Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-10

I'll jest cossack up little noah. and
maybe git me q white dress. Den Miss
Peachy Swan, Wen see what We'll see.'
Spradella's usual church and social
costume had been a black cashmere with
simple adernments of je. brooch ant
| hoop earrings. but for several days
awaiting the completion of new f1nery
she kept away from the church and
her world.
| On the next Tuesday afternoon. wher
Priam told her that he was going ou
| to call on old paralytic Jinsy Podge
who lived in an alley back Of the court
might both walk and visit the old ne
gress.
Il isn't got time to wait fun 20,
| to dress he evaded her: besides 4
| isn't dignified for me to walk
Spradella was disappointed. but he
! spirits presently rose again.
'Nemmine. nemmine." she murmuret
to herself as she complacently fastened
the hooks of her new white dress" q
shining alpaca, when you sees de ele
CANT figur yoah wife cuts on de street di.
day Prime. you'll wish you'd a-went vic
huh! Dat tar bucket o. a Peach Swar
won't be nowha'."
From her dresser drawer she took bot
tie Of flake white and presently her face
was like the back Of sheep for white
ness. and her hands like two wedding
cakes. is fairuh'n most white folks,
she congratulated herself; ''blest ef
amt
With pride swelling her heart she
clothed her feet in pair of immense
canvas pumps. and fastened about hel
waist beaded girdle of blue velvet
that for size would have put to shame
the blanket under an elephants "how.
dah Then. setting on her pushed on,
hair white chip hat with long pale
blue willow plume. she set forth in the
trail of the phaeton, her faith in the
power of her costume strong and up
lifting
portion of the hill upon which stood
the courthouse had been regarded
Spradella was painting when she reached
the top OF the hill She resolved tt
take short CUT to Aunt Jinsey
Podge's. and attempted to cross the sec
ton of loose regrade earth. 1t broke
through and she sank to her knees.
For many minutes. to the detrnen
or her finery. she struggled to extricats
herself Seeing that her frantic strug
giles were in vain, the tittering crowd
| that had gathered sent call for this
police.
In few minutes two husky officer,
responded
Quit dat warm youhself out a-pullin
| gin de clay, womanr' Nelly Peters y
plioe is come"
Attracted by the crowd and the ad
visory yells that came therefrom, the
swan, passing hastily. descended from
| the phaeton.
BY this time strong planks had beer
| brought. and amid much visibility tn.
hapless Spradella's rescue was being
| slowly effected
EFF | wuz de heft o. dat woman,
the Rev. Mr.. Priam's Mortified ears heard
Nelly Peters shilly screeching, dis towr
wouldn't hold me moh'n one noah day
afoah I'd be negrotiatin' wild de side
show men. Eff I wuz a hippopotamussy
| creetur like dat I'd quit tryin' to out
shine young gals wild shapes. and take
my proper place in de show ring. OATS
whut.'
Spradella heard her, and the look oil
humiliation on Priam's face as he hur.
riedly took Miss Swans arm. and hasten
ed away, filled her with despair.
Her white shoes gone. her willow plume
sullied with mire, her skirts mass OF
mud. her girdle burst, she Numbered
home, her tears making yellow lanes
down her too white cheeks.
That evening, when the pastor of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church
wrath. he found a closed and silent house
Pinned to his pillow was a laboriously
scrawled note. 1t said:
Dear husband. l sees / can't be purity
no mo- trjde dressin' up, but it dune
no goode / see You Lookin' at M
gone off to Eze You o. de Mautiticashur
o. SEEM Me emmy mo- bout heer Git
old Forestry Mace to cook fun you and
keep yosef onspotted fun de worr. Is
coma kepe mistuh casper rue, at de bank
deformt o my movements, SO eff a time
ever Gums when You Nede Me, tel Mistull
Rue. an he'll git wurd too Me. You
hart bruck
"SPRADELLY."
Whether it was fate or answer to
prayer two weeks after Spradella disap-
peared from his sight the Rev. Priam
Witt, out driving with Miss Swan, met
an automobile. He wanted the road; &C
did the auto driver. That evening, sup
posedly dying at the hospital. Priam saw
agely pushed the weeping Miss Swan,
who had been unhurt in the wreck, of
his neck, and cried out for Spradella
Six months have passed since then.
Propped in a cushioned chair, an incur
able cripple, Priam sits under the tent of
Jingling Brothers. reads his books, and
smiles at an enormous creature. The
Largest Living Colored Lady, sitting in
three chairs. dressed in a spangled net
creation, with no sleeves and very little
upper waist.
The fat lady" is Spradella and she is
quite happy. For sitting in the three
chairs a few hours each day she draws
a salary of $50 week, and she is able
to keep Priam!
CTHE END