The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-11-12

uren stopped their play ana ran to
join In the rabble. The men dropped
their work and crowded into u COM
pact group from which came suddenly
Il cry that startled Andrea and jerked
her around to face 1t as though she
had been yanked by q string.
The cry was shrill, high, continuous,
1t was produced by rounding the
open mouth and working the tongue
latcrally in vibration as rapid as
that of scrpcnt's. 1t was CHASTITY to
watch, incredible in the rnpidity OF the
ululation, but once heard unforget-
able. 1t lasted much longer than
Andrea could have held her breath, let
alone used it, and ceased as suddenly
as 1t had begun.
"All very interesting" said Andrea
turning to her companion, "but why
didn't they do 1t bcfore?'
lie looked at her nbsently. "Thcre
is ceremonial" hc said. "a dignity,
| about the African that is absurd till
, you've known 1t for years"
"For ycars?" repeated Andrea. cit
is this your home?"
He shook his head. mo, Africa
this sort of thing-is never homo to
n white man. It's n place where he
goes to forget his sins. I've been
using it-whencvcr life has given me
a chancc-as sun bath for the soul"
Andrea stared at him, puzzled
frOwn on her brow. She wondered
why his bluntness did not offend her.
wondered If it would ever fall to her
lot to hear him say II scnsclcss thing
or laugh aloud. While she still Won
calling out meaningless words: "Shil-
ling! Five! Tin hat! Bathtub !!
Ovcrcoat !"
At each name, for names they were,
q native stepped forward. They were
all bright-faccd youngsters, fourteen
or fifteen years Of age, and their garb,
made up Of Il clean cloth bound tightly
around slim hips and falling to the
knees, and Il red fcZ with taSScl in
tact marked them as hOuScboys-
trusted pickaninnics who alone had
the right to enter the white mans
quarters and were collectively his rec.
ognizcd mouthpicccs in conveying or
derS.
"Buthtub ~ repeated the white man
A youngSter quickly saluted and
stepped out Of the line, grinning from
ear to ear at being distinguished even
for moment above his fellows.
With jerk Of his head toward An
dren the white man began to talk rap
, idly. Bathtubs eyes rolled from his
. face to Andrea's and back again. They
widencd. they narrowed, and, each Of
, the three times the white man snit
"Kiboco" with peculiar emphasis
. they seer1cd to vince.
Andrea interrupted. "What does
KIboco' mean, please2"
'It means a whip OF row rhine
, hide" said the man. "An implement
/ chat draws blood with q whisper"
Andrea went white; her eyes blazed
, $50 you whip your servants?" she
( said with curled lips.
, II have whipped boy once" an
swered the man coolly. "They have
never forgotten" He turned to her
l "This boy, Bathtub, Is yours. If HI
, ever fails you shall thrash him with
t in an inch Of his nine lives" He dis
. missed the boy with nod.
Bathtub stepped before his mis-
4 trcss, salutcd, grinned the brOadest
\ most friendly grin Andrea had eve
u seen, and without waiting for tn
$ smiling answer of her eyes was OF
s like an arrow.
' SO taken up was Andrea with watch
o ing the white man rs he issued rapi
J. fire of orders to his remaining licr
It tenants that when Bnthtub returned
), salutcd, and led her beneath the les
ser OF the acacia trees she could no
i, Continued on fifth page, this section