News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-11-20
CHAPTER VII.
MIDNIGHT,

III
" va any-the bed, a huge four
poster, canoped; the blu.
reau high and with brass handles to
its drawers; the chairs straight backed;
from the center of the ceiling hung a
chandelier of glass pendants. All this
antique magnifcence was lighted by
The single tallow dip which also glis-
tened upon the honest face Of Ginger.
Il hope yO' berry comfolem, sah"
said Ginger, setting down the candle
and turning to depart.
mo doubt of it. Wait a bit. l want
you to tell me to whom this plantation
belongs"
''Cunnel Rutland, sah." ~
"Been in this family long" !.
"a tousand years, sab"
"WhatW
Don't know nothin bout countin.
Spec it's been in de family mighty
long time. Cunnel Rutland, he mighty
fine gen'Pman, sab; Cunnel Rutland,
he own ten hundred t'ousand acres
How many"
Ode biggest plantation in all Alaba-
ma, sab. Cunnel Rutland be de big
gest'-
wait a bit, Ginger. Who is Miss
Pinkley|
missy PinIley she mighty fine lady,
sab. Miss Pinkley, she"-
What relation is she to Colonel Rut-
land"
Missy Pinkley. she war Missy Rut-
lands sistah, sab. Missy Pinkley,
she"-
"Where is Mrs. RutlandT
"Missy Rutland, she's daid."
"Who is Miss Jaqueline"
MISSY Jack, she's de fust young lady
In lie souf, sab. When Missy Jack go
to de planters balls an de city balls in
! Huntsville, she take all de young men
away from de udder young ladies an
make 'em all mad huff to eat her up"
"She is Colonel Rutlands daughter,
supposeY
yes, sab. Missy Jack de apple OF
Cunnel Rutland's eye, sab. Cunnel
Rutland don care nuffen bout nobody
but Missy Jack"
How about you colored people"
"What dat, sah?
do you like Miss Jaqueline"
Like Missy Jack! Reckon de culled
people do like Missy Jack. Culled peo
pie Tub Missy Jack like de angel OBJ
Isn't she just bit hot tempered?"
RECKON Missy Jack is hot tempered
sab. Missy Jack. she got de hottest
temper in de whole souf. Missy Jack
she
Hold on; explain why you all love
Miss Jack when she has a hot temper
and speaks to you sharply"
Laws a-massy, she don mean nuf
fen. Missy Jack, she scop wild de fire
brand in de eye, but she won't let no
body else scOl. Yo' ought to see da
gHl when Marsh Bingham-Mars'r Bling
ham, lie de oberseer-Mars'r Bingham
whip de niggers. One day Marsh Bling
ham, he whip me. yelled lax kille'
niger. Missy Jack, she run out vic
her hair a-dyin an her eyes a-shinin, al
she TAX de whip out O. Marsh Bling
hams han, an-golly Moses, how SIN
lay it on dat oberseer!"
did he take it kindly"
Gle couldn't do nuffen. Eff he tecl
Missy Jack, Cunnel Rutland shoot him
Cunnel Rutland, he got de biggest TEN
per, 'ccpt Missy Jack-ain't nobody go
temper lax Missy Jack I'M
"Any more RutlandsW
mo, sab, Amt dat 'nuff-all der
mighty fine people"
quite enough. Now you may &c
Ginger" ...-..
Ginger departed with a frown that
should have called for more such pee
pie as the Rutlands and somewhat dis
appointed, | fancied, at not being abb
to Impress me with the magnitude O
the family temper. ! closed the doc
behind him and locked 1t.
John Branderstane," | said, loolin
at the dim reflection of my body in on
of the great mirrors, chad it not bee
for that little girl down stairs you
being would now be no more real tina
that Image. Never have you had s
close a call, and you'll never have an
other so close without 1t being the last
But you've no time to waste. You
situation will be more critical with tn
rising sun than 1t Is this minute. Some
} thing must be done"
went to window. 1t was Mt tn
end Of the building. My room was o
the second story Of the house, at n
great height from the ground. turne
from the window to another facing tn
rear. They were all open, for tn
weather was warm and sultry. At thi
second window was something whic
! attracted my attention at once-a tire