The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-04-09
CHAPTER uI-fContinusd.,

hnud Win DOCK open ON nor zap anu
Dido standing graveiy near her. Mrs.
Dallas In the cool depths Of the draw
ing-room. was indulging In an after
luncheon siesta- The sunlight poured
itself over the velvet lawns, drew forth
the perfumes from the flower beds. and
made the earth languorous with heat
In the veranda all was cool and rest
ful and pIeasingiy silent Isabella. In
her white dress. looked beautiful and
pensive; while Dido, In reddish-hued
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 climes.
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. INSPIRED 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
MIN; and you know why"
Dido's fierce black eyes flashed out
Q gleam OF rage. and she cursed Maui
rice audibly in some barbaric tongue
which Isabella seemed to understand.
At all events she interrupted the wom-
ans speech with an imperious gesture
mo more OF that. Dido. You know
that love Maurice; l wish to marry
him. Why are you so bitter against
him?"
He take you from me-"
We'll. II ! marry anyone the same
thing will happen" responded Isabel
Ia. lightly; ''and surely. Dido, you do
not want me to remain a spinster all
my life"
mo. missy. no! You marry. an ole
Dido am berry pleased. But dat yal-
sr-ha'r man. I 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
Tor tie present. but when I do tell Ma
1or Jen and my mother, am sure mel
ther OF them will object"
HIN, we see, missy, we see." said
Dido. darkly. But why you marry
dis man no like?
Because I marry to please myself
not you." said Isabella, sharply. "Oh, ]
know your thoughts, Dido: you would
IN mi arrxr Ma, ,t1
idea! as II he can compare with Mau-
rice!'
Wrong. missy. no wish dat man.
Then DR.. Etwald-that horrid
gloomy creature!"
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
Tor 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.. Etwaldl"
Yes. missy. Him berry big great
mani He lub you. He told old Dido
So"
He seems to have been very conn
dential." said Isabella, scornfully. "and
from what I 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!"
II love Maurice!"
You nebber marry him. missy. Neb-
Der. nebber! make de spell I know.
Dc spell say dat doctor he marry you'll"
well. DIDO. we win 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 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
. tramp. who had become a pcnsioner
Of Isabella's. He had attached himself
to her like some faithful dog, ana rare-
y failed to present himself at least
once q day.
What his real name was nobodv
knew. but he said that he was called
Battersa. He was cringing, dirty. ana
altogether an unpleasant object 10
look upon: but Isabella was sorry for
the creature. and aided him with food
and n trine 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.
''Weli. Battersca." said Isabella.
kindly. how are you to-dayf-
'very well. lady. very we'll, indeed. I
met Mr.. Ayimer. and no gave me
dollar"
'rhat was generous of him, But
whyf"
because I said that certain lady
Was"
-Now. now" laughed Isabella. mo
anrn- q ~ That ,cn.o,-a ra.ss>~~.. a <,l-