The National tribune., 1903-06-25

other black women who had come in from
the outside cabins to help with the work
about the house and hospital.
Mrs. Klegg was the first to scent su-
perstition in the suggestion. Now, L
don't want none of you shiftless creatures
to be putting troublesome ideas into Ma
ria's head" she declared as she moved
over to the light of the western window.
"'Deed, Mis- Klegg," declared Lily
Jane, Hit am de truf. Young Slissl
die daid fo' de yea is out, if her puts
on de whole weddin' garmunt fo' de timei
Deed she wilv
The two girls laughed heartily at the
quaint old superstition which was born IN
| the Dark Ages, before dresses were any
thing more than mere draperies, yet had
come on down through the centuries TO
turn up on an old plantation among
blacks so ignorant that they did not know
the meaning of the word even.
''The negroes have a lot of queer ideas
about things volunteered Mrs. Brookes.
| who was jealousy and enviously watching
Annabel manipulate the priceless lace
fOunce. "They think that May is a very
bad month to get married IN. Indeed,
none of the quality would marry in May"
declared Mrs Brookes. Il am 50 glad it
is April. 1 couldn't countenance any
thing as plebian as May wedding"
"Please, Miss" asked Lily Jane, "you-
all didn't begin to cut dat dress out on
Friday, did you? You-alls will rue it
if you did," shaking her woolly head pro-
phetically.
''Oh, Lily Jane, run away and don't
bother" cried Maria. 'Of course it wasn't
cut out on Friday. We began it ON Thurs
day"
''Ohr' walled the whole outfit in uni
son. Thursdays most pintedly as bad
as Friday, deed it is. Thursday for
losses OF Miss uster say! An please,
weddin' day." added Lily Jane. LESS
you do cry on yoh' weddin' day, you will
cry all de time after it. Deed you will;
l amt never seen it fail"
What is that old rhyme about we'd
dings," asked Maria of the assem-
bly, generally. ''There is one, am sure,
but 1 can't remember it."
Law, l learned it when went to the
little old log school house in Posey Couu-
ty," declared Mrs. Klegg. Lets SEE
=" Monday for health-no, wealth.
reckon it was. Tuesday for health,'-
yes that's rightly ednesday the best
day of all; Thursday for crosses: Friday
for losses; Saturday, no day at ALL 1 de-
clare, l haven't thought of that bit Of
dogserel for % years"
"And what about Sunday?' queried
Maria, as she slid out of the almost fin
ished dress skirt. Isn't Sunday counted
in?'
Hits bettern any other day, Miss"
declared Lily Jane, who seemed to have
appointed herself the wedding mascot.
You is all right to git married on Sun
day. An if the sun shines, then you is
shO' safe"
mis- Klegg." called Elephant from
kitchenwards, de man wifi de chickens
to roast have came. An dis heah cake
am brown most black as my face. Hit'II
sho'lly burn if hit amt tux outen dis heah
oven"
Mrs. Klesg had scarcely disappeared
when the outer door was darkened by 4
man wearing the straps of First Lieu
tenant. He was Drowned with weeks of
campaigning, and across one cheek was
the red scar of n recent saber slash, but
his face was full OF kindly interest as he
asked for Miss Klegg." Maria had hur-
riedly jumped from the table with the
wedding dress, which she had just taken
off, clasped in her arms. AS she came
forward the Lieutenant raised his forage
cap and introduced himself as one of the
Maumee Muskrats. When he smiled he
displayed a set of very fine teeth, and was
so openly friendly that Maria felt not in
the least abashed. Indeed, she was fast
getting beyond that point, for it would
have been positive crime to have re-
pulsed any of the friendly young fellows
who were so genuinely glad to see a wOm-
an. especially young and rather pretty
ones, that they would have gone to any
length to meet them or do anything for
them.
II have come on a peculiar errand,'
said the Lieutenant as he took the chair
Maria offered him, 'but hope you will
not take it amiss. I was married when
home on furlough because of this slash,"
pointing to the SCARED cheek, ''and my
wife cared for me through dangerous
attack Of brain fever, as well as caring
for the wound. When came back to the
regiment brought with me her wedding
gloves. They were little soiled, but I've
chalked them up nicely. and 1 knew that
there were no white gloves here fit for
you to wear, so il you will accept the
loan Of these. shall be glad to be SO hon.