The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-12-17
CONTINUED from Last Week.
CHAPTER VI.

M'sung0 led the march home; the
donkey came next, with his nose glued
to Msung0's back and with Andrea
In the saddle. Clinging to his tail with
both hands. more as drag-anchor
than rs deterrent, came Bathtub, and
behind him the long rank and file.
Andrea was stll shifting little, but
her tear-stained face, like a child's,
was already cloudless.
u think Marguerite is too funny"
she said. "He's got his eyes tight shut
and he's steering himself by his nose
In your shirt. VIII you please tell
Bathtub to let 60 his tail?"
"Bathtub knows his business" re-
piled M'sungo, but, as 1t happened,
even as he spoke. Bathtub cast Off one
hand to receive lighted white cheroot,
communal bit Of property that had
come up the line Of personal attend
ants, six puffs to a "boy." He never
got puff, for on feeling less weight
behind, Marguerite opened his eyes,
looked straight back on both sides Of
his lean body Mt once, fiattened his
ears and broke from the path at a
dend rum
The high cantle Of the stock saddle
saved Andrea from staying just where
she started from. She was horse
woman, horn and bred, consequently
even while her amazement was at its
height, she wrapped the reins on her
arms, drove her toes into the bucket
sdrrups and Strengthened her young
back into the long. strong and saving
pull Of calm desperation, for Mar
gueritc was headed straight for the
ieafy. low-hanging branches Of vast
mafuta tree.
Yclls Of delight resounded from
every black man in sight with excep-
ton OF poor Bathtub, who had re-
gained his double hand-hold only after
having been jerked from his feet, and
now dangled along like the proverbial
village tin can OH the trail Of ter
rifled dog.
Above the din came to Andrea's very
busy brain shout that stood out like
sudden scream in long nightmare,
Marry him or jump off !" Before she
could grasp the deadly import Of those
words she was hanging like n half
closed jacknife over limb Of the
tree watching Marguerite browse as
though nothing had happened, his tall
still tightly grasped by now grinning
Bathtub.
Ten minutes later the procession
was under way again in the order
aforementioned with the variation
that the reins of the bride were knot.
ted to the back OF M'sungo's belt. An
drea. too dazed to protest pondered
over this indignity, but when she final.
Iy found her voice she decided to use
1t for another purpose.
Il think 1t was horrid Of the blacks
to yell the way they did," she re-
marked with suspicious meekness.
"DOn't your"
M'sungO seemed relieved. II certain.
~ do" he answered promptly. "But
yOu'll have to accustom yourself to the
bOn between the black man and all
women In the world"
"What do you mean?" asked An
drea, myStifled. What's oboloT
'Tn this country" explained M'sun.
Eo, "obolo Is the market price for
women. The best nutive authorities
however, contend that obOlo Is not u
purchase price but the remuncratl tlon
to the father for the board. training
and general keep OF his daughter up
TO the time OF her marriage, and they
base their argument on the fact tina,
while women are property they arc
not chattel, title being nontransfer
able"
"Can damaged goods be ex
cilangedp inquired Andrea iclly.
"Cprte.nly." he answered, absorbed
la his topic. Exchanged where
there's another daughter available |;
where there isn't, money Is refunded
Iby order Of the courts. Rut what
was driving at Is that in spite Of the
contention mentioned above, wherever
a woman Is concerned black can
never get 1t out Of his head that she
Jean be replaced ut the regular market
lprice. Now you've got the kernel Of
bis whole attitude toward women"
$50 IL 1t had been you they wouldn't