The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-01

even teeun. Ola NEGRO $ implied
equality, aroused no feeling of resent
ment, only amusement.
True, the young man said slowly,
peculiar light leaping to his eyes, while
faint color crept into his face.
He sat down. One hand rested on his
knee, the long white fingers of the 9th
er beat tattoo on the picture.
Raising his eyes to the black face OPP
posite, he said, g We no desire to force
your confidence, but, if knew something
Of the history Of the picture might be
able to advise you what to do. It is
ruined SO far as its money value is con-
cerned. y
AN dat wus de main thing. Lawd,
Lawd, / sho would be glad eff you could
| tell me whut ter do. I wonder eff /
mout trus youi"
| The dark old face leaned nearer the
young white one, and studied it closely,
as if to find there an answer to his
query.
~ spec kin trus' you" the words
| followed by sigh Of relief, :" An you
won't nebber tell Debby, nur Miss
Elbaf''
"Never."
"well sab, IVES sellin de pictur fur
de money The speaker 8 voice sank
to . whisper. He glanced cautiously
around to assure himself there was no
third party to the confidence.
A conclusion easily reached, was the
listener g mental comment. He waited in
silence, for the old darkey to continue.
i i" Marster, we wuz wunst de riches
family in all desc pawts. Marse Egbert
had bout FIVE hundud niggers an money
ter burn an he sho burnt it, My, myl
| De way dat man did scatter money, raft
am lef'. But times is changed, an we
babe to sell de family rules, ter git
sumpin ter eat.
"Who is wei Why, me an Debby,
an Miss Elba an Miss Jessie. De las
NV de Carlyles. You know who de
Carlyles is, NV cose.
The speaker paused, as though expect,
ing reply. There was none simply be
cause the listener did not know what t.
say. To tell the truth, and say he had
never heard of the Carlyles of Louisiana
would not only be an affront to the oil
darby, but confess himself fearfully il
norant concerning the best people Of hi
own country, for the narrator's name.
said plainly every one was supposed tc
know who the Carlyles were. So as the
wisest course he adopted silence.
nDey's one NV de oles families il
de- state. Dey come ober in de May
flower
What gigantic craft that must hav,
been, judging by the number who CLAIM
. TO have had passage. Like the old shil
!. Of Zion, she has landed many thousands
"Fo de wah, Marse Egbert, dat
. Miss Elba's paw, wuz one NY de harm
). ZONES men whut dance at de balls il
: Nawleans. Folks call i'm gay Lntharier
.ity mos Nv do time, but come ter d.
. plantation in de summer whin de white
folks amt gone Norf. Miss Elba lul
de- home place bes nv all, Marse Egber
Tub de city, an furrin countries. H
. amt 'sociate wild common folks. No
! body ain It hear I'm boast Nv good blood
!. nur money. Nobudy ain It hear i'm sa.
!, he g bettern dey is, he jes mex 'em fee
!. it wild dat gran way Nv h;sen.'
e "Well sab, de day come whin Mars
Egbert s pride hab ter fall. But h
ain It humble hissef not chen ter deatl
7 He wuz sho grit ter de las minute. Blu
we all know his pride done kill i'm
Whin he done lose all his niggeTs, an
3 money, he come back ter de ole plants
ton ter die. -
One day de sperits WIZ whisperin
n de pines all day. I hearn 'em, al
:, ole Debby sumpin gwinter happen. Da
tight wuz dawk ez er stack Nv blac
;. cats. Big black clouds scuddin eros
de sky an de win comm up fun
: ribber, wild er moan dat made me shive
: Marse Egbert come home at midnigh
: IN call fur me an Debby. He tole !
. he done come home ter die, an ak !
- will we tex keer NV his chillun whin
wuz daid. We tole i'm fo' Gawd v
q, would, an marster, 70 tried ter ket
de promise. Mex mawnin' Marse Egbe
ID wuz daid an cole on de bald, wild !
lie flower in his button hole lax he gwil
t. ter de ball. I"
to ITO be continued)