Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1919-08-30

desert those near and dear to her.
''Lawdy, mussy bunny, dat Miss Nora
don runnah way fun skule and is back
HON an jes' fuses to be whit folks"
soemnly announced Aunt Murrandy, the
plantation newsmonger. Miss Nora at
tended religious service the following Sun
day at Big Bluff Baptist Church. and Elder
Brown had hard time getting through his
services. she caused such Juror when
she walked into the log cabin.
Between that time and January, when
the public schools opened for three months
session, many were the pilgrimages made
by lOve-sick colored SWANS to the planta-
ton of Major Spitfre, on which Miss Nora
Needles, with her parents, resided, but none
of them seemed to make much actual head
way Miss Nora was a rare jewel within
her own self, but the boys believed that she
would be doubly so when Maj or Spitfre
cashed in for final. On the day set apart
for would-be colored teachers to take the
examination there were scores present for
the ordeal and in that instance it was
every fellow for himself and certificate
for them all. Work had begun and the still
ness of death prevailed in the room when in
walked Miss Nora Needles, all wreathed in
smiles, and bowling to everybody just as
pleasing basketful Of chips. The boy
whose breath did not come in short pants
at the sight Of her was simply the boy who
was not there. Even the superintendent
smiled as she approached him, a thing very
uncommon, and she then handed the super
intendent a note, and as he read the same
he did more smiling and then bowed to
her in the shape of an introduction, and
instead Of handing her the usual questions
to be answered he began to write her a
certificate. Evidently the note was from
Major Spitfre, and a result Miss Nora
got without effort what others had to work
hard for. Among those who were working
for a certificate was Sam Short, rather
handsome young colored white man, from
whom Miss Nora had received good many
attentions. AS she left the room she smiled
more profusely than when she entered,
especially at the gentlemen, but some one
said she laid her hand on Sam Short s
shoulder as she passed his desk, which point
of interest was afterwards extensively dis
cussed
''Well, it pears to me lax dat, Mistah
Shawl is gwin to win Miss Norah. She
seems to lax him powful we'll and I heard
Majah tell her Sam is a fine boy, an she
said, L think So was another solemn an
nouncement Of Aunt Murrandy in planta-
ton circles
Now, Sam Short was the half caste son
Of Col. Bob Short, neighbor Of Major
Spitfre, and it looked very much like that
the Colonel and the Major had put their
heads together and got busy It was cur
rent talk that Sam would get his when the
Colonel died would Miss Nora when
the Major died. Sam had been given a
fair education though he had not been sent
North nor did the Colonel ever threaten to
make white boy of him, but it looked like
happy solution of the Majors troubles
There was no doubt about it, Sam Short
was the lucky dog, as most Of the SWANS
received ''you are invited" from Mr. and
Mrs. Sharp Needles.
From this ''two souls with but single
thought two hearts that beat as one
came large family of boys and girls and
after the deaths Of the Colonel and the
Major. Mr.. and Mrs. Sam Short were adj
judged the wealthiest colored family in that
section Of the state. Their children were