Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03
hen a terrible, hoarse, gasping sound.


slapped boy and he howled, and suddenly
Mary Alice cried:
81 don't want nasty black things to eat with!
Why aren't they white, Mother, like ours?"
Everybody looked at her, and Mother reached
down and took her under one arm and carried
her out of the house: Mary Alice did not know
why. Mother did not listen to anything she
said; Mother set her down hard and held her
head under one arm and lifted up her skirts
and struck her from behind. Mary Alice yelled
with amazement and terror. Mother struck her
more than once and then said:
Now come in this house, and eat, and don't
let me hear another word out of youl"
Mary Alice sat bowed on the bench and
swallowed as much as she could. She was most
miserable Afterward they went home, and
all down the white road Mary Alice did not
say anything. only she looked up at Mother
now and then. and felt confused. When they
got home she hurried into the house and sat
alone in a corner, holding her rag doll.
The days were forlorn. Uncle Charley did
not come, Father did not laugh, and Mother
never tickled toes any more when she pulled
the covers of the cot in the mornings. Father
had finished the well; there was no more red
clay, and in the yard there were only lizards
and ants to watch
One night Mary Alice had dream. She
dreamed that some one came tapping at the
door in the night Father said, who's there?"
and Uncle Charleys voice answered, very low.
Father got up and lighted the lamp in the
kitchen and Mother got up. Mary Alice thought
she sat I'D in bed and looked through the door
into the kitchen.
Mothers long braid hung down her wrapper,
and Mother said to Father: mo, won't do it,
Howard. Everything we own in the world Is
IN this farm. You won't be driven of it while
have anything to say about it."
Fathers wrinkles were deep black marks on
his face above the lamp. He said, well, but
Mary"
IT don't believe it, anyway" Mother said.
'She couldn't hate us like that. What have We
ever done to her?"
I TNCLE CHARLEY'S voice was there, but
Mary Alice could not see Uncle Charley.
Mother turned quickly and spoke toward the
voice
well, why don't your" she said. "You don't
belong with such people. You used to be the
finest boy in Webster County and what's she
doing to you? You know it isn't true; you
know I've never said word to turn you against
her, but say it now. Yes, leave her! Married
or not married, there's some things wrong in
the sight of God. If you'll come with us,
Charley, we'll go. Wen go back home"
Then Mary Alice heard the piney woods
whispering, and she was frightened and cold
and wanted to call to Mother, but did not dare.
Uncle Charley said, Its too late, Mary"
Mother said: cit isn't too late Yes, say 1t.
don't care If you'd married her 20 times"
Then Uncle Charley said a strange thing.
He said: Mary you don't know what she'd
do. The moons shining" Mothers face went
all still and hard in the lamplight. Then she
was out of sight, and Mary Alice heard her
crying voice, "Oh, Charley, dontI don'tl" and
a terrible, hoarse, gasping sound. Father
coughed and then he grew very large and
very small and the terrible sounds went on and
on, until Mary Alice opened her eyes. The
sounds were only the whispering of the pmey
woods and Mother was combing her hair in the
morning. 81 ear
where is Uncle Charley?" said Mary Alice.
Mother Is the moon shining?"
What DO you mean?" Mother exclaimed.
"Youve been dreaming. Mary Alice. Nobodys