The northwestern bulletin., 1923-08-11
Application Of
Dark Diplomacy
BY MARTHA WILLIAMS

ny mAAlHA WiLLAAmS
n sS..s..s.s.s...
,9. Isas. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicsts.)
Blurred through the hush Of August
afternoon came Aunt Priscllla's drone:
"Zaccheus he did climb a tree,
His Lord and Mars-ter for to se-ee"
over and over until the reiteratiOn be-
came unbearable. Richie Fair had lis
tened frowning until patience, worn
threadbare. snapped. She sprang up,
stamped her small foot, and cried
through the window: IF you don't
change that tune, Nanny. I'll come out
there and murder YOU"
II amt noways feared" Priscilla
retorted. "You cain't SPAR me-not
ontwell you'se safe married. Who else
In all de wori gwine bake cake an
make tater custards, and cheese cakes,
an cook turkey. an hams an things,
ftten fur de President, er eban de
king?
IL well knows whut Use wuff-you
CANT skeer me, you imps o. Sattern
Sassin' me daterway, when ! done
walk myself ter skillingtons totin' you
though de three-monts colic-an' set
tin up nights ter play wild you, tweii
was 80 sleepy mods In meetin' ebery
time l goes dar."
"Why, Mammyl thought you were
real qualityl" Richie answered In
q panied voice. "And you know real
quality don't throw up things. Spe-
c'ally not what's been done for poor
little teenty babies that had no say
about being born to make you trouble.
"You know I couldn't help any Of
those things. Did give myself collier
And could sleep all the time? You
made me sleep BY daylight SO you
could play around; then, when /
couldn't sleep any longer, of course
didn't want to be left all by my poor
little self"
"Dest you listen at her!" Priscilla
apostrophized space. $50 hateful but
ter won't melt In her moufl No, sir
ee-bob! You couldn't make all dem
ole troubles, case you hadn't cut yo'
talk, no mon your teef, but yo' will
wus good! Look at you right now!
Trouble skipped dis plantation right
erlong twen you growed up.
"Now-my Lawd in heaven! yo' po'
pappy don't git no peace OBJ his life,
wild all de runnin' back and fo'th; all
de strange hawses eaten up his corn
and fodder. all de scalawags warm out
his fine Turkey carpets. an habbin' ter
tell somebody two-three times er week !:
Not You CANT marry my darter I'm
er Chrischen, hope, an amt got de
heart to let ye try ter do whut's past
mortal man: make her know whut she
wants and how she want 1t fer q week,
much less lifetime"
who's been telling your Richie de-
manded, giggling. Through the win
dow she saw mammy's plump shoul-
ders heaving. Tits such as this
brought Joy to both Of them.
But her question was for SO long
unanswered she went on impatiently !:
II reckon you're trying to make me
say something hateful, SO you'll have
excuse not to make me the finest bas-
ket Of all at the reunion. How'd you
like it II I said / wouldn't take any at
all7 I've a great mind not to take q
; scrap to eat. Then I can 60 with
anybody please"
"'Speck you'll please ter ride wild
I Tom-Bob Wimberly," Nanny COM
mented serenely: "An' / lay he won't
60 dar widout good rations. Wants
um ter match dat dar fine new kyar
he done bought him. Ali I got ter
do is tell him: Marse Tom-Bob. done
sign my han ter de bes' dinner ever
went ter dis here reunitin' crowd
an he'll take all fetch out-an' glad
er de chance"
"Umph-hunhl But I'm goin' with
Pete Mason-one Of the family-his
great-srandmammy was half-Fair, he
says" from Richie sxultantly.
BE mon two words ter dat bar.
gain" nanny said. dropping the knife
with which she was pesaing fruit for
drying. and waddling within. "Yo'
pappy'll bust up Do whole combobbera.
tion rudder'n b haA yVu ride up In
de face Oh al 10 hin wad dat dar seal.
lywag."
He won't know ft-iA time" Richie
pouted. Nanny gruntsd, II knows
OATS ernough," then softening, Babe
don't you 60 be ugly. Lissen at me-
Pete Mason got hne outside-dat
amt denying-but inside he's rotten
Soner'n hab you trust yerself wild him
Til telefoam Marse Tom-Bob ter shoot
ahim. Dis amt foolin' needer-hit's dc
word wid de bark on It. So you be
good"
II wouldn't now, not even II 1 want
ed to-" Richie cried, denantly. "I'n &c
with him, dance with him--all the time
II 1 feel like it-and snap my fingers a,
all the Fairs and Conways and Pard
ridges, and all the rest II they want tc
look cross-eyed over It."
"Pears like you was bawned te,
make trouble" nanny said, slghing
but her eyes twinkled knowingly once
she was outside.
The reunion was the occasion OF
seven counties In that II brought to
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