Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-05-19
CHAPTER xx.-tContinued.)


negro girl, industriously tanning their
mistresses, who scolded them as if they
were to blame, because the air thus set
in motion was hot and burning as the
winds which blow over the great desert
OF Sahara. As they sat there thus, an
old man came up from the negro quar-
tiers, saying his woman done got sick
wild de cramps" and he wished his
mistis jest come down see her.
But Mrs. Lansing felt herself too Ian
guild for exertion of any kind. and telling
Uncle Abel that she herself was fully as
sick as his wife, who was undoubtedly
feigning. she sent him back with a sink
ing heart to the rude cabin, where his
old wife lay, grooming aloud whenever
the cramps as she termed them, seized
her. Scarcely. however, had he entered
the low doorway when fairy form came
fitting down the narrow pathway, her
white dress cleaning through the dusky
twilight. and her golden hair streaming
out behind. 1t was little Jessie, who.
from her crib, had heard her mothers
refusal to accompany Uncle Abel, and,
stealing away unobserved. she had come
herself to see Aunt Chloe, with whom
she was quite a favorite.
Unaccustomed as Jessie was to sick
ness. she saw at a glance that this was
no ordinary case, and, kneeling down
beside the negress, who lay upon the
floor. she took her head upon her lap and
gently pushing back. beneath the gay tur-
ban, the matted, grizzly hair, she asked
where the pain was.
Dress q sweet chile" answered
Chloe, You can't tache me with the pint
- I-so Ii -hap a
seems eff cherry jint in me was Onsoderin'
when de cramp is on"
As if to verify the truth of this re-
mark, she suddenly bent up nearly dou-
BILE. and rolling upon her face, groaned
aloud. At this moment a negro, who had
gained some notoriety among his COM
panions as a physician, came in, and af-
ter looking a moment at the prostrate
form of Chloe. he whispered a word
which cleared the cabin in a moment, for
the mention Of cholera" had a power TO
curdle the blood of the terrified blacks,
who fed to their own dwellings.
Utterly fearless, Jessie stayed on, end
when John, or as he was more Familiarity
known, Doctor proposed going for her
mother, she answered. mo, no; Uncle
Abel has been for her once, but she
won't come; and if she knows it is chol-
era. she'll take me away"
This convinced the doctor, who pro-
ceeded TO put in practice the medical
skill which he had picked up at inter
walls, and which was considerable for one
of his capacity. BY this time, few of
the women more daring than the rest and
curious to know the fate of their compan-
ion, ventured near the door. where they
4 he
old creature who was fast floating GU.
upon the broad river of death. 1t was a
most violent attack. and its malignity
was increased by quantity of unripe
fruit which she had eaten that morning,
will somebody make a pra'rT she
said. feebly as she felt her life fast
ebbing away. abel, you pray for poor
Chloe:" and her CLASSY eyes turned be-
seechingly toward her husband, who was
noted at camp meetings for praying the
loudest and longest of any one.
But his strength had left him now, and
kissing the shriveled face of his dying
{ wife. he said. "'Scuse me, Chloe; de
sperrit is within but de flesh part is
mighty week an shaky like. Miss Jes-
sic. you pray?" he continued, as the child
came to his side
les, money. pEdNs ENSpSu Suiots anu
kneeling down, the little girl began the
Lords Prayer, occasionally interspersing
it with petition that God would take
the departing soul to heaven
Yes, dat's it. whispered Chloe; ''dat's
better dan all dem fine words bout king
dom come an daily bread; deyll do for
white folks. but God Dress old Chloe. de
thing for me to die on. Sing. honey.
sing" she said. at last: and, mingled
with the lamentations of the blacks, there
arose on the evening air the soft notes
of the Happy Lane" which Jessie sung,
bending low toward Chloe, who, when the
song was ended, clasped her in her arms,
and calling her "a shinin' angel" went,
we trust, TO the better land.
Loud and shrill rose the wall of the
negroes increasing in violence when it
was known that into another cabin the
pestilence had entered, prostrating boy
who in his agony. called for Jessie and
Mars'r Richard thinking they could save
him. Late as it was, Mrs. Lansing. Ada
and Lima were still upon the piazza
which was far more comfortable han
their sleeping room. where they supposed
both Halbert and Jessie were safely in
bed. They were just thinking of retiring
when suddenly the midnight stiffness was
broken by a cry so shrill that Mrs. Ian
sing started to her feet asking what it
was.
From her couch by the open door Aunt
Dinah arose. and going out a few rods.
listened 10 the sound, which seemed to
come from the negro quarters, whittier
at her mistress command, she bent her
steps. But short time elapsed ere she
returned with the startling news that
'the cholera was thar; that Chloe was
dead. and another had got it and Miss
Jessie was holdin' his head"
Wholly overcome with fright, Mrs
Lansing tainted. and was borne TO her
room. where. fer time, she remained
unconscious. forgetful of Jessie, who
stayed at the quarter long after mid
night. miniStering 10 the wants of the
sick. of which. before morning. there
were FIVE. while others showed symptoms
If the rapidly spreading disease. As soon
as Mrs. Lansing returned to conscious
ness she sent for Jessie, who came re-
luctantly, receiving her mothers reproof
in silence. and falling away 10 sleep as
calmly as K she had not just been look
ing upon death. whose shadow was over
and around her.
Iarlv the next morning. Il man was
sent in haste to Cedar Grove, which he
aever reached. for the destroyer met him
On the road. and in one of the cabins Of
neighborlng plantation he died. forget
ting, in the intensity Of his suffering,
The erraud on which he had been sent;
and as those who attended him knew
aothing Of Mrs. LanSing'S being at The
Pines. it Was not until the second day
after the appearance Of the cholera that
she learned the fate e her servant. In
state bordering almost upon distraction,
she waited for her brother. shndderins
with fear whenever a new case was re
ported 70 her. and refusing to visit the
sufferers. although among them were
some who had played with her in child
hood; and one. an old gray-haired mSn.
who had saved her from wStery grave
when on the Savannah river she had
fallen overheard. But there was no
L.. L l.