The Lamar register., 1914-02-18

The Hunt.

o9NAP IN ~
The Hunt.
He awoke to q musical twfttering
and chirping. to find the sun pouring
into the dusty room in a very glory.
He rolled from the blanket and stood
upright, filling his lungs with long
deep breath OF satisfaction. He felt
singularly light-hearted and alive. Tho
bulldog came bounding through the
window, dirty from the weeds. and
flung himself upon his master in q
canine rapture.
Get out!" Quoth the latter. laugh
ing. Stop licking my feet! How the
dickens do you suppose I'm to get into
my clothes with your ridiculous antics
going on? Down. 1 say! Hark!" He
broke on and listened. who's that
singingr'
The sound drew nearer-a luGu-
brious chant, with the weirdest minor
reflections. family suggestive OF tho
rag-time ditties OF the music-halls. yet
with q plstntive cadence.
Good morning. Uncle Jefferson"
The singer broke OF. set down tho
twig-broom that he had been welding
and came toward him. "Mawnin. sub.
Mawnin'." he said. Hopes yo'-all
slep' good. All reck'n dem ar birds
woke yo' up; dey's maxim sch er
'miration."
Thank you. Never slept better In
my life. Am / laboring under q delu-
sion when imagine / smell coffeer
Just then there came q voice from
the open door of the kitchen: Calls
yo'sef er man. yo'. triflin' recon
structed niggah! Wen marstah gwine-
ter git he brekfus' wild yo' ramshack-
lin eroun' wild dat dawg all his
Gawd's-blessid mawnin'? Go fotch
some mo lakewood dis minute. Yo'
heah?'
A turbaned head poked itself
through the door. with a good-natured
leaf-brown face beneath 1t, which
broadened into q wide smile as its
owner bobbed theoretically at Va
liant's greeting. "Fo' de Lawd!" she
exclaimed. wiping floury hands on a
Bingham apron. "Yo' sho' is up early.
but All got yo' brekfus' ready. suh."
"All right. Aunt Daphne. I'll be
back directly"
He sped down to the lake to plunge
his head into the cool water and there
by sharpen the edge of an appetite
that needed no honing.
He came up the trail again to dnd
the reading stand transferred to the
porch and laid with white cloth on
which was set . steaming coffee-pot,
with fresh cream. saltless butter and
crisp hot biscuit; and as he sat down.
with sigh Of pure delight. In his
dressing-go a creepy Japanese
thing redeemed from womanishness
by the bold green bamboo Of its de-
sign-Uncle Jefferson planted before
. him a generous platter of bacon. eggs
and potatoes. These he attacked with
a surprising keenness. AS he buttered
rolling on his back in morning costa
sy, with look Of humorous surprise.
"Chum," he said, what do you
think of that? All my life single
roll and cup Of coffee have been
the most 1 could ever negotiate for
breakfast, and then 1t was apt to taste
like chips and whet-stones. And now
look at this PLATED" The dog ceased
winnowing his ear with a hind foot
and looked back at his master with
much the same expression. Clearly
his own needs had not been forgot
ten.
"Reck'n All bettah go ter git dat ar
machine thing" said Uncle Jefferson
behind him. "Or CONAN, heah. she
low ter fix up de kitchen dis mawn-
in en- we begin on de house dis eve
MIN"
"Right-o," said Valiant. Its all up
hill, sc the motor won't run away
with you. Aunt Daphne. can you get
some help with the cleaning"
"He'p?" that worthy responded with
fine scorn. NO, sub. Moughty few.
in de town 'cep'n low-down yaller new
issue trash det ain wu'f KILN! All
gwineter go TO- dat house mahsef TO
long, hannah en- tongs. en- git 1t tx
up"
"Splendid! My destiny is in your
hands. You might take the dog VIII