The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-02-22

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YOU'RE q lovely daughter, aren't you7"
with wet eyes staring unseeingly at
the wall, her underlip quivering with
the deep intake Of each broken sigh.
"Missyr' There came a soft knock
upon the door and the clink Of silver
upon china. "Missyv .---.s. -.
''What is it?''
So quick was Miss Betty that, al
though she answered almost at once,
the tears were washed away and she
was passing cool, wet towel over
her eyes at the moment she spoke.
"Jass me. I brung yo'. breakfas',
honey"
Old Nelson's voice was always low
and gentle, with a quaver and hest.
fancy in the uttesance. Now it was
tender and comforting with the COM
prehension of one in suffering, the ex-
traordinary tact which the old of his
race nearly all come to possess. "Li'l
chicken wing on piece brown toast,
honey"
When she opened the door he came
in, bending .attentiyely over his tray,
and without a glance toward his young
mistress made some show Of fuss and
hustle as he placed it upon table near
the window and drew up chair for
her so that she could sit with her back
to the light.
'Dah. now!' he exclaimed softly, re-
moving the white napkin and display
ing other dainties besides the chicken
wing. "Dass de way! Dat ole Ma
ME in lie kitchen, she got her failin's
an her grievin' sins, but de way she
do han'le chicken an biscuit sutney
amt none on 'em. She plead TO- me to
Ak you how you like dem biscuit
He kept his head bent low over the
table, setting a fork closer to Betty's
hand; arranging the plates, then rear
ranging them, but never turning his
eyes i'll her direction. ~ .e#-
elias father gone out, Nelson?" asked
Betty in low voice.
'Yes'm; lie uptown" The old mans
tone sank at once to the level of her
own; became confidential. as one
speaks to another in room where
somebody is i'll. HE mekkin' perpetra-
ton to go down de rivuh dis aft'noon.
He say he done broke de news to YOU
dat he goin' way. Dey goin' bull dem
wa'house RICH up, an yo' pa he necis-
tate go way count de contrack. He
be gone two week. honey" Nelson
finished without too much the air of
imparting CHEEKY tidings. but with lust
enough.
Il am to stay here alone?'
Claw, no, missy! Dat big AIiz Tan
berry, dass de bes' frien' we all got,
she home ag'in, an yo' pa goin' invite
her visit at &c house whiles he gone, an
to stay a mont aftuh he git back, too,
soze she kin so to all de doins an
junketin's wild you and talk wild de
young mems dat you dom like whites
you talks wild dem you does like"
what time will father come home?"
Home? He be gone two week,
honey"
''No; mean today"
Law, he ain comm back! Bid me
pack de trunk an cay um down to de
boat at noon. Den he bid me say
far'-ye-well an a 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 whites 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
Nliz Tanberry, an ole frien' 'er owah
family. She 'uz frien' err yo' NOM
mas, honey"
Miss Betty had begun by making
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 he had
seen many young ladies 60 through I'M
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 at intervals after
ward. He understood perfectly every
thing that had passed between father
and daughter that morning.
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