The citizen., 1922-11-29


Finding TINT I had still some leisure
before me. got a hook from my rom
nnd repaired IN the bench In the gnr-
den. But I did not rend: I Ind hut
opened the no k when my attention
wns arrested nv sounds from the other
side of the high fencc-iow md trem-
u,ous croonings Of distinctly African
derivation:
"Ah met NAH sistuh In anna wnin'.
She 'ua a-wagsin' up de hill 20 siow'
'Sistuh. you mus git Q rsstle In doc time.
BIO de hevumly dos ciose-ixr"
II was the voice Of an aged negro !:
and the simultaneous slight crcak'ng
of q small huh and axle scerned TO In.
dicnte that he wns pushing or pulling
a ch'ld's wngon or rernmbulntor up
md down the walk from the kitchen
door TO the stable. Whites. he prof
fered soothing music: over and over
he repeated the chant. though With va
rintions: encoun'ering IN turn his
brother. his daughter, ench of his pnr-
en's. his uncle. his cousin. md his
second cousin. one nfter the other
ascending the same slore with the
same perilous leisure.
"Tnv stili. honey" Tie interrurted
his ininnctions to the second d-cous'n.
"Des keep on a-nnppln' an a-hreavin'
de resh air. Dnss wia's go mex you
good an well ngln"
Then there spoke the strangest
voice that ever fell upon nv enr; II
was not like child's, neither wns II
like n very old persons voice II might
hive been n rrnsehonrpr's N wns 90
thin and little. and made of such tiny
wnv RS md qunvers and creakings.
"I-want--" said this elf'n voice. 81
-want--Rlll-Hnmm :"
TIE shabby car which had passed my
Cousins house was drawing m 10 the
curb near Beasley's gate. Evidently
the old nero saw II.
"IIi dar" he exclaimed. look at
dat Hahn Fin comm yonnnh dcs
edznrly on de dot an to de vey SPOT
nn' inStink when you 'qulnh TO I'm,
honeyf Oar come MIST Dave. right
on de minute an you kin het yo' las
hunnud dollahs he got dnt Bill Ham
mersley wiz I'm! Come along. honey
chile, Ah's ro' to puli you 'roun In
dc side yod TO- to meet EN-"
The small wagon creaked away. the
chnnt resuminc ms II went.
Mr.. Dowden jumped out Of the car
with n wave NJ his hand to the driver.
Reasley himself. who drove through his
omen cnrriage-cntes and down the
drive on the other side Of the house,
where he was lost to my view.
Dowden. entering our own gate. nod.
del In q friendly fashion to me, and
I advanced to meet him.
"Some day I want to take Won over
next DOOR" be ssif cordially. a. I
aiGe up. "You ought to know Beas-
ey, especially MS | hear you're doing
'ome political reporting. Dave Beas-
ey's going TO be the next governor Of
his state, you know" lie laughed.
'ifered me a cigar, and we sat down
ogether on the front steps.
From all I hear" l rejolned. "you
'ught to know who'll get H." ut was
aid In town that Dowden would
come pretty near having the nomlna-
on In his pocket.")
Il expect you thought I shifted the
ubject pretty briskiy the other dayf
ie glanced at me qulzzically from I'M
Ter the brim Of his black felt hat. ~
meant TO tell you about that, but the
opportunity didn't occur You see
Il understand" interrupted. 1--WE
reard ihe story. You thought II might
~ embarrassing to Miss Apper-
hwaite."
81 expect l was pretty clumsy about
E." said Dowden. cheerfully. "Well
. veil" he ficked his cigar with
mothcred ejaculation that was half
sigh and half a laugh; "it's mighty
TRANCE case. Here they keep on liv-
ng next door To each other. year after
nv, each going on alone when they