The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-04-08

naturedly. His young master grew
convaleseent rapidly, under the mild
treatment Of the good old country
DOCTOR
Every day at noon Cage came up
stairs to mind the flies while the 9TH
ers were at dinner, also to give Marse
Jake the news of the outside world,
of what the negroes said at the home
place and at the quarter place, ur-
der Oveerseer Purdee. He told Of
''Miss Calline' going away to school.
that Mr.. Purdee was going to quit
overseeing next year and 60 on his
own little farm. Then he told him III
a whisper, leaning over the bed, that
old Aunt Dilsey, the cook, had a let
ter for him from miss Calline" but
Fshe amt gwine to give it to you
tel you is plum vel, case old Miss
might find it, den dare would be the
devil to pay.''
Jake tried to spring out Of the bed,
saying, II am we'll now, go and tel!
Aunt Dilsey to bring that letter -
But Cage held him back saying,
"Wait, Marse Jake, wait, she gwine
bring it termorrer, don It, don't, Marse
jake
Jake was inexorable. The leetter
had to come. It would be hard to
analyze the feeling of Jake Baldwin
at tn sight Of the letter. Love, shame:
hope, remorse and despair came
crowding upon him. But when he
had read it, he found that Miss Caro-
line Purdee did not upbraid him, She
spoke kindly, sympathetic and hope
ful. She was indeed hurt at his mis-
fortune, and spoke sorowing at the
thought of leaving without seeing
him once before her departure. The
tone Of the letter showed forgiveness,
anxiety and distress at his suffering,
that she still had faith in him and
hoped he would soon be we'll. After
its perusal, Jake Baldwin thought
and reflected long. Then his manhood
and courage sprang up. Such devo-
tion, deserved from him a life time
of atonement. He determined then
and there upon an entire reformation,
and he determined also, to be, for her
sake, if nothing else the true and
upright man that God had intended
him to be. From the secret recesses
of his heart went up to the Infinite
a fervent prayer for his loyal little
girl, for strength and power to carry
out his VOWS Of reformation.
One day after young Baldwin was
able to sit up In his room, Cage came
in with a gruesome tale Of the dark
est import to both. ''Dat old Miss
and young Miss" said Cage; ''had
bedeviled old Master SO, dat he had
sunt for Squire Metze and had his
will drawed, dat old Miss lowed dat
you was jest gwine to fling way de
property anyhow, an jist sech foolish
debilment lack dis las one wild dat no
ereount Cage. Den it tWold do no
body good"
Jake gathered from his 1nformer
that pressure had been brought to
bear upon his easy going father al
the psychological moment, and had him
to make a will, giving everything to
his sister, after his death, leaving to
Jake an annuity sufficient for the
wants of a vagabond like Jake had
shown himself to be. But the news
of this did not affect Jake seriously,
for he now could offer his hand and
heart to the girl he loved on an equal
footing.
"Dey had er powerful rompus las
week. continued Cage; "bout dat
will an bout me too. Ole Miss lowed
she was gwine have me sold to er
nigger speculator, and sunt to de fur
country. WE'LL ef dey do dat, Marse
Jake, here is a dam runaway nagger
for true. I amt gwine to no Mas
sasip, nor fur country nelder, case
who will be lef to tend to you. Dey
amt young niger on de place dat
knows anything bout waiting on white
folks. No, / amt gwine, else old
.Marster Will have a nigger In de
woods all de time. But old Marste:
say he amt gwine to have none MS
niggers sold to spectators. Den ole
Miss say he got ter stop you going
long wild Miss Calline. Den old Mars, Al
ter shore got mad, and he say, let
him 60 long wild who he damned
please. I married a po gal myself,
Den 1t dat, old Miss took de hister-