Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/244

 remember about me. You know better than I do—you understand? Make her smile again and get her to see me."

"Now, you set down dar sir, an' drink dat coffee an' tell me what you doin' gwine roun' here mopin' an' pinin' yo' life out all about a gal don't care two straws whedder you'se er livin' er dyin'. I'd be shamed er myself, great big grown man lak you is, what fit froo de war an' everybody say gwine ter be de guvnor some day."

"Can't you get her to see me, Aunt Julie Ann?" he interrupted, earnestly.

"Drink dat coffee, an' den I tell ye!"

"It's too hot for coffee—I'm not hungry—Tell me now."

"Drink it fur Mammy, boy—I wants de grouns. I'm gwine tell ye somefin when I looks in de cup. I seed a vision las' night."

To humour her John drank the coffee in silence.

She took the empty cup, studied its message, and looked into John's face.

"Yes, honey, hit's des lak I see hit las' night, an' I warns ye! I see two purty gals—a fair one and a dark one. Bof lubs ye—but dey's one er slippin up behind yer back wid a shinin' knife in her hand. Her long black hair is hangin' loose on her white shoulders an' all twisted lak snakes. I see her hide de knife in her bosom an' slip her