Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-11-01
Back from a Living Death"

|
Wha's dat strap"
Rob, pale faced yet convalescent.
scrambled out of the great armchair fac
ing the window, where he had been
anxiously watching for signs of his
mothers return from the city, and ran
to the kitchen. At the door he paused,
and no wonder.
| Eph, Aunt Chloe's only son, an ebony
faced, bright-eyed lad of l6, whose sole
aim in life seemed to be to play pranks,
was at it againl What he had done to
excite the good natured Choe's ire was
not apparent; but the sight of the wiry
fellow running around the table, then be.
hind chairs, lodging hither and thither,
with his putting mother in hot pursuit,
was laughable in the extreme, and Rob's
pallid face lighted up.
who's dun TUX dat strap" painted
Chloe, stopping minute to look about
her. This was fatal, for Eph, darting
from behind chair where he had been
neatly cornered, ducked under her out
stretched arm, turned quickly and loos-
ened the knot in her apron strings, threw
her sunbomet at the parrots cage, and
with "ki-yi," sprang out of the door,
laughing immoderately.
Dat brack debbill" said Chloe, whose
love for the mischievous fellow was as
0eep as her own life was true, ''Pll Para
him to cum 'roun' a-peepin' in winders
wild his face full of -four to skeer folks
as ii dat hoss-stealin' man was round =
Chloe was no exception to her race.
She gathered great comfort in soliloquy.
then she shook her head and rolled her
| eyes and resumed her task of seeding
1aisins.
do you mean the kidnaper. Aunt
| Chloe" asked Rob, who had not been
seen in the excitement, the smile ON his
face disappearing at mention of the
| name. Chloe was embarrassed and
looked it. OF course she did not wish her
charge to become nervous at thought OF
liidnapcrs.
"Pshaw, chile!" she said reassuringly,
'dem tales de nabur5 tells deys no trufe
in. Dey amt no stranger hapgin' round
desc heah parts, anyways. So cum,
honey, chile. an help yo' ole auntie wild
| desc raisins."
Rob needed no second invitation. He
seated himself opposite the stout negrcss
and began to pick away.
81 tell you, honey" said Chloe, look
ing about her proudly, dat yah Christ.
mas dinnahs goin' to be serumpshus,
suah's yo' Dawn. Look a., dat turkey,
toihly Begin to he put into de uben
An dc green's! An de vegetables! An
dc pies, so filed wild mincemeat dat DER
kiyers am crackin'! Tween you an me,
chile'-Chloe's voice dropped, in keeping
with the solemnity of the secret she was
about to impart-'dese yah raisins is TO
is fo'-guess what 2"
Cake" said Rob, briefly.
Nope
Not pudding, them"
"You's mighty right dab, honey! Use
gwine to make a puddin'!" said Chloe
enthusiastically, rafting away in an
cndcayor to entertain her patient, such
as massa used to like. Chloe, seq he to
me many time, if you wish new bon
ret or new dress ut any time seq he,
first make me one of dem sekaveous
puddin's, an den AK me- seq he. So dey
must be mighty fine, honey, to have such
4 name as dat, you may depen'."
Rob sobbcd aloud. My poor papa!
Was it so cold as this when he was
drowned, Aunt Chloe?"
The big-hearted negross secretly wished
herself in Halifax for unwittingly bring
ing up the subject.
Twas seven yeahG ago dis berry
Christmas eve"-there WIRE tears in
Chloe's eyes, too dat the massa went
down an lcf' de worP wuss off, fo' as
cran' man As cher was, Rob; an had
hc only lived how proud he would ha'
bin of you, to be suah!"
Rob arose and went to the window
Neither spoke for Il long time. The snow
was falling rapidly and the furious wind
. blew great sheets OF it through the air.
, Night was closing in. Eph. in his flrs
and heavy coat drove down the road in
= the sleigh.
Mamma viii soon be home now.
Chloe said Ron, leaving the kitchen to
take his favorite seat in the library. Fph
! returned huriedly, and, patching up n
5 truce with his nanny" brought new 5
that the train on which Mrs Hawthorne
was coming had been blocked on the road,
and ii would be fully three hours before
her arrival.
"lu dat case, den, you must 60 to yo'
tea, honey" said Chloe, ca sc, You
But Rob didn't see at all. and vicor-
/ cuslv protested. Chloe was firm. how
ever, and, under promise that he should
1 have many delicaCicS on the morrow. he
allowed himself to be tucked in his coy
led, the gentle old negress talking volu,
bly, the while.
Having brushed the hair from his fore
g head and kissed his hand. Chloe left the
? lamp burning dimly and withdrew.
Eyes like his fathers was her com
ment as she passed down the stairs.
, Drowned! drowned"
< But said lob. boldly ana defartiv
when she was gone, IN not sleep. I'll
wait ana hear the Jingle of the bells. /
wonder who viii come frSt-mamma or
Santa Claus. There. that's it. III wait
ton both and ask Santa Claus to tell me
, ali about papa"
As Chloe entered the kitchen she cave
short sharp gasp and stood transfixed.
There was a white face at the window
a nrnni white fan.a with h,inn Mol. n...e