The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-13
Deborah of Lost Creek.

.
saddles with frayed and knotted ropes
for girths. pillow lines, trace chains.
names, horse collars. with occas fonal
punches OF seed corn held together by
plated strips of husk. Beneath these
articles, as beneath a grove, sat Ben's
grandmother. Aunt Ilsy. who kept a
sharp lookout up and down the road.
No one could pass the house without
seeing Aunt Ilsy. and everyone who saw
her stopped for moment TO AK de
time of day" Most of the white people
in the valley had been Aunt Ilsy's
folks" in the old days. They were
either Robinsons or ''kinfolks' OF the
Robinsons. and it was Aunt Ilsy's pride
that she was pensIoner of de Rob-
fson family" and that they visited her
and kept her supplied with food and
clothing. all that she could possibly
need.
Much obleeged. Miss Lie" she would
always say to the pretty young lady
who drove around once month with
the supply of provisions and the new
garments. Much obleeged 10 you an
Mas John bofe. Mas John sholy is
folledin' in his Mas footsteps Old Mis-
had her failin's, but dey couldn't nobody
tronp on ole Ilsy's toes WHILST old Mis-
was 'roun': an Mas joins lookin' after
But today Aunt Hsy's face was trou-
bled, for disturbing rumors had been
going I'D and down the valley; and she
waited eagerly for the coming Of some
one who could bring her news. The
some one came at last; an old negro,
who paused with his hand on the for
lorn and dropping gate
'How-do, Sist' Ilsy; how ye feelin' dis
mawnin'?' he asked.
Jes' $3.50, much obleeged," was the
response How ye feelin' ye'self Mar
tin?"
"oh. jes' $685." he replied with
mournful unctfen. "Ts still able to trot
along by jerks
What de news down de road?" was
the next tentative question.
Muffin much" replied Martin, brirn-
ming with news so that he stuffed his
corn-cob pipe full of 'home-riz'' to-
bacco and then tried to light fl with his
riding switch instead OF a match, so
great was his perturbation Muffin
'ce3t deg tells me dat de whole crea-
tons done gone slaunchways up at Mas
johns. Dat engineer man, she sho is
sot on Miss Liza. and Mas John. he
shoe is likewise an he say dat onless
dey draps dat foolishness he gwinter git
his shotgun an blow dat man inter
kingdom come. Dat mex Miss Liza mad.
hit did. on dat gal Nancy, what's been
cookfn' dere, she say dat Mis- Liza riz
up from de table dis mawnin, when her
pa was car'in on lax mad, and she
tell i'm dat she gwinter merry de man
she lax, IN spite o. all de shotguns in
de kentry. An den. Nancy, she, say dat
Miss Liza walk outen de dinin' room
wild 'er haid up, an Mas John amt
[YrA
gaPry lookin' lax de ole Nick. till dey
amt nobody kin go night i'm. When
Mas John git to lookin' lax dat, hit
a mighty good time to keep outen de
way"
Babe, tell yo' nanny to ham me
my stick" called the old woman; and
in few minutes Aunt Isly, who had
not walked beyond the limits Of the
yard in years, was toiling down the
lane, followed by the amazed stares Of
the younger generation
Mas John sat in the gallery in a
large arm chair, his elbow on the arm
of the chair and his chin In his palm
There was dangerous glitter In Mas
Johns eyes, but notwithstanding this
Aunt Ilsy climbed the steps and sat
down with her back against one of the
futed columns.
cheerily How We findin' yourself dis
maWnin' %
The man stirred impatientIy. but made
no other reply. AS though he had spo-
ken at great length, however, Aunt IIsy
went on affably:
1T sho' is long time sence I been
here before. l never does see desc here
steps widout thinkin O. de time when n
learned you to creep down 'efn widout
goin' down haid foremos'. You was
powerful sot in your ways, Mas John.
eben when you was a baby; as you les
plum boun' you was a-goin' down haid
foremos'. You take arter ole mis-. Mas
John"
There was another silence, into which
Aunt Ilsy glided gaily
Hit DO mex me think of ole times to
set here" pursued the old negregs
thoughtful1y. You. recommended de
time you an old Mis- had de scrimnage
bout de rose bush you wanted to cut
down? My, but ole Mis- sho' was on a
high boss. You know what ole Mis-
said bout dat temper o. your'n after
dat? She say you sho' come By hit
homes. Mas John, where Miss 'Liza?"
He started at the sudden question as
though something had stung him
What is it to you." he demanded
angrily. why are you meddling with
what does not concern you? Go back
home and leave me alone"
Before he had finished speaking the
Deborah OF Lost Creek was on her feet
The old womarrs feeble form shook
with the violence Of her indignation. and
she stood over Mas John, glazing at
him with offended majesty
She will probably need your generous
shelter he retorted grimIy; '1f she per-
sists in marrying this penniless adyen-
turer--"
And then, TO his utter establishment
Aunt Ilsy broke into a laugh and clap
ped her withered hands.
We'll. ef dat don mex me think O.
ole times" she proclaimed Joyously
Dat was jest de way your ma talked
when you was plum boun' TO marry dat
pore little schoolmis you recon-
member what you say den. Mas John?"
Apparently Mas John remembered. He
was silent, and his head was down on
his hand.
You remember how you NJ an tell
ole Mis- dat you was a gwineter hab
dat schoolmIs ef neider enc . you
didn't have a dollar IL De worl dat you
was plenty man enough 10 mex
.bin'?"
Another pause. during which Mas
Joint head was down on his hand
An you married de schoolmis', Mas
John-ycu sho' did"
Another pause.
An now here goa Is. a custi1 Up
Ned bekass Ms Liza's got q min o heT
own. Is ashamed o you, Mas joan.
5afs what I s. You acts 20 re lax
you done forgot al de traini1' what I
zib We when ye vas a baby. Why don
you 60 10 ten Miss Liza ste kin marry
&c one she want jes' isk what hsr pa
did an ef she kin Dc as happy as her
pa
\ ughs step sounded along tire ban and
down the gallery behind them Trey
both knew whose step Il was. witn0gt