The Afro-American advance., 1900-09-08

day. dropped out o some wagon
s'pose. never kpowed before that
such things was printed. It's like
like manners from Heaven, ain't it?''
"Kind o. Are you goin' TO write to
one OF 'em?"
Am I? Well you bet your life I'm
goin' TO write to one of 'em. I've got
her picked out"
HOW'RE you goin' to do IL? Coin
10 learn how TO write ?''
Lemuel smiled shrewdly. "No,
ain't goin' 10 learn how 70 write, but
I've got IL figured out clear enough.
You know young spriggs-him that
pulled out o. the crIck last spring,
just when he was goin' down the last
time ?''
'Yeah."
"He's the s'lution of II. He can
write like a house afire, that boy, and
can spell like q almanac. I'm goin'
to have him do the writing for pay In
part o what he's OWN me. lie can
do IL for you. too. IL you want. Man.
Hey? What do you say. old fellerP'
Lemuel slapped the mourning
Emanuel on the back and chuckied.
Something susplciously ike a chuckle
came from Emanuel In return.
IL s'pose somethin' got TO be did
for the kids" he said, "and woman's
the only thing that can do IL proper"
You're right" said Lemuel, Now.
look here, Man" He spread the paper
upon the ground and indicated dirty
spot In one column with a dirty fore
finger. Here's the one I've chose. "A
young lady called pretty by her
friends, and possessed of $3.50, would
Ike to correspond with some honest
man--no dude. Object, matrlmony.
Address B1772. Cupid't Dart You
see, that hits me to a dot, Man.
ain't no dude"
mo, you Amt. that's n fact" said
Emanuel. promptly.
1T costs only ten cents to get
started. The letter goes 10 the pa
per and they send II on 60 the young
lady. and she answers back. and there
you be, slleker'n grease"
"LookS all right" said Emanuel
""ris all right" said LemueI "Now.
Man. you take thish ere paper home
with you and pick out one for your
self ! ain't no hog. feel real sorry
for you, Man. She-she was a fine
woman"
Emanuel gulped. lie felt that IL
was incumbent upon him TO say some.
thing-something to show his friend
that his kindness was not uuappre-
ciated.
$50 was yours, Lem" he said.
softly.
Don't you b'liye IT," said Lemuel
with sudden gruffness mines vile
snake, Man. But never mind; / know
how you meant II. Good night
"Good night" said Emanuel. and
went teetering home.
lie sat late that night spelling out
lAborlously the Advertisements in Gu.
pld's Dart, but found none that salts
fed him~-none excepting the one
chosen by Lemuel. None of the 9th
ers appealed to him. Most OF them
were impossible. They laid down CON
ditions to which he was quite unable
20 conform. They insisted unrea-
sonably that the gentleman have
wealth or good looks or brillInncy Of
mind. The few exceptions insisted
that the gentleman be willing to work
hard In return for the affection Of an
honest. earnest heart. This was not
impossible. but Il was unpleasant.
Emanuel shuddered at the suggestion.
Time after time his finger returned
TO the advertisement OF the "lady who
was called pretty by her friends aud
who WIS possessed of $3.50" She
yearnsd for an honest man--no dude.
and Emanuel's heart was drawn to
her. II pained him to think that
Lcmuel had chosen her frat Lcmuel
had treated him with great consider
alton. IL was not entirely right for
him to covet Lcmuers choice, but he
could not help II. Finally he went 10
sleep.
In the morning he returned the pa.
per to Lemuei. but his eyes fell be-
fore those OF his friend and he talked
mostly in monosyllables.
Find one7" inquired Lemuel. with
n wink.
"No."
"Ain't you goin' TO get one?"
Cant"
"whye"
saint none 10 suit"
''Sho. nowl Well. III tell you,
couldn't find none either, but the one
l picked out. SIN. done the best
could for you, Man"
"Uh-huh"
"And I've been iigRrrln' some.
reckon I'll tell her she's got To take
mo quick " she wants me, cause
there's great demand for me. |
amt goin' TO sign my name 10 the
letter. I don't want to get into no
breach o promise suit, Course. the
lady's probably all right. but there's
nothing like bein' ON the safe side"
"uh~ huh"
$50 I'm just goln' 10 have young
SprRgs write me down as a gentle.
man who's honest as daylight aud
who Amt no dude. I'm goin' 20 have
him tell her bout my bvin' a prop'ty
owner and all that and explain that
I don't give no name cause I want
to be dead sure she's square. reckon
she'll be reasonable II she means
business"
yeah" Emanuel shifted uneasily
from one seot 10 the other Guess