disguise in her strong sympathy. "Marse Whately des set out ter
mar'y you, ez ef you wuz a post dat cud be stood up en mar'd to
enybody at eny time. Hi! Miss Lou, I'se bettah off dan you, fer I
kin pick en choose my ole man."

"Everybody in the world is better off than I am."

"I wudn't stan' it, Miss Lou. I sut'ny wudn't. I'd runned away."

"How could I run away? Where could I go to?"

"See yere, Miss Lou," and Zany sank her voice to a whisper, "dere's
a Linkum man"--

"Hush! how did you know that?"

"Chunk en me's fren's. Don' be 'feard, fer I'd like ter see de gyurl
dat kin beat me playin' possum. Dat Linkum man he'p you ter run
away."

"For shame, Zany! The idea of my going away with a stranger!"

"'Pears to me I'se rudder runned away wid one man dan hab anoder man
runned away wid me."

"Don't ever speak to me of such a thing again."

"Well, den, Miss Lou, de niggahs on dis plantashon des lub you, en
dey ain' hankerin' arter Marse Whately. Ef you say de wud, I des
belebe dey riz right up again dis mar'age."