The Conjure Woman, Charles W. Chesnutt [reading women txt] 📗

up wid her, en had de doctor gib her medicine, en let ’er go ter de circus, en all so’ts er things fer ter take her min’ off’n her troubles. But dey didn’ none un ’em do no good. Chloe got ter slippin’ down here in de ebenin’ des lack she ’uz comin’ ter meet Jeff, en she’d set dere unner dat willer-tree on de udder side, en wait fer ’im, night atter night. Bimeby she got so bad de w’ite folks sont her ober ter young Mis’ Ma’g’ret’s fer ter gib her a change; but she runned erway de fus’ night, en w’en dey looked fer ’er nex’ mawnin’, dey foun’ her co’pse layin’ in de branch yander, right ’cross fum whar we’re settin’ now.

“Eber sence den,” said Julius in conclusion, “Chloe’s ha’nt comes eve’y ebenin’ en sets down unner dat willer-tree en waits fer Jeff, er e’se walks up en down de road yander, lookin’ en lookin’, en waitin’ en waitin’, fer her sweethea’t w’at ain’ neber, neber come back ter her no mo’.”

There was silence when the old man had finished, and I am sure I saw a tear in my wife’s eye, and more than one in Mabel’s.

“I think, Julius,” said my wife, after a moment, “that you may turn the mare around and go by the long road.”

The old man obeyed with alacrity, and I noticed no reluctance on the mare’s part.

“You are not afraid of Chloe’s haunt, are you?” I asked jocularly.

My mood was not responded to, and neither of the ladies smiled.

“Oh, no,” said Annie, “but I’ve changed my mind. I prefer the other route.”

When we had reached the main road and had proceeded along it for a short distance, we met a cart driven by a young negro, and on the cart were a trunk and a valise. We recognized the man as Malcolm Murchison’s servant, and drew up a moment to speak to him.

“Who’s going away, Marshall?” I inquired.

“Young Mistah Ma’colm gwine ’way on de boat ter Noo Yo’k dis ebenin’, suh, en I’m takin’ his things down ter de wharf, suh.”

This was news to me, and I heard it with regret. My wife looked sorry, too, and I could see that Mabel was trying hard to hide her concern.

“He’s comin’ ’long behin’, suh, en I ’spec’s you’ll meet ’im up de road a piece. He’s gwine ter walk down ez fur ez Mistah Jim Williams’s, en take de buggy fum dere ter town. He ’spec’s ter be gone a long time, suh, en say prob’ly he ain’ neber comin’ back.”

The man drove on. There were a few words exchanged in an undertone between my wife and Mabel, which I did not catch. Then Annie said: “Julius, you may stop the rockaway a moment. There are some trumpet-flowers by the road there that I want. Will you get them for me, John?”

I sprang into the underbrush, and soon returned with a great bunch of scarlet blossoms.

“Where is Mabel?” I asked, noting her absence.

“She has walked on ahead. We shall overtake her in a few minutes.”

The carriage had gone only a short distance when my wife discovered that she had dropped her fan.

“I had it where we were stopping. Julius, will you go back and get it for me?”

Julius got down and went back for the fan. He was an unconscionably long time finding it. After we got started again we had gone only a little way, when we saw Mabel and young Murchison coming toward us. They were walking arm in arm, and their faces were aglow with the light of love.

I do not know whether or not Julius had a previous understanding with Malcolm Murchison by which he was to drive us round by the long road that day, nor do I know exactly what motive influenced the old man’s exertions in the matter. He was fond of Mabel, but I was old enough, and knew Julius well enough, to be skeptical of his motives. It is certain that a most excellent understanding existed between him and Murchison after the reconciliation, and that when the young people set up housekeeping over at the old Murchison place, Julius had an opportunity to enter their service. For some reason or other, however, he preferred to remain with us. The mare, I might add, was never known to balk again.

Other Julius Tales Dave’s Neckliss

“Have some dinner, Uncle Julius?” said my wife.

It was a Sunday afternoon in early autumn. Our two women-servants had gone to a camp-meeting some miles away, and would not return until evening. My wife had served the dinner, and we were just rising from the table, when Julius came up the lane, and, taking off his hat, seated himself on the piazza.

The old man glanced through the open door at the dinner-table, and his eyes rested lovingly upon a large sugar-cured ham, from which several slices had been cut, exposing a rich pink expanse that would have appealed strongly to the appetite of any hungry Christian.

“Thanky, Miss Annie,” he said, after a momentary hesitation, “I dunno ez I keers ef I does tas’e a piece er dat ham, ef yer’ll cut me off a slice un it.”

“No,” said Annie, “I won’t. Just sit down to the table and help yourself; eat all you want, and don’t be bashful.”

Julius drew a chair up to the table, while my wife and I went out on the piazza. Julius was in my employment; he took his meals with his own family, but when he happened to be about our house at mealtimes, my wife never let him go away hungry.

I threw myself into a hammock, from which I could see Julius through an open window. He ate with evident relish, devoting his attention chiefly to the ham, slice after slice of which disappeared in the spacious cavity of his mouth. At first the old man ate rapidly, but after the edge of his appetite had been