Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-03-24
CHAPTER I1I-(Continued.) J

Oloo standing graNely near ner. MIs
Dallas in the cool depths OF the draw
ing-room. was indulging in an after
luncheon siesta- The sunlight poure'
itself over the velvet lawns, drew fortl
the perfumes from the flower beds, ant
made the earth languorous with heat
In the veranda all was cool and rest
ful and pleasingly silent Isabella, II
her white dress. looked beautiful anC
pensive; while Dido In reddish-hue
robe, with a crimson kerchief twisted
round her stately head. cleaned In the
semi gloom like some gorgeous tropi-
cal bird astray In our northern cllmes
Both mistress and maid were silent
1t was Dido who spoke first She
noticed that the eyes OF her mistress
constantly strayed in the direction Of
"Ashantee," and with the jealousy be-
gotten of deep affection. she guessed
that the girls thoughts were fixed up
on Maurice. At once she spoke re-
proachfully, and in the grotesQue ne
gro dialect. which, however, coming
from Dido's mouth, inspered no one
with merriment
Aha, missy" said she, in deep gut
tural tones, you tink OBJ dat yaller-
ha'r mani"
"Maurice! Yes I'm thinking about
him; and you know why"
Dido's fierce black eyes flashed out
CLEAN of rage, and she cursed Mau-
rice audibly in some barbaric tongue
which Isabella seemed to understand.
At all events she interrupted the wom-
ans speech with an imperious gesture
No more of that, Dido. You know
that l love Maurice; I wish to marry
him. Why are you so bitter against
him"
He take you from me-"
Well, if | marry anyone the same
thing will happen" responded Isabel
la, lightly; and surely, Dido, you do
not want me to remain a spinster all
my life"
No, missy, no! You marry. an ole
Dido am berry pleased. But dat yal-
er-har man, no like him"
We are engaged"
Your mudder, she say moi"
Nonsense! She likes Maurice her
self, replied Isabella, uneasily. "Mau-
rice wants our engagement kept quiet
for the present, but when 1 do tell Ma
Jor Jen and my mother, am sure nei-
ther of them will object"
HIN, we see, missy we see," said
Dido, darkly. But why you marry
dis man I no like?"
Because 1 marry to please myself,
not you," said Isabella, sharply. "Oh, l
know your thoughts, Dido you would
like me to marry David Sarby. The
IDEA! as If he can compare with Maui
rice."
Wrong. missy. I no wish dat man."
Then DR.. Etwald-that horrid,
gloomy creaturel"
Him great mani" said Dido, SOL
emnly. Him berry-berry great"
Il don't think So" retorted Isabella,
rising. "Of course, know that he is
clever, but as to being great he isn't
known beyond this place" She walked
to the end of the veranda. and stood
for a moment in the glare of the sun
shine. Suddenly an idea seemed to
strike her, and she turned towards the
negress.
Dido, you wouldn't like to see me
the wife of DR.. Etwaldi"
yes, missy. Him berry big great
man! He lub you. He told old Dido
So"
He seems to have been very conf
DENTAL" said Isabella, scornfuIly, "and
from what l have seen. Dido, he has
some influence over you"
NO" said the negress. But while her
tongue uttered the denial, her eyes
rolled uneasily round the lawn, as
though dreading some invisible presp-
ence. mo, missy Dido a great one,
you know. She no 'fraid oh dat doc
tor; but him big man, missy; you mar
ry him!"
Il love Maurice!"
You nebber marry him, missy. Neb-
Der, nebber! I make de spell I know.
De spell say dat doctor he marry you'll"
We'll. Dido, we will see. And now
She never finished what she was
about to say, for at that homent Dido
stretched out one arm. Across the lawn
there crept a wien, grey-haired little
man, with a cringing manner. He was
white, but darkish in the skin. and
there was something negroid about his
face. This dwarfish little creature was
q tramp. who had become a pensioner
of Isabella's. He had attached himself |
to her like some faithful dog, and rare |
ly failed to present himself at least
once a day.
What his real name was nobody
knew. but he said that he was called |
He was cringing, dirty. and
an unpleasant object to /
look upon; but Isabella was sorry for |
the creature, and aided him with food /
and a trifie Of money. II may be here /
mentioned that Battersea, although he /
knew nothing of Obi, was terribly /
afraid Of Dido. Perhaps some instinct /
In the negro blood-for he undoubtedly |
had something African in his veins
made him fear this unknown priestess
OF fetish worship.
well. Battersea." said Isabella, |
kindly, how are you to-day?"
Very well. lady, very well, indeed. I |
met Mr.. Aylmer. and he gave me a
dollar"
That was generous Of himi But.
why7'
Because I said that a certain lady
WAS
Now. now" laughed Isabella. no /
more Of that nonsense, Battersea-" She /