The Washington times., 1901-08-04


whom he made assiduous and unadvanc-
ing court
Along with his love and admiration of
himself and Becky (the disposal of these
objectives is advised). Allen loved and ad-
mired his master and his masters ward
robe. BY long and careful practice he had
attained a darky imitation of the gen.
eraf S stately carriage. and by means both
fair and foul goodly share of his ward
robe In justice to Allen 1t must be said
that the way was usually fair, for the
master was lavish to his servants, and
Aliens Say, Marse Billy. don't you think
it's bout time / wuz goin' CO tin in dis
yuh coat or desc britches?" ordinarily re-
suited in the transfer of the article to his
possession But of all his masters sar-
torial belongings Allen most revered and
coveted the blue military uniform. which
the general donned only when performing
his function of major general Of the
Georgia Militia
Had Allen had his way the general
would have worn them always; and by his
deductions as the "gineral was sojer of
the Lord martial garb was at least his
appropriate church, dress. So despite un-
numberable disappointments on Sunday
mornings the generals wakening eyes
conspicuous display. and when his toilet
had reached the stage for outer yestments
this dialogue was unfailing:
You amt a-thinkin, OBJ wearin' de uni
form dis mornin.' Marse Blly?"
And the general would give grave re-
ply. with twinkling eyes.
mo. not this morning. Allen
One luckless day for the family and its
parti-colored flock of dependents the
master died His coffin was borne to the
little hillside family burying ground by
chosen coterie of his slaves. and before
them, too grieved to strut or take pride
in his mourning habiliments, walked AL
len. And it was he who afterward. at
his mistress bidding, packed away his
masters clothes in chest in the garret,
and at stated periods thereafter aired,
brushed. and replaced them.
Time tempers all griefs. Before a
twelvementh had slipped away Allen no
longer sorrowfully performed his office
He began to "slck" longingly and linger
desirously over the black satin and velvet
waistcoats. the soft doeskin breeches. and
fine tucked, embroidered, and hemstitch-
ed shirts. And longest and fondest he
gazed upon and caressed the military uni
form. On top of all this was laid, and
after a slow lowering of the lid. with
stealthy peeps to see that it did not touch
the precious garments. Allen would lock
the chest and carry the key to his mis-
tress.
They're all breshed an packed. Miss
Rachel, an ready an waitin for Marse
Billy an Gabriers trumpet" he would
say. 81 sot de sojer clothes
on top. Marse BnIy'H be wantit' dem de
very fus' ting ter march again de tebbil
an de angels oh siu.otAn I rebbed dem
buttons tell dey shine like fightnin' bugs"
1T was clean against all intention to
shet dem clothes away in de da'k whar
nobuddy could see EN-" he often said to
himself. They wuz meant fer a great
an shinin' light. an Miss Rachel eombi-
mated a deadly sin in not sendin' dem to
Marse Tom 6he only SOM to war. or glib
um to somebody dat ould." And in fam
cy Allen loved to see himself arrayed in
all that splendor of blue cloth and brass
buttons and epaulets and stepping round,
perforce, like the "Gineral hissef-"
Intense longing and thought soon
brought action. One Sunday evening AL
len stole up to the garret, donned the uni
form, and sailed forth on his formal
weekly visit to the invincible Becky
Dat gail be scairt ter def wen, she
opens de do" he chuckled on the way.
Shell t'ink Marse Billy's. ,sperret done
come back sho'."
Becky was startled; but, like a kind.
wise woman, she kept Aliens secret. and
for many Sunday evening he wore un-
detected the glorious dress. One cloudy
night, however, he was en-
countered by two negroes. The far-down
y; h,,t ~
the walk, were Marse BilIy's. hence it
was his ghost that passed by them.
Again and again it was seen, till the
whole black portion of the plantation was
buzzing and terrified with stories of the
ghost. Now it was seen in the cornfield.
Now it traversed the cotton field. and
once the ghost became so bold-but this
was wholly untrue-it was discovered one
noontide STOPPING and drinking from the
spring that had furnished the generals
favorite draught. Its exit was usually
in flash of red or blue lightning, but
once it just quietly dissolved into the
darkness at cry from a frightened be-
holder.
Allen was not behind with stories of
the uncarnate visitor. He solemnly de-
clared he had seen Marse Billy; had shak-
en- hands with him, ''drappin' dead
0ainting) Immediately thereupon. and
when he came to life again found Marse
Billy bending over him in tenderest seiici-
tude, which sight instantly caused an
other lapse into oblivion. The hand that
had touched the phantom palm remained
cold for several days afterward, and this
Allen reasoned. showed conclusively the
heavenliness OF the 'sperret's'' abode
Becky. too, admitted with laughing eyes
and an enviable display Of fine teeth, that !
she had seen Marse Billy. or something |
that looked mighty like him.
In the height of the excitement there |
came to the plantation a grandson, in |
stature, features, and bIackness of hair |
and eyes the prototype of his grandsire. |
But now, with his followed checks and |
syesockets and CHASTITY pallor. the results |
Of a long sickness. his grandmother pro-
him the ghost of the rich dark, |
youthful beauty of his grandfather.
The grandmother had become n little |
oetulant of the unallayable terror of the
negroes, and the foolish stories that were
spreading over the country, and immed-
ately upon the grandsoHs arrival, applied
o him for solution of the mystery and
I remedy
at is only one of the negroes who Is
NtdfiHS ne posi-
lively decided. THE only way to stop
the nonsense is to catch the fellow red /
handed, and expose him to the rest" and
earning the favorite walk of the ghost.
he next Sunday evening after sunset be-
ook himself thither.
About $3.50 o'clock his watch was re-
rarded. Footsteps came, and by the rap
dly waning twilight he saw approaching |
person clad in the well-remembered uni
orm of the major general 1t was a ne
;ro. and to find out the desecrator he