Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-10

they're willin' to pay for him. In
glad amt in the business. sub. Oh
satan's got grip holds enough on mt
as It is"
The colonel was still deep in phil
osophic musings, not more than half
way across the town square, when ht
was interrupted by genial hail.
"Howdy. Kunn'l Todhunter: howdy
sub. You sho'ly amt gwine walk right
pIntedly pas me 'thout sayin' howdy
to you old Ant Mirandy. is yo'. suhT
The speaker was fat. gray woo!et
black woman. festively arrayed In
gaudy calico dress. bandannn hand
kerchief knotted around her head likt
a turban. big market basket on hel
arm.
"Well. we'll, Aunt Mirandyw return
ed the colonel. II amt seen you for st
long that | reckon wouldn't ha
known you anyway, you're lookin' sc
peart and Glyly. How are you. Miriam
dy. and how's that no count husband
Of yOur'nT
Tie ancient negress cackled joyously
II tell yo' De gospel trufe, Kunn'l Tod
hunter. and sho ain tellin' you nc
lies-dat ar wufess ole man O. mine
am sutt'nly mighty trihin'. sub. II,
gittin' wuSs'n wuss ever day. too. kun
nj. Whut you reckon done happ'n tC
him now. sub? Well. jes gwine tel
yo'. Dat ole Jed been out fshin' an
come traipsin' back home wild de roo
matis. sub. an .a.in' fat on he bach
gruntin' an groanin' lax he gwine die
ever mint, subj"
You're too easy on him, Mirandy
That's the trouble" laughed the colo
mel. "You ought to take broomstics
and wallop him till he amt too proud
to work. the old rascal! Quit cookin
such good vlttles for him, Mirandy. and
let him go hungry for awhileP'
Old Mirandy rolled her eyes heaven
ward. "Kunnl Todhunter." she CUR.
gled. II jes' nachully KANT do dat. sub
'Tain't dat ole Jed don't serve 1t, kase
he do. but he sho kin put up sich po'
mouf, sub. He's de mos miZZabul mig
ger on a em'ty stummuck. sub, dat
amt got de heart to fuse him when be
say he hungry. Dass de fac, kunn'l-
1 jes' amt got de heart, suh."
"Well. but. good Lord, Mirandy, you
must be put to 1t mighty hard to tend
to your washin' and look after that
trifin' old scoundrel at the same timer
II sho' Is. kunn'L amt nebber had
no baby what's mo- trubble'n dat ar
old Jed. Whuss dom now, sub, but
rubbin' dat ole FOOLS j'ints wild lini-
ment whilst oughter be right at my
washtub all my time, sub? tell you,
sub, I got to scrabble TO- libbin'
wuss'n scratchin' hen desc heah
days, suh."
Where are you nvin' now. Miran-
dy"
"Whah l libbin'? Whah l libbin'?
Well, now. sub, mos shame TO to tell
you. sub. but men ole Jed Is jes'
a-squattin' down yander in a serted
cabin whut wuz em'ty on de Black
Bottoms road. sub, 'twell men him
jes' sorter moved into It, sub. Yass,
sub. hits ercross FUN whah ole Mr..
Rafe Doggett an he young grand
daughter, Miss Lottie-May. hbbin'.
sub. An hit sho' am lonesome place.
Ell hit want TO- some skylarkin' young
man a-comin' out rum Nineveh to cote
Miss Lottie-May when her ole grand
daddy amt home. tell you p'tntedly.
Kunnl Todhunter. hit'd be jes' lax q
graveyard. sub"
81 reckon So" said the colonel. "And
who are the young scamps that come
out to see Miss Lottie-May. Mirandyr
"Lawd bless you. sub. dey's two
three NV EN- sub. Mr.. Stam fuckers
one. An Miss I.ottie-May sho' am
pow'ful luin'some young gyel. sub.
An her ole grnnddad. he suttnly do
',"nr to bc mighty skeered case she
50 y;:y an charlottesville. SUBJ"
We'll. MiralIiy. | reckon that's only
natu!Wl fnr pretty girl. You aint
.:rver s.., Tom Strickland callin' on
Ter ont ,'icre. have your
NO. suh: not to reckernize MIN,
kuu,,I Tol..,!mt.r. but dat ain't sayin
ne ni:i'. hepn dar whilst | been away
%n muvh u d. time. kunnL Huccome
youn. Mr. !'om Strickland takin' to
nnyboiy hut Miss Mary Todhunter,
yo' own daughter. sub? Amt he jes'
piutedly head over heels In lub wid
Miss Mary. suh?"
He aint tellln' me 80. Mirandy.
laughed the colonel "But | reckon
l,ottie- May amt no more to him than
any other of n dozen pretty girls !
was Just wonderin', that's all
Then he put his hand In his pocket
and drew out bill
Here. MIrsndy." he said. Il would
not be surprised but what this might
come In handy while you're a.wrnstlin
with that old scamp Jed and his rheu.
matism. And II you'll stop by and see
Mrs. Todhunter next time you come to
town I'll ask her II she can't give yon
n basketful Of vittles she don't need.
GLORY hallelooyahr' cried old MI
randy. dat ar money looks big ns de
side Of a house to ME. suh-tt sho do
Ya.s. sub. an | gwine drop by you alrs
house, too. sub An amt nebber
gwine fergit you TO It. kunnl: sho
amt Some O. desc bright days gwine
pay you back more'n dat ar money.
you see II don't. suh!' Sudden tears
had come Into the brave old woman's
eyes. Pouring out food Of thanks.
she hobbied happily away.
Colonel Todhunter looked after her
almost sadly Them old niggers." he
said. II love 'eIn Just like they was
kin to me. and they love us too But
tho new breed-they bate US. and !
amt got no more use for 'em than ]
have for q snake. H. curious and It's
somethin' of tragedy. too. sub. I'll
be dadbIamed II I know what's guin'
to come Of 1t all some dayr'
CHAPTER vi.
The Strickland. Tucker Feud.
= AI.F IN hour later as Colonel
- Todhunter emerged from the
law office Of Judge Boiling ne
heard sudden hurrying Of
footsteps, and Sim Birdsong Joined
him, breathless and much perturbed.
whats on your mind now. Simf
asked the colonel. "'Tain't often you
20 gnllopin' aroun' with your tongue
bonoin' out a. your mouth like q young