The Washington herald., 1921-06-19
ICesttunsd from prseedine passl

more to her, for he was old for his age and q
staid, quiet man, averss from society, fond
Of reading, and with no pleasures in which
the average Etn could share. He would have
made . splendid husband, bot not for Nay"
Gradually built up the picture Of Henry
slannins, yet I cannot say that ever saw
sometimes grew clear, then receded again
Some, I found. held him cyuic, with the
warm heart a cynic often oonceals; others, Of
q religious frame Of mind, doubted him as one
not orthodox None denied that much good
could be credited to him, and only IN one
quarter. and that very unexpected. did IND
Q doubt or q suggestion that he had ever
committed an act open to question
visited de widow Of John DiSgie, who
proved q taIker. But she was Intelligent, her
memory seemed Trustworthy, and her hon
esty obvious She was gathering washing
from the thorny hedge outside her little
home. and she chatted mournfully Of her
husband, the night Waterman, and his vir.
tues.
Him not an enemy, sar-de kindest man
and de best husband. Him work for Marse
Henry an Marse Amos for years an years.
an nebber a hard word from dem all de time.
Dey ink de world OBJ him. an my po' John,
he nnk de world OBJ dem"
Let me come into your house and sit
down. Mrs. Diggle, out Of the sun. I'm sure
everybody has been very sad for you. Mr..
DiggIe was greatly respected"
a most respectable man, sar, an only
wicked rogues dat tief de cane ebber quarrel
wild him"
Had he any quarrel with Solly Lawson.
the poor niger who had his throat cut7"
-Nebber. He knew dat Solly was a wild
niger; but John 'markable gentle wild young
men and he said Solly mend some day. He
. most Christian person. my John"
Tell me about him 1 am very interested
to hear about him.
She rambled on for a while, and gradually
I brought her to her last memories Of the
man.
Did he ever do anything that Mr.. Henry
didn't approved"
mo, sar-nebber.-
Did Mr.. Henry ever do anything your
husband didn't approved"
enc, sar; Marse Henry a good man. But
but
They always agrecd7"
Now you say dat, mind queer ing.
sar. One day-one, two, free day before him
die, my John came in sad to him breakfus,
an I say. What de matter, John?' An
him say. Muffin But say, Oar somenn,
cause yo' head wrinkle up an you pun fro
your nose An him say, You dam silly
ole woman. Jane Den, fore he go out in
de pigeon peas to work. he say. Blast dem
wicked folk dat steal de cane-dey make
trouble an 1t fall on me-"
Was much cane being stolenr-
No, sar. Oar always a little gwine by
night: an John he cotch a man sometimes:
but it am muffin much, an I nebber heard
him worry bout it. So 1 say, Yo' no worry.
John. bout silly hng like dat an he say.
I got to worry. cause Marse Henry, him
worry. An Marse Henry, him tell me no
sharp enough an no do my duty to de t.efs
an forget how to treat de roEues.' terrible
surprised to hear my husband say dat an
John. he run on. an he say he do what he
told to de end in future. whatebber happens
an no question orders; an say. You al
ways do what you told, John"
Did he explain any more about it!-
No. Him go way growing. but him soon
get happy again. He said no mo- bout 1t,
an I fink no mo- bout it till John gone
killed an Marse Henry gone killed; an den
I wish knew mo bout It; but too late
den. Po' John-him shot in de side an him
heart blown to pieces"
Il suppose Mr.. Slanning couldn't have
shot your husband7"
Me Gard Marse Henry shoot John? Yo'
might as well nnk John shoot Marse Henry.
Marse Henry a genman dat hated killing
anything Him nebber fred a gun in him life.
Him nebber squashed a scorpion. He love
John, for him told mo 50. when John I'll once.
An John-him have died a hundred times
for Aarse Henry. or Msrse Amos. He berry
faithful man an live for his masters"
Have you any idea In your mind Mrs
Diggle. what happened? II John has some
times arrested men for stealing sugar cane,
he may have had enemies"
mo. de man or two dat went to prison no
ink bad Oh John 1t all In de days work for
bad man to be cotch some time And John
him shot wid him own gun-member dat
John carry him gun himself He nebber put
II out Of him hand"
1t would have been impossible, you think.
for anybody to get his gun away from
John7"
only Marse Henry do dat II Mar.e
Henry come by night an say, Lend me 20
gun. john den John lend him. But Marse
Henry no want gun. Him hate guns"
Did your husband ever say he had met
Mr.. slanning on his rounds by niEht7"'