Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/325

 "Going to Atlanta?"

"Yassir."

"Is she very beautiful?"

"Boss, she's de purtiess young lady I eber laid my eyes' on—but look lak she been cryin'."

"Then I want you to wake her. I must see her."

"Lordy boss, I cain do dat. Hit ergin de rules."

"But, I'm bound to see her. I've ridden eighteen miles across the mountains and scratched my face all to pieces rushing through those woods. I've a message of the utmost importance for her."

"Cain do hit boss, hits ergin de rules. But you can go wake her yoself, ef you'se er mind ter. I cain keep you fum it. She's dar in number seben."

Gaston hesitated. "No, you must wake her," he insisted, dropping another half dollar in the porter's hand.

The porter got up with a grin. He felt he must rise to a great occasion.

"Well, I des fumble roun' de berth en mebbe she wake herse'f, en den I tell her."

Just then the electric bell overhead rang and the index pointed to 7. "Dar now, dat's her callin' me, sho!"

He approached the berth. "What kin I do fur ye M'am?" he whispered.

"Porter, who is that you are talking to? It sounds like some one I know."

"Yassum, hit's young gent name er Gaston, jump on bode at the water station—say he got 'portant message fur you."

"Tell him I will see him in a moment."

The porter returned with the message.

"You des wait in dar, in number one—hits not made up—twell she come," he added.

There was the soft rustle of a dressing gown—he sprang to his feet, clasped her hand passionately, kissed