Alma record., 1914-02-26

Even in those pinafore years Shirley
had vaguely realized that pain lay be
hind the brave gay mask. Was there
something : some event : that had
caused that dullcolored life and un-
fulfilment? And was today, perhaps,
its anniversary?
John Valiant sat propped up on the
library couch, an open magazine un-
needed on his knee. The reading
stand beside him was a litter OF let
ters aid papers. The bow-window
was open and the honeysuckle breeze
blew about him, lifting his hair and
ruffling the leaves of the papers. In
the garden three darkies were labor
ing, under the supervision of Uncle
Jefferson. The unsightly weeds and
lichen were gone from the graveled
paths, and from the fountain pool.
whose shaft now spouted a slender
spray shivered by the breeze into
million diamonds, which fell back into
the pool with a tintinabulant trickle
and drip.
lie HldclcI VI DdnOIy SOuit SiObSu
the magazine with a sigh. IF | could
only do 1t all at once!" he muttered.
1T takes such a confounded time.
Four days they've been working now.
and they haven't done much more
than clean up" He laughed, and
threw the magazine at the dog who
lodged 1t with injured alacrity. After
Ill hx,xx hA vEAl Utxsa
thirty years getting in this condition.
I guess we're doing pretty we'll"
He stretched luxuriously. I'll take
a hand at 1t myself tomorrow. I'm
as right as rain again now, thanks to
Aunt Daph and the doctor. Some
thing OF crusty citizen. the doctor,
but he's all to the good"
A heavy step came along the porch
and Uncle Jefferson appeared with a
tray holding a covered dish with
plate of biscuit and round jam-pot.
Look here" said John Valiant, Il
had my luncheon three hours ago, I'm
being stuffed like a milk-fed turkey.
The old man smiled widely. "Ets
jes' er lii snack er BROTH" he said.
hbCk ii el III hlhutI HOdt iObh uO
yuddah things Dis yeah pots dat
apple-buttah whut Miss Matte Sue
sen yo' by Rickey Snyder"
Valiant shifted with satisfaction.
I'm getting so confoundedly spoiled"
he said. that I'm tempted TO stay sick
and do nothing but eat. BY the way,
Uncle Jefferson, where did Hickey
-1
mo, sub She come fom Helrs-
Half-Acre."
What's that?"
Oats dat ornery passle o folks
yondah ON de Dome explained Un-
Gle Jefferson. 'Dey's been dab longs
All kin recommembah-jes' er ram
shackle lot o. shif'less po'white trash
whut git erlong anyways t all"
That's interesting" said Valiant.
$50 Rickey belonged there?"
"Yas. sub; pebbah d a-come down
heah 'cepin' To- Mis- Shirley. She de
one whut fotch de III gal outen dat
place, en- put huh wild Mis- Matte Sue,
three yeah ergo"
A sudden color came into John Va
liants cheeks. ''Ten me about II"
His voice vibrated eagerly.
We'll, suh." continued Uncle Jeffer-
son, "dey was one o. dem low-down
HelfsHalf-Acrers, name Greet King,
whut call hese'f de mayah oh de
Dome, en- he went on de rampage one
day, en- took ahtah his wife. She was
er po' sickly 'ooman, wild er III gal
80 yo'n OF by er fust husban'. He
uoAe be-. nuh heap O. times befo, but
dis time he boun ter finish huh. Ah
reck'n he was too drunk TO dat. en-
she got erway en- run down heah. Et
was wintah time en- dah's snow ON de
groun'. Dah's er road rom de Dome
dat hits de Red Road clost' ter Rose
wood-dat ar's de cambridge place
en- she come dah. Reck'n she wuz er
pitiful-lookin' obstacle. 'Peahs lax
she done put de III gal up IN de
cabin lof' en- hid de laddah. en- she
mos crazy TO feah Greet q huh. She
lef' he huntin' TO de young 'ua when
she run erway. Dey was ony Mis-
Judith en- Mis- Shirley en- de gal Hm'- :
line at Rosewood, Well. sub. dey
want no time ter SEN TO- men. Whut
yo' reck'n Mis- Shirley do? She atm
afeahd o. muffin on dis yerf, en- she
on'y sebenteen yeah oil den, too. She
DON tell Mis- Judith-no, sub! She
run out ter de stable en- saddle huh
boss. en- she gallop up dat road ter
s-Half-Acre lax er shot outen er
shovel"
Valiant brought his hands together
sharply. Yes, yes" he said. And
them"
/ when she come ter Greet Kings
cabin, he done foun' de laddah, en- one
er he foots was on de rung. He had
er ak in he han. De po' lii gal was
peepin' down thoo' de cracks o de
flo. en- prayin' de bestes she know
how. She say arterwuhds dat she
reck'n de Good Lawd SEN or angel
TO Mis- Shirley were all In white
she didn' stop ter change huh close
! Che dtdn' oav muffin Mis- Shirley