St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-20
BETTYS PRINCESS.

Bay was piled a waiting cargO-coops
of restless chickens, watermelons
whose dark green rinds proclaimed
their inner lusciousness, barrels of veg
etabIes and disconsolate calf in a
crate, which gave forth occasional
complaining means, protests against
the strangeness of its position and its
separation from its kind.
Betty sympathized with the calf.
She, too, was lonely. The only other
visible occupant of the pier was Pink
johnson. Pink was grabbing, and Bet
ty wondered if it would be beneath the
dignity of her position as a traveller
if she went over and watched him I'M
til the boat came. On ordinary Occa-
sions she and Pink visited freely, but
Pink had recognized an extraordinary
event and with true negro instinct had
kept his distance.
Before Betty decided, however, there
appeared just above the horizon faint
streak Of smoke, then a dark body,
which, growing larger, proved to be
the Martha Washington. She came
along slowly, throwing up crest of
white water in front of her and leav-
ing behind a broad road of dancing,
foam tipped waves.
AS she steamed up to the wharf
many hands were ready to receive the
lines thrown to hold her fast, for ne
groes of various ages and sizes rolled
out from behind boxes and barrels,
while from the OK carts on the shore
descended lazy drivers, who lounged
down to get the small stores which the
boat would bring.
Pink Johnson was on his feet wind
ing up his crab line. He threw the
chicken head which had served for
bait back into the water.
'Hit cert'n'y do seem pity to vase
good haids," was his reflection, "but
TIE got to hep Mis- Betty Ma'shall
on to dat boat, seem she ain got no
white folks dat'll do hit"
He went over and picked up Betty's
satchel and lunchboX.
ITO waw'm TO- de cun'l, WASH hit,
Mis- Betty?" he questioned.
ooh, yes, Pink. Grandfather couldn't
come. Some gentlemen called, and he
had to stay to talk over business"
Perhaps the "cun'P' might have had
the grace to blush over the excuse he
had given had he heard the trustful
words but as he was at the moment
engaged in compromising mint juleps
for four gentlemen" who had dropped
horse which was to be entered for the
Pimlico races it is not likely that
thoughts of lonely little Betty weighed
him down.
But Betty was not unhappy. This
was the first great event of her life
How it had come about she hardly
knew, but cousin Mary MARSHALL
was to be married, and Aunt Leila,
Betty's dead mothers favorite sister,
had written that the little girl was to
come to the wedding.
So Dilsey, Betty's nanny, had
packed Betty's simple white dresses
and had promised to take good care Of
grandfather and, with a kiss, Betty
had started away in the old surrey.
Upon her arrival at the wharf she had
that he might wait on the coloners
guests. Hence it happened that Pink
Johnson was the only person to bid
Miss Betty Marshall of the Hall
goodby when she started on her first
trip from Old Bay.
To the man and woman, passengers
from a famous watering place down
the bay, who leaned over the rail lazily
watching the loading and unloading of
freigl& the Martha Washington ap
peared merely an old tub Of boat, but
in Betty's eyes it was glorified
Betty knew every one on board, from
Captain Warlield to the stewardess
for while Captain Warfield was 6
Maryland man and the Marshalls were
Virginians, still the captains mother
cousin, and if that does not constitute
kinship nothing does, at least in thu
opinion of these clannish and warn
, hearted southerners. AS for the stew
: ardess, she talked Of Dilsey and Cal
!, vim in tone which bespoke familiari
!, ty, while the unqualified respect will
which she asked after Colonel Marshal
showed the marks of certain pickanin
ny days. when the colonel was MARS
. Bob"
, 1t was supper time before Betty fin
' ished exploring the boat. Betty had
place of honor near the captain, an
> she answered his questions and toll
him the news Of her little communit
. in the charming fashion and uncoI
seriousness of self which are the inhel
- itance of the well born child of tn
south.
n The princess watched the cage
4 sweet face from the other side Of tn
table. She was not really princes
r but that was the name Betty had gi,
: en- her when first she came on decl
She was tall and fair, and there wG
+. something about her gown which We
!, different from anything Betty ha
>. ever seen. 1t was straight and plat
4 and dark but there was a dash (
: bright color in her silk blouse, ar
I. Betty thought it beautiful.
% The gentleman with her Bet