The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-10-24
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THURSDAY. OCTOBER "a 1901
HOW LIZA GOT OFF
by Kate Tyson MARI.

by Kate Tyson MARI.
Pomp stood up when the court crier
called his name, looking rs II contin-
uous performance cyclone had harness
cd its fury until he stood in its path
way. when its vengeance played foot
ball with the old mans anatomy. His
head was bandaged. and a white patch
over one eye brought out in striking
contrast his natural ebony gloss. while
his swollen lips resembled pair OF fat
burned sauSages. Altogether he was
the sOrrieSt looking old niger in Wes'-
NOLAN county.
There was a subdued melancholy In
his gait az he advanced in response TO
the crier's call
He glanced furtively at his dusky
spouse sitting in the prisoners pen as
he entered the witness box.
swear the witness" called the judge.
whats | gwine ter sw'ar bout,
ledger
THAT you will tell the whole truth"
"Is got ter tell dat truf befo' Liza,
sottin' dar?" he asked, and when the
Judge replied atfirmatvely Pomp want
ed to know "uf Liza couldn't sot on de
back pO'ch while he war doin' dot
SWARM"
The Judge treasured him. Meanwhile
Liza kept her black eyes riveted on
Pomps scrambled visage.
She wore an old army cap perched at
a cOquettiSh angle on her abundant
crop OF WOOL an old army coat was
buttOned around her ample bust, while
a black skirt and an expansive white
apron bristling aggresslvely In its
starched stiffness completed her unique
costume.
The old man was clean In his Sun
day black suit as shiny as his own bat
tered viSIge.
Pomp was one Of the ingenues OF
Yves NOLAN county. and the court and
every one about settled down TO listen
to his recital.
use sorry, jedge. dat Use gotter
swar gin Liza, an yo' SEE uf Goant
Use got ter go ter Jail fer tempt er
cot. An dars dem lebben chilluns
lef' ter hum. IF Use got ter go ter
Jail. what's gwine ter happen ter dem
lebben? Its dis way. jedge. I'd
been er tOtln' apples frum Marse Bev's
o'chid. when long Gums Miss Nancy
Uam'lton's yaller gal Laurybella, an
SEE. Wat lubly apples, Pomp, an |
sez. Vas. miss. an I'd be erbleeged uf
yo' wud tex er pasSel long ter Miss
Nancy An she say. Thank 20, Pomp,
an | gifts down often dat kyart an
picks out de bes' fer Miss Nancy; den
l passes long de time er day wifi dat
yaller gal. an arter sum wishin' er
luck. gifts on de kyart agin an druv
home. an fergits bout dat wood shed
windy.
"'Liza's good oman. jedge. deed she
am err good oman, an ives got lebben
chllluns. but yo' see Liza mus ease her
min. So when she dun seed me pass
long de time er day wifi Miss Nancys
Laurybella, Outen dat wood shed windy,
an when dun gifts ter dat kitchen
do, Liza dun pass de time er day wifi
me wifi er fatlron on nah face.
'Twarn't hot, dough, jedge, an Liza
dun shoe dat flatiron jes' ter ease huh
min. Case 'Liza's good oman
she's made a spectacle Of you" re-
marked the judge.
mo, jedge; 'scuse me. 'twarn't no
spectacles in nah eye; 'twar de lef
han co'ner OBJ dat hatiron. l didn't
min dat so much, but when Liza gun
cardin out punches an han'fuls OBJ
nah h'ar. den jes' hollered Muir
DER an de constable cum an gifts
'Liza's han outen NAH wool an rests
huh. But. deed. jedge, Liza warn't
meanin nothin'; she war jes' easin'
huh min"
The jury could do nothing more than
to find Liza guilty, and the old man
looked at her in pitiful sort Of way.
while the judge deliberated. Mean
while Liza sat stolid as a wooden
Indian.
II guess. Pomp," said the judge, "Pll
have to send Liza to jail until she
learns to ease her mind in some other
way"
"Sen' Liza ter Jail! Fo' God, jedge,
doant do dat. What's Use gwine ter
do wifi dem lebben?" the old man asked
In alarm.
Every one in the courtroom from
the Judge down laughed at POmp's
earnestness.
There's no help for it, Pomp. Liza
must learn TO ease her mind in some
other way"
Pomp looked puzzled for a moment.
Look hyar; 'scuse me. jedge, case
Liza am er good oman, an / doant
kyar uf she do ease huh min. Sen
de jury ter Jail an let me dun tex
Liza hum ter dem chilluns."
Liza never smiled, while the whole
courthouse was cOnvulsed.
"Well, Pomp, I'll let Liza go this
time If you'll be responsible for her
good behavior. and don't come here any
more in any such damaged condition"
"Thank yo'. jedge, thank yo'; Ahll
be 'sponsible." And. advancing to his
spouse, he offered his hand with the
grace Of a Chesterfield.
"G'long, niger" said Liza, with
whitening scOrn, IAN doant yo' be
glbben' de bes'es apples. an smilin' at
yaller niggers on de road 'kase de mex
time dun eases nah min, deyn be er
fun'ral In Wes'mo'lan' county datn
be yo 'tic'lar esco't, an yo' won't be