Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
CHAPTER III-(Continued. }


made the earth dangerous with heat
In the veranda all was cool and rest
full and pleasingly silent Isabella, II
her white dress, looked beautiful anC
pensive; while Dido, in reddish hueC
robe, with a crimson kerchief twisted
round her stately head. cleaned in TIL
semi gloom like some gorgeous tropi
cal bird astray in our northern chimes
Both mistress and maid were silent
1t was Dido who spoke first. Sht
noticed that the eyes of her mistress
constantly strayed in the direction O
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, INSPIRED no one
with merriment.
Aha, missy" said she, in deep gut.
turaI tones, you tink OBJ dat yaIler-
ha'r mani"
Maurice! Yes, I'm thinking abou
MIN; and you know why"
Dido's fierce black eyes flashed GU
CLEAN of rage, and she cursed Mau.
rice audibly in some barbaric tongue
which Isabella seemed to understand
AT all events she interrupted the WON
ans speech with an imperious gesture
No more Of that Dido. You know
that L love Maurice; I wish to MARX
MN. Why are you so bitter agains
him"
He take you from me-"
Well, If 1 marry anyone the same
thing will happen" responded Isabel.
la, lightly; and surely, Dido. you dc
not want me to remain a spinster al
my life"
No, missy, no! You marry, an ole
Dido am berry pleased. But dat yaI-
ler-ha'r man, no like him"
We are engaged"
Your mudder, she say no."
Nonsense! She likes Maurice her
self, replied Isabella, uneasily. "Mau.
rice wants our engagement kept uuie1
Tor the present, but when I do tell Ma
1or Jen and my mother, 1 am sure nei-
Their of them will object"
HIM, we see, missy, we see," sai6
Dido, darkly. But why you MARI,
dis man no Iike?"
Because I marry to please myself
not you" said Isabella, sharply. "Oh,
know your thoughts, Dido; you would
like me to marry David Sarbv. The
idea! as if he can compare with Mau-
rice!"
wrong, missy l no wish dat man.
Then DR.. EtwaId-that horrid
gloomy creature!"
Him great mani" said Dido. sol
emily Him berry-berry great"
don't think so,' retorted Isabella
rising. of course, I 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
Tor a moment in the glare of the sun
SHINE Suddenly an idea seemed tc
strike her, and she turned towards the
negress.
Dido, you wouldn't like to see me
the wife of DR.. Etwald!"
Yes. missy. Him berry big great
man! He Tub you. He told old Dido
So"
He seems to have been very conf
Dental" said Isabella, scornfully. land
from what l have seen, Dido, he has
some influence over you"
No" said the negress. But while her
tongue uttered the denial, her ewes
rolled uneasily round the lawn. as
though dreading some invisible presn-
ence. No, missy. Dido a great one
you know. She no 'fraid Oh dat doc
tor; but him big man, missy; you mar
~ him!"
Il love Maurice!"
You nebber marry him, missy. Neb-
Der, nebber! I make de spell. 7 know
De spell say dat doctor he marry wont,
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 Ia WIN
there crept wien, grey haired, little
man, with a cringing manner. He wa
white, but darkish in the skin. and
there was something negroid about his
face. This dwarflsh little creature wa
tramp, who had become pensioner
of 1sabella's. He had attached himsalt
to her like some faithful dog, and rare
ly failed to present himself at least
once a day.
What his real name was nobody
Jul liS Sc1Ad lI4dl lie was CA He'd
Battersa. He was cringing. dirty. and
altogether an unpleasant object r.
look upon; but Isabella was sorry FL,
the creature, and aided him with food
and trifie of money. 1t 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.
We'll, Battersea." said Isabella.
kindly, how are you to-day?"
Very well, lady, very well, indeed. ]
met Mr.. Aylmer, and he gave me d
dollar"
That was generous of him! But
why?"
Because I said that certain lady
was
Now now" laughed Isabella, no
more of that nonsense Battersea." She
turned and ran along the veranda into
the house. The tramp and the negress
were alone.
What de doctor say?" said Dido. in
a low-yoiced whisper
Two words. The devil stick"
The negress started, and threw up
her hands in surprise.
CHAPTER "