out OF her
pipe leaned 1t in a corner of the fireplace,
ughtened up hsr handkerchief and wad-
died on to the big house. Plato knew by
the way his nanny looked that there
would be fuss. and he hung back, pre-
tending that he had some business at the
horse lot.
"Whar you gwine?'' asked Aunt Candace
seeing he was not coming.
I'm des gwine-"
"Youer des gwine long wild me, OATS
whar you des gwine. An you better come
on Eff 1 lay my ham on you you'll feel it,
man.
"Yassum, I'm comm" replied Plato.
he was very polite when he knew his
Tamnry had her dander up
Aunt Candace marched into the big
house with an air of proprietorship
Whereabouts is dat chile?' she asked
III tone that a stranger would have de-
scribed as vicious.
Hes in here. Candace," replied Mrs.
Fitzpatrick gently.
Candace went into the room and stood
ny 'ae pedside; The weather was chilly
and she placed her cold hand on Jacks
bl rning brow. Instantly he stopped talk
ing and seemed to sleep.
God knows. honey" she said: "dey'd
hefo' dey'd git up out'n der cheers an
Mrs. fitzpatrick and Flora forgot their
gr'e1 for a moment and stared at Aunt
Csndace with speechless Indignation This
was jest what the old negro wanted them
to do.
"Plator' she cried. take de az an run
down ter de branch an git me yo' double
q upS"ooo pttth-lot De OUTSIDE;
1 want de skin on de inside. An I want
some red oak bark-a hatful An don't
you be gone long, needer. Kaze eff halter
holier at you. I'll jump on you am 81 you
fraiiin.. Now, eff you don't believe 1t,
you des try me-
But Plato did believe 1t, and he went
hrrrying off as rapidly as he used to 60
when he was a boy.
"Whar dat house gal?' asked Aunt Can
dace abruptly.
I'm call her." said Flora, but the girl
that moment appeared at the door.
Whar you been, you lazy wench% - cried
Aunt Candace. Go get me a pan or col
water an clean lowell don't keer eft
turned her attention to Jack God knows.
honey, eff you can't git nobody else tor do
nothin fer you, oil Candace'n do it, She's
russed you befo' an she'll do 1t again."
Aunt Candaces words and manner were
calculated and intended to exasperate her
old mistress and her young mistress
IF you think l intend to submit to your
impudence'-Mrs. Fitzpatrick began with
as nuch dignity as she could command
under the circumstances. But Aunt Can
dace was equal to the emergency. Before
her mistress could say what she intended,
the old negress rose from the bedside, her
eyes blazing with wrath.
hose imperdence? Whose imperdence?
Eff L felt dat away, I'd "a sot down yander
an nussed my own sickness an let dis
chile die He's yo' chile; he amt none er
mine; an yit youer settin' dar holm yo'
hans an wipin' yo' eyes, whites de fever
fair blu min i'm up
He amt none er my chile, yit eff he amt
got none er my blood in en- it's kaze mig
ger milk don't turn to blood. 1 don't keer