The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11

the covering of the little coffin appear ed. This he gently removed. and there. dimly seen in the fast fading light was the mouldy, gray little casket. perfect in outline but fragile as dust Jake scrambled hastily out of the grave saying. De darkness dat black, how gwine If dat chile?'
 While matters had been progressing thus slowly at the cemetery. faithful Becky, growing anxious at the pro- 1 longed absence of her mistress, had set out with a lantern and couple of | candles to see what was the matter. | and, meeting Jailus returning with the box on his wheelbarrow mad joined him, and the two now appeared. stum-
 bling clumsily over graves, with many | groans and mutterings of disapproval of Miss Kates doin's," stopping every
 now and then to make a cross mark
 and spit in it. Ito vent bad luck from desc yer rabbits what lopin' all erbout | you."
 | Now that company had come. and
 that too with lights. Jake dropped again into the open grave. and stopped to raise the coffin. Horrors. the lid fell off. Poor Jake was appalled,, and again came scrambling out
 Lets kiver it up an say 1t ain't yer" he implored hurriedly.
 
 brave Jailus.
 T ain't to say skeered, but leastways dis ain no time to argify." The little woman appealed in des- peration tot he vortues of the rabbits 8 left behind foot" and implored Becky to lend hers. ITO be sho'! Han 1t yere Sis Becky
 Becky, fumbling about in the pocket of her old gown finally drew out her f-I,1 -.A1N nf.aKN lNr | handed 1t to Jake who, tucking 1t in his pocket, again proceeded with his work. The scene was one of wierd lights and shadows. fit for a Rembrandt S brush. On one side of the grave stood | Sis Becky" ner hair wrapped In lit tie punches with white strings, and with one of her daughters hats setting awry on her head, her eyes big and
 round. as she held aloft flickering
 candle. Jailus, breathing audibly lean ed forward and held another. The lantern in the open grave lit up Jake S black face as he bent to lift in frag-
 ments. first the coffin top and sides, then their sole contents, a poor little skull and one tiny thigh bone, and placed them in the new box. which had | been lined with cedar boughs The | rabbits foot had worked wonders. yet
 before he would consent to put on the
 
 dis yer grave from which has been
 erected dis deceasted chile. les it
 gwine always be comin' back yere.'' And so the shovelfulls of earth fell
 back, until a last the grave was filled.
 and no bad luck could result The box
 was then carefully closed. and the
 strange procession started, Jailus in
 the lead with the little box on his
 wheelbarrow; Jake, the hero, in spite
 of pain in de bres" nimbly drew on his ragged old coat and speedily fol- | lowed with his wheelbarrow and gar
 den tools; Faithful Becky and the half dead little woman brought up the rear,
 and all dropped down on the darkened
 streets. and silently went their way | homeward
 Under protest the little box was left | for the night in Jailus' shoe shop, (which he rented no more ever after) ; Jake went to his cabin to "norate to Mary Jane how desc yer white folks
 bound to have Jake, vas sir!" The lit tie woman stepped into the house and met the astonishcd gaze of the "gude
 man." who was restless for his tea
 and wanted to know What on top side
 of this earth have you been doing?"
 Body snatching was the terse and enigmatical reply.