Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/107

Rh The Colonel recognized his friend in an instant, and extended his hand cordially.

"Why, bless my soul! If it is n't Black Peter, that used to be Tom Lightfoot's body servant! How do you do? how do you do?"

By that time they were sawing the air with mutual delight.

"An' ter think I done live ter see Marse Colonel agin! An' how is all de folks? How ole missis, and Miss Sally Lightfoot, and little Marse Torm?"

"Admirably, admirably well," cried the Colonel, beginning to give all the particulars of ole missis, Miss Sally, little Marse Torm, etc., in his big baritone. The people all turned toward the Colonel and his long-lost friend, and everybody smiled. Letty, not at all confused, stood by her grandfather's side and put her hand into Black Peter's paw.

Peter was extremely elegant, after an antique pattern, not unlike the Colonel's own, and proud to be recognized as a friend by "de fust quality."

He escorted Colonel Corbin and Letty to the most prominent table in the room, called up half a dozen waiters to take their orders, and succeeded in making everybody in the