Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-08
THE DEBORAH OF LOST CREEK.
Nv Julia Truitt Bishop.

Copyright. 1901. Daily Story PUB. Col
Ben's cabin was at the upper end OF
Lost Creek valley; a log CABIN with a
gallery in front. The pegs in the wall
under the gallery held a miscellaneous
assortment of Ben's personal property;
saddles with frayed and knotted ropes
for girths; plow lines, trace chains,
names. horse collars, with occasional
punches of seed corr held together by
plated strips Of husk. Beneath these
articles. as beneath a grove, sat Bens
grandmother, Aunt Ilsy, who kept a
sharp lookout up and down the road.
No mi could pass the house without
seeing Aunt Ilsy, and every one VIM
saw her stopped for a moment to AK
de time O. day" Most Of the white
people in the valley had been Aunt
Hsy's folks" in the old days. They
were either Robtnsons or "kinfolks" OF
the Robinsons; and il was Aunt llsys
pride that she was a pensioner OF de
ole Robson 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 say to the pretty young lady
vino drove around once a month with
the supply of provisions and the new
garments. Much obleeged to you an
Mas John bofe. Mas John sholy is
follerin' in his Mas footsteps. Ole
Mis- had her failin's, but dey couldn't
nobody tromp on ole Ilsy's toes whilest
ole Mis- was 'roun'; an Mas Johns
lookin' after de ole niger same as
what his ma did
But to-day Aunt Ilsy's face was
troubled, for disturbing rumors had
been going up 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 forlorn and dropping gate.
"How-do, Sist' Ilsy; how ye feelin'
dis mawnin'?" he asked.
"Jes' $3.50, much o%bleeged." was the
response. How ye feelin' ye'self,
Martini"
"Oh, jes $685. he replied with
mournful JUNCTION. us still able to
trot along by jerks"
What de news down de road?" was
the next tentative question.
Muffin much" replied Martin, brim-
ming with news so that he stuffed his
corn-cob pipe full of "home-riz" tobac-
co and then tried to light it with his
riding switch instead of a match.
Muffin, 'cept dey tells me dat de whole
creations done gone slaunchways up at
Mas Johns. Dat engineer man, he sho
is sot on Miss Liza, an Mas John, he
sho is likewise an etarnally sot dat he
shan't hab 'er; an he say dat onless dey
draps dat foolishness he gwineter git
his shotgun an blow dat man inter
kingdom come. Dat mex Miss Liza
mad, hit did, an dat gal Nancy, what's
been cookin' dere, she say dat Miss
Liza riz up from de table dis mawnin',
when he Pa was a car'in' on lax mad,
an she tell i'm dat she gwineter mar
ry de man she lax, in spit O. all de
shot-guns in de kentry. An den, Nancy,
she say dat Miss Liza walk outen de
dinin' room wild 'er haid up, an Mas
John amt done muffin sence but set on
de frunt galry leokin' lax de ole Nick,
till dey amt nobody kin go nigh i'm.
When Mas John git to lookin' lax dat,
hit a mighty good time to keep outen
de way"
And having gone thus far with his
disclosures, Martin emptied the un-
smoked tobacco from his pipe and went
his way.
Babe, tell yo' nanny to han me my
stick" called the old woman; and in a
few minutes Aunt Ilsy, who had not
walked beyond the limits of the yard in
years, was toiling down the lane, fol-
lowed by the amazed stares of the
younger SeLeIdtlOn. never since his
marriage had she dared to think even,
Of taking issue with Mas John, but at
last the time had come. The happiness
of Miss Liza was at stake; pretty Miss
Liza, the youngest of the babies that
had been laid in her arms to be cuddled
and petted; her little n her baby, the
child that had been given to her care
when the mother died, and whom She
loved for herself as well as for the dead
mother. With a heart that beat high
with resolve the little bent old negress
went down the valley. and into the big
gate, and along the oak avenue
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 a dangerous glitter in Mas Johns
eyes, but Notwithstanding this Auntv
Ilsy climbed the steps and sat down
with her back against one of the fluted
columns.
How do, Mas John?" she asked
cheerily. How We fndin' yourself dis
mawnin'?"
The man stirred impatientlv. but