Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-10-10
FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER TO-
BETTY'S
PRINCESS
BY TEMPLE BAILEY
Copyright, 1901, By Temple Bailey


Bay was piled waiting cargo Ips
of restless chickens, watermelons
whose dark green rinds proclaimed
their inner lusciousness, barrels Of veg
etables and a disconsolate calf In a
crate, which gave forth occasional
complaining means, protests against
the strangeness of its position and It's
separation from its kind.
Betty sympathlzed 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 II 1t would be beneath the
dignity of her position as traveller
II she went over and watched him un-
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 u faint
streak of smoke, then dark body.
which, growing larger, proved to be
the Martha Washington. She came
along slowly, throwing up a 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 bead which had served for
bait back into the water,
"Hit cert'n'y do seem pity to vase
good halds," was his reflection, but
I'ze 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 cunl, WASH hit,
Mis- Betty" he questioned.
"Oh, yes, Pink. Grandfather couldn't
come. Some gentlemen called, and he
had to stay to talk over business"
Perhaps the "cun1" 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 julcps
for four gentlemen" who had dropped
L..
horse which was to be entered for the
PlmlicO races 1t 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 II 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.
CPOb ~ INV W huiA bhS hhb
sent Calvin, the driver, home at once,
that he might wait on the colonels
guests. Hence 1t happened that Pink
johnson was the only person to bid
Miss Betty Marshall Of the "Halr'
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
freight, the Martha Washington ap-
peared merely an old tub Of O boat, but
In Bettys eyes 1t was glorihed.
Betty knew every one on board, from
Captain Warfield to the stewardess,
for, while Captain Warfeld was a
Maryland man and the Murshalls were
Virglnians, still the captains mother
had married Colonel MarsbalPs third
cousin, and II that does not constitute
kinshIp nothing does, at least In the
opinion Of these clannlsh and warm
hearted southerners. As for the stew
ardess, she talked Of Dilsey and Cal
win In tone which bespoke famillnri-
", while the unqualified respect with
which she asked after Colonel Marshall
showed the marks Of certain pickanin-
ny days, when the colonel was "Marse
Bob"
II was supper time before Betty fin
ished exploring the boat. Betty had q
place OF honor near the captain, and
she answered his questions and told
him the news Of her little community
In the charming fashion and uncOn-
seriousness Of self which are the inner
itance Of the well born child OF the
south.
The princess watched the eager
sweet face from the other side Of the
table. She was not really princess
but that was the name Betty had Civ
en- her wheu first she came On deck
She was tall and fair, and there was
something Lbout her gown which was
different from anything Betty bad
ever seen. II was straight and plain
and dark, but there was dash Of
bright color in her silk blouse, and
Betty thought II beautiful.
The gentleman with her Betty
called the prince. He was very hand.
some, but he looked tired. at least his
eyes did. The princess looked tired
too, or perhaps bored would be better
word, but Betty had not yet added "a
her vocabulary some words which the
dreary experiences OF maturer life
make necessary.
When they all went upstairs and out
| IA