Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/81

 Eve thrust her head out the window.

"Who's dat?"

"Hits me, M'am, Mister Nelson Gaston, I'se call ter see you."

"Den you hump yo'se'f en git away from dat do, you rascal."

"De Lawd, honey, I'se des been er foolin' you ter day. I'se got dem licenses en de Buro man right out dar now ready ter marry us. You know yo ole man nebber gwine back on you—I des been er foolin'."

"Den you been er foolin' wid de wrong nigger!"

"Lawd, honey, doan keep de bridegroom er waitin'."

"Git er way from dat do!"

"G'long chile, en quit yer projeckin'." Nelse was using his softest and most persuasive tones now.

"G'way from dat do!"

"Come on, Eve, de man waitin' out dar fur us!"

"Git away I tells you er I scald you wid er kittle er hot water!"

Nelse drew back slightly from the door.

"But, honey, whar yo ole man gwine ter sleep?"

"Dey's straw in de barn, en pine shatters in de dog house!" she shouted slamming the window.

"Eve, honey!"—

"Doan you come honeyin' me, I'se er spec'able 'oman I is. Ef you wants ter marry me you got ter come cotin' me in de day time fust, en bring me candy, en ribbins en flowers and sich, en you got ter talk purtier'n you ebber talk in all yo born days. Lots er likely lookin' niggers come settin up ter me while you gone in dat wah, en I keep studin' 'bout you, you big black rascal. Now you got ter hump yo'se'f ef you eber see de inside er dis cabin ergin."

Crestfallen Nelse returned to the officer.

"Wall sah, deys er kinder hitch in de perceedins."