Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-03-20

young mems aar you oon like whlIes
you talks wild dem you does like"
"What time will father come home"
"Home? He be gone two week
honey"
mo; I mean today"
LAW, he ain comm back! Bid me
pack de trunk an ca'y um down to dc
boat at noon. Den he bid me say
far'-ye-well an kline goodby TO- him
honey. Say he thinks you amt feelin'
too we'll, soze he won't 'sturb We his
self, an dat he unestly do hope you
goin' have splen'id time whiles he trab'
blin'." (Nelson's Imagination covered
many deficits In his masters courtesy
"Say he reckon you an ole Miz Tan.
berry goin' git long mighty nice wild
one'nurr. An dass what me an Mamie
reckon 'spechually boun' to take place,
case dat mighty gay lady, dat big
Miz Tanbcrry. an ole frien' 'er owah
family. She 'uz frien' er yo' NOM
mas. honey"
Miss Betty had begun by making a
pretense to eat only to please the old
man, but the vain wOman's cookery
had not been unduly extolled, and Mel
son laughed with pleasure to see the
fluffy biscuits and the chicken wing not
nibbled at, but actually eaten. He was
an old house servant; therefore lie had
seen many young ladies go through un.
happy hours, and he admired Miss Bet.
ty the more because she was the first
who had INDUCED In strong weeping
and did not shuttle ut intervals after
ward. He understood perfectly every
thing that had passed between father
and daughter that morning.
When her breakfast was finished she
turned slowly to the window, and,
while her eyes did not refill, u slight
twitching of the upper lids made him
believe that she was going over the
whole scene again in her mind, where
upon he began to move briskly about
the room with IL busy air, picking up
her napkin. dusting a chair with his
hand, exchanging the position of the
andirons in the fireplace, and, apparent
ly discovering that the portrait Of
Georges Meilhac was out Of line, he set
1t awry. then straight again, the while
he hummed an old spiritual" Of which
only the words "Chain de lion down"
were allowed to be quite audible. They
were repeated often, and at each repe
ution of them he seemed profoundly,
though decorously, amused in way
which might have led to conjecture
that the refrain bore some distant ref.
erence to his masters eccentricity OF
temper. At first he chuckled softly,
but ut the final iteration Of "Chain de
lion down" burst into outright laugh.
ter.
Honey, my Law" he exclaimed, "but
yo' pa de 'ceivin'dest man! He mighty
proud er your
proud of mew She turned to him
In astOnishment.
Nelson's laughter increased. "Hain't
he jass de 'ceivin'dest man? Yessuh,
he de sot uppest man in dis town
count what you done last night. What
he say dis mawn'. dat jass his way"
"Ah. now said Miss Betty sadly.
"Yes'm! He proud er you, but he
teahbul mad at dat man. He hain't
mad at you, but he gotter cuss some
body. Jass reach out TO- de nighes' he
kin lay hans on, an dis mawn' it hap
pen soze it were you, honey. Uhuh!
You oughter hearn him las night when
he come home. Den 1t were me: Bless
God, I amt keerin'. He weren't mad
at me, no mon he were at you. He
jass mad"
Miss Betty looked at the old fellow
keenly. He remained, however, ap-
parently unconscious Of her scrutiny
and occupied himself with preparations
for removing the tray.
"Nelson, what is the quarrel between
my father and Mr.. Vanrevel?"
He had lifted the tray, but set II
down precipitately, bending upon her
a surprised and sobered countenance.
missy" he said gravely, "dey big
trouble 'twix dem two"
81 know" she returned quietly.
"What is it?'
"Wha' To- you az me, missy"
Because you're the only one l can
ask. l don't know any one here we'll
enough except YOU"
Nelson's lips puckered solemnly.
Mist Vanrevel vote Wing, but he
ag'in Texas"
"Well. what il he ISL"
"Yo pa mighty strong TO Texas"
els that all?'
"Non, dat amt hardly de beginnin'.
Mist vanrevel he q ab'litionist."
We'll? Won't you tell mel?
Honey, folks roun' heah mos on 'em
like Mist Nanrevel so well dey amt