(Copyright.) AUNT ESTER’S DIPLOMACY.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 41, 22 May 1906, Page 8

(Copyright.) AUNT ESTER’S DIPLOMACY.

BY -'MEG MERRILL." “* "He done gone down de road !"- exclaimed Aunt Ester in a disappointed tone, as she watched Massa Frank ride briskly towards the village. “It am ober two weeks since he gone see Miss. Sallie. Dar’s somefin de mattah." “I spec dem two done hab a fuss," remarked Uncle Gideon, snatching a live coal from the ashes aud placing it in his pipe. # “Of course dey hab !" snapped Aunt Ester. In the “quarters " of the Hammond and Pentland plantatations, the union of Frank t Hammond and Sallie Pentland was regarded as a certainty and had been duly discussed and approved. The love-making had been watched with pride and affection, and now to have their plans set at naught by the whims of two giddy young people was not to be endured. A gloom settled over the quarters that even Gabe’s fiddle did not dissipate, and none felt the sting of disappointment as did Aunt. Ester. She dearly loved the two young people. Frank Hammond owing to the delicate health of Mrs. Hammond she had reared, and he habitually called her “Mammy." No place hod equalled Aunt Ester’s cabin in attractiveness to little Sallie Pentland

so the two children had grown up almost in her sight and she loved them both as if they had been her own. The marriage of the two was the cherished object of Aunt Ester’s life, and when she saw the breach

evidently widening between them she felt that a bold stroke must be made or all would be lost. When Frank returned from his ride Aunt Ester met him as he catae from the stable.

"Whar you been, Massa Frank ?" she inquired. “Only down to' the village," he replied, with much the appearance of a child who expected a scolding. “You ain’t been up to see Miss Sallie fo’ ino’ dep a week. Don* you tink she might be spectin’ you to call ?’’

"I don’t think she is," he replied, defiantly, “I don’t care if she is !"

“She am a nice gyal," remarked Aunt Ester tentatively.

“Yes. she is," returned Frankj. . “Mighty purty gyal she am," corvtinued Aunt Ester ; “pity some no count feller pick up dat ar’ gyal." “Well, Mammy," said Frank wearily, “she's nothing to me," and he walked toward the house with a very gloomy air. “Good mawning, Miss Sallie," said Aunt Ester, appearing suddenly on the Pentland verandah, and interim pled the young lady in what appeared to be a melancholy train of meditation. »

"Good morning, Atfnt Ester !," exclaimed Miss Sallie, with a rather confused*manner ; “and how are you and how is Uncle Gideon?" “Gid’un an poly, poly and lazy, Miss Sallie," replied Aunt Ester, as she fanned herself with her hand.

“I jest run over fo’ a word wil Serena ; goin’ back now." “Are the Colonel and Mrs. Hammond well ?” inquired Miss Sallie. At this obvious exclusion of any interest in the well-being of Mr. Frank Hammond-, Aunt Ester grinned.

“Dem two am well and hearty," she said with emphasis on the first two words that would lead one to suppose that some other member of the family was not in that enviable condition. Miss Sallie, however, declined any further inquiries, so Aunt Ester changed her tactics. “Ole man, Gid’un he mope round in de woods till he fin’ a bee tree, Miss Sallie, an’ de honey am de fines’ I eber saw. Now, Miss Sallie, tor morrer ebenin’ I jest want yo’ to come to my cabin. Ashcake an’ ho»ney, Miss Sallie ; ashcake and honey."

“I don’t think I can come," said Miss Sallie, sadly.

“Yo’ kin, yo’ kin," insisted Aunt Ester, “Sho, ain’t yo’ jest doted on ashcake an’ honey all yo’ life ? Oh, mebbe yo’ kin’ o’ shame Massa Frank might see yo’ eatin’ dat stuff. Yo’ no see him. Ho is a trappestin arter dat Miss Patty Cyarter all de time. Sartain she am a purty gyal. She hab lubbly eyes. Well, yo come now, Miss Sallie, yo’ sho’ not see Massa Frank."

Wringing a reluctant promise finally Aunt Ester departed, leaving Miss Sallie mournfully regretting that she had agreed to ever cross the boundaries of the Hammond plantation. So sad did she look that if it were not for critising the diplomacy of Aunt Est.er one might imagine that the certainty of not seeing Frank Hammond -did not add any zest to the excursion. Patty Carter indeed ! Well, she hoped she would make Frank happy. Then she cried..

“Come in, Miss Sallie, come right in!" cried Aunt Ester, hospitably; “dem ar’ ash cakes jest abrownin’ lubbly. Set down dars jest nobody around. Old Massa an' Missus dey out ridin’ an’ Massa Frank he gone see Miss Cyarter, I spose. Golly, she am a purty gyal dat Miss-Cyar-ter. Clar to goodness ef it ain’t like old times to see yo’ arsittin’ dar. De Lord hab marcy !" and with this exclamation Aunt Ester hurried out of the door. Somewhat startled Miss Sallie followed her until, to her astonishment, she confronted Mr: Frank Hammond on the

threshold, who, to all appearances shared her surprise.

Aunt Ester followed so close on bis heels that the . pressure of bar

nuge body forced them both into the cabin. “Dish yere am my doin'B," she said solemnly, standing in the doorway. Chilhms, mahk it up. Mahfc it up. It am plain dat yo* lub one annudder, De Hammond an' de Pentland plantations dey jine an’ de Hammond and de Pentland niggers all lahk one family. De Lord he wants dese two plantations be one,, an’ chulluns, don’ yo’ disappoint de Lord." The ashcakes and honey were eaten and after wrapping a scarf round Miss Sallie's shoulders with a care not warranted by the state of the weather, Mr. Frank took her home. To an intimate friend, later, Aunt Ester described this famous coup as follows : “When I done speechifying dey looked kind of foolish ; den Massa Frank, he done kissed her plum on the mouf, an’ I knowed it were all right."