The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-04-19

get the opportunity.
In an apartment in the cellars of
this house lived Little Make-Bel!eve
and Surname. .
There were two apartments in the
! cellar. that next to Little Make-Be-
lieve's being occupied by a cobbier.
This gentleman it was. who popping
his head ont Of bis door at the SOUND
Of footsteps on the rickety stairs. as
tonished Thomas Dexter by selzlng
him suddenly by the collar of his Goa,
and pulling him into the room.
Thomas Dexter was about to remon-
strate theoretically against this vio-
,ence., when the cobbler clapped his
land upon the curiosity dealers mout
Hush" he said. in a sepulchral tone.
raise Yer voice. Speak IN a
whisper. Well, if this ere ANT a
game! Why, everybody believed yer
| dead. and dead yer ought to be out O
| respect to public opinion. The little
| cusses. Don't yer ear 'em?'
|. By a motion of his hand he directed
Thomas Dexter's attention TO the wall
| which separated his. apartment from
| Little Make-Believe's, and Thomas
Dexter. placing his ear to it. in imita.
| ton Of the action Of the cobbler, heard
a sound of children's voices. n OF
which. more distinct than the others
was reciting a parody on the burial
| service for the dead.
The significance Of the WORDS
| strange and extravagant as they were;
| the dismal appearance of the'mlseraoie
| apartment which was lit by one thln
| tallow candle; the unearthly feeling
which stole upon him, were appalling.
Are they burying anybody" he
| asked, in a whisper.
That's Jest what the little cusses
are a-doin. on. They're a-buryin' OF
you"
"Of meim
"Keep still. Yer shall see for yer
| self: but the warmints mustn't KNOW
that %anybody's lookin' at 'em. LORD
Lord, Lord! The games I've seen EN-
at ulSut allel uiSAt
play. Don't move"
Splitting on the forefnger Z thumb
of his right hand, the cobblef Selzed
with these forceps the snuff of the can
die and extinguished the, light.
Being now in the dark. n safe
from observation, he removed two
very small wooden pegs from two very
small holes in the wall, through each
Of which, by placing the eye very close
to il. a view of the proceedings in the
adjoining apartment could be obtained.
Little Make Believes room was IL
Illuminated by three ends OF candles.
which the cobbler, in a ~sepulchral
whisper. informed Thomas Dexter
were generally contributed by one ana
another of the little cusses' when any
game was on.
There was quite a dozen children as
sembled there. standing around an I'M
aginary grave. into which the mag
mary body Of Thomas Dexter had just
been lowered, and only the concluding
words of the service reached THOMAS
Dexter's ears.
It was Dot-and-carry-one who ofic-
lated as minister, and he it was who,
in q mock solemn voice, IN when
lurked a frightful malice, exclaimed:
"Ashes to ashes-dust to dust, -.
If Gawd don't take him. the devil must!'
Thomas Dexter shivered. The phan-
tom of the figure in his dream rose be-
fore him with it's icy heart, upon which
was inscribed "Old Dexter's Charity"
Then the children pretended to shov-
el the earth over him. and this being
done to a chorus of uncomplimentary
illusions to himself, Thomas Dexter
took observation Of certain matters
which. up to this time, had escaped his
notice.
The first was the form of an exceed
ingly beautiful child, who, lying on the
ground . with her chin resting in the
palms of her hands, had played a quiz
escent part in the ceremony.
Her face was like. a rose, her eyes
as blue as the loveliest cloud. her limbs
might have been nodded in wax. so
perfect were they. and her fair hair
hung round her beautiful head and
rested on her white shoulders, n Of
which was bare.
as it real, or q picter?"
Thomas Dexter believed that these
words had simply found expression in
his mind, but he had really spoken
them under his breath. The cobbler
answered him. .
That is SaranDe, Little Make-Be-
lieve's sister. She'll grow up q beau
ty-if she grows up at ALL"
why shouldn't she grow up?" asked
Thomas Dexter.
Because" said the cobbier, she's
got about as much strength as I've got
in my little finger. It's to be hoped.
for Little Make-Believe's sake, as moth
ing II 'appen to her. It'd break the
little 'un's cart"
The contemplation Of this exquisite
figure had drawn Thomas DeXter'S at
tention from the other children for 4
few moments. and when. presently, he
turned toward them he saw them seat
ed in q row on q bench, and saw also,
to his a~mazement, that their faces
were blackeneG.
They're playing niger MINISTRIES"
exclaimed the cobbler. It's a favor
lite game with the little cusses."
The band was complete in all its de-
tails-bones. banios. the imaginary in
StrumentS beirc illustrated With amaZ-