The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-05-19

century man what said ter dis pusson
'cum,' an he cumed, an ter anoder
pusson 60 an he coed. An Aunt
Dinah went ter sleep in de middle of de
readin', den he closed de book an aXed
me ter set by de fire an tell him about
you alls an he ma an de chillun."
(which, of course, you did"
"Yessum, an de mex night he cum
again an den ev'ry night fur TO- weeks
an l lowed ez he war reel kline ter
Aunt Dinah, but she seq now dat she
'spicioned he he'd his eye on me frum de
fust."
did you think so, too, Charlotte?"
''Me, Miss Mary" she said, with
touching humility; 20, Lor', no; what
he gwine look at me fur? l amt no
fancy niger; l can't do nothin' but
clean house an cook an wash"
THAT is good DEAL" l said, admir-
ingly; 'for after all, beauty is only skin
deep"
'Yessum," said she, with pathetic
wisdom, ''but hit goes long way wild
a man; howsomever, hits all de same
ter me now"
Did you talk much, Charlotte" I
asked, for | was curious to know the
process that had procured for her the
"catch" of the Howell quarters"
Nom; l amt sayin' nothin'; jest
sot an listened whilst he talked"
You let him see how smart you
thought he was?"
20, yessum."
kate was right" l remarked; "she
said that pot of incense was more eff
fective than anything else, and l be-
lieve she knew"
"Ma'am ?" said Charlotte.
What did he say when he pro-
posed?"
Hit was kinder suddint, Miss Mary.
wuz cookin' a 'possum what Mr.. Ralph
shot in the chicken house and sent ter
Aunt Dinah. Iwuz bakin' hit wild sweet
potatoes and de smell sholy wuz nice,
an Lincoln SEE ter me, SEE he: Char
lotte, you amt much on looks, an |
lows ez folks expec' me ter look high
ern you, but you sholy duz know how
ter cook 'possum; Charlotte SEE he,
an he comes over ter de hyarth whur
l wuz standing; Charlotte, Ise bin on
settled in my mine about you fur some
time, but Ise concluded on de intima-
ton now; So SEE he, will you marry
me?"
And did you say yes at once?" /
asked, hoping to hear of some exhibit
tioE of proper spirit.
"Yessum, said Charlotte.
when do you intend to be married ?"
Week after mex. L lowed ez it wuz a
good plan ter hev hit right away fore
he he'd time ter change he mind"
"Oh, Charlotte" L cried, you
oughtn't to be so suspicious"
Miss Mary" said Charlotte, "ef l
wuz good lookin'. like you il, reckon
l wouldn't be, but bein' ez hit is, Use
gwine ter hurry things up"
Have you told Priscilla yet?"
NOM" and into her eyes came a set
and determined look, but Use laid
off in my mind ter tell her terday, an
dere amt no use of her rarin' neider,
ANei~9S 4SN 8 "liC lCl III
matter what he ma sea-
arose and invited Charlotte indoors,
and when she departed a short while
later she carried bundle of my cast
off tinery with her.
On her way out of the yard she
stopped at the kitchen to break her
cruel tidings to Priscilla; l meanwhile
had fled to the flower garden, for
knew Priscilla would soon seek me out
to rave against Charlotte, and l hoped
thereby to escape her. Vain thought!
l was stretched at full length on
bench, staring up through the sweet
olive branches at the blue, blue sky be-
yond, when the garden gate banged VIC
lently, and down the path, her head
handkerchief tilted to one side and her
eyes flaming, came Lncoln's mother.
PRISCILLA" | said, as she reached
me, collecting my moral strength to
grapple with her, Il suppose you have
rushed out here to abuse Charlotte to
me, but as have not the slightest in
tention of listening to you, you might
as well go away"
Miss Mary" said Priscilla with con-
centrated bitterness, dat oudacious
niger gal done hoodooed my boy; he
never would hev looked at her widout
hit; she done kunje" d him."
"All mothers say Iat," I replied
unsympathetically; TO tell the truth,
| think Charlotte is much more to be
Ditied than yOur son for from what
hear of him l think he must be a very
vain and conceited fellow, and that
kind does not usually make good hus-
bands"
Miss Mary!" cried Priscilla.
"Yes, | mean it. Now do leave me
alone; you give me a headache"
Priscilla swept out of the garden, to
break off the match and rescue her son
from the willy Charlotte, but she reck-
oned without her host, for Charlotte,
having once tasted of the sweets of sue
cess, fought nobly for her rights, and
in the end won the day. She was mar
ried in the big warehouse at South
meade, and as Fred and were person.
ally interested in the affair, we made
her wedding a great success.
Priscilla is not resigned to it yet;
but Fred shot an opossum yesterday,
which l gave to Charlotte, who hap
pened opportunely to be calling, and
d. - I.