The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-02
CHAPER w.
AN EXPERIMENT IN MATRIMoNY.

AN EXPERIMENT IN MATRIMoNY.
Nelse was informed by the Agent of the
Freedman's Bureau when summoned be-
fore that tribunal that ne must pay a
fee of one dollar for marriage license and
be married over again.
whats dat? Dis yer war bust up me
en- Ewes marryin'?'
Yes said the Agent. "You must be
legally married.
Nelse chucked on a brilliant scheme
that flashed through his mind.
Den / see you ergin bout dat, he
said as he hastily took his leave.
He made his way homeward revolving
his brilliant scheme. But won't | fetch
dat Niger Eve down er peg er two! /
gwine ter make her tink | won marry
her nohow. l make 'er AK my pardon
fur all dem little disergreements. She
got ter talk mighty putty now sho nuf!''
And he smiled over his coming triumph.
1t was four o'clock in the afternoon
when he reached his cabin door on the
lot back of Mrs Gaston's home Eve
was busy mepding some clothes for their
little boy now nearly five years old.
Good evenin, Miss Eve!"
Eve looked up at him with sudden
flash of her eye.
What de matter wild you nigger?"
Muffin tall. Des drapped in lax ter
en- yer son stanin' dis hot wedder!"
Nelse bowed and smiled.
What all you. you big black baboon?"
"Nuttin' tall Nam, des calling roun
ter see my friens. Still smiling Nelse
walked in and sat down.
Eve put down her sewing stood up be-
fore him, her arms akimbo, and gazed at
him steadily till the white of her eyes
began to shine like two moons.
You wants me ter whale you ober de
head wild dat poker?'
mot dis evenin' NAM
Den what all you?"
de Buro des inform me, dat es Use
er young handsome man en- you'se er
gittin' kinder ole en- fat, dat we aint
married nohow, En- dey gimme er
paper fur er dollar dat allow me ter
marry de young lady er my choice Dat
sho is er great Buro!'
we amt married."
"Nob-um."
AFTER we stan up dar befo' Marse
John Durham en- say des what all dem
white folks say"
"Nob-um.
Eve took her seat slowly and gazed
down the road thoughtfully.
Il t'ink | drap eroun' ter see you en-
gin you er chance wild de odder gals TO
I steps off," explained Nelse with grin.
No answer.
you member dat night l say sumin'
bout er gal | know once, en- you riz en-
grab er poun' er wool outen my head TO
kin move?"
No answer yet.
Min dat time, you bust de biscuit
bode ober my head, en- lam me wild de
fire shovel en- hit me in de burr en- de
year wild er datiron es wuz maxim fur
de do'9''
"Yas, l minis dat Shot" said Eve with
evident satisfaction.
'Doan you wish you nebber done dat?"
You black debbil!"
OATS hit! Use err bad niger, Nam
bad niger fo' de war En- Use gittin'
wuss en- wuss, "-Nelse chuckled.
She looked at him with gathering rage
and contempt.
En- den fudder mo, Nam, I doan lax
de way you talk ter me sometimes. Yo
voice des kinder takes de skin off same's
er file | laks ter hear er 'oman's voice
lax my Missy's, des es sof' es wool.
Sometimes one word from her keep me
warm all winter. De way you talk
sometime make me cole in de summer
time
Nelse rose while Eve sat motionless.
Il des call, Nam, ter drap er little int
ment inter dem years err yourn, dat'll
percerlate froo you min EN- when l calls
ergin l hopes ter be welcome wild smiles"
Nelse bowed himself out the door in
randiloquentI style.
All the afternoon he was chuckling to
himself over his triumph, and imagining
the welcome when he returned that even
ing with his marriage license and the
officer to perform the ceremony. At sup
per in the kitchen he was polite and
formal in his manners to Eve. She eyed
him in contemptuous sort of way and
never spoke unless it was absolutely
necessary.
It was about half past eight when
Nelse arrived at home with the license
duly issued and the officer Of the Bureau
ready to perform the ceremony.
''Des wait err minute here at de corner,
san, iWell Kinder breaks de news 10
EN-, said Nelse to the officer He APP
preached the cabin door and knocked.
1t was shut and fastened. He got no
response.
He knocked loudly again
Eve thrust her head out the window.
Who's dat?"
Hits me, Nam, Mister Nelson CASTOR.
Use call ter see you
Den you hump you self en- git away
from dat do you rascal"
De Lawd honey, Use des been er fool
IN youter day. Use got dem licenses en-
de Buro man right out dar now ready
ter marry US You know 70 ole man neb-
Der gWine back on you-I des been er
foolin'."
Den you been er foolin' wild de
wrong nigger,"