CHAPTER XXVI. MILLY'S RETURN.

afewdaysshewouldbequiterecovered. "Andnow,Milly,dopraytellmewhereyouhavebeen,"saidNina,"andwhatthisisallabout." "Why,yousee,honey,IwashiredtoMr.Barker,anddeysaid'hewasamightyniceman'andsohewas,honey,mosttimesbut,den,yousee,honey,dere'ssomefolksdere'stwomenin'em,—oneisagoodoneandt'oderisverybad.Well,disyerwasjustdatsort.Yousee,honey,Iwouldn'tgofortosaydathegotdrunkbuthewasdatsortdatifhetookeversolittle,itmadehimkindo'uglyandcross,andsoderewan'tnosuitinghim.Well,hiswife,shewasprettyfarandsohewas,too,'ceptinspots.Hewasoneofdeseyerstreakedmen,dathasdreffuluglystreaksand,someofdemtimes,deLordonlyknowswhathewon'tdo!Well,yousee,honey,IthoughtIwasgettingalongrightwell,atfirst,andIwasmightypleased.Butderewasonedayhecamehome,and'pearedlikederecouldn'tnobodysuithim.Well,yousee,deyhadagaldere,andshehadachile,anddisyerchilewasalittlething.Itgotplayingwithalittleburntstick,anditblackedoneofhiscleanshirts,Ihadjusthungup,—forI'dbeenironing,yousee.Justdenhecamealong,andyouneverheerdamangoonso!I'sheerdbadtalkafore,butIneverheerdnosich!Hesworehe'dkilldechileandIthoughtmysoulhewould!Deporlittlethingrunbehindme,andIjustkephimoffonit,'causeIknowedhewan'tfittotouchitanddenheturnedonme,andhegotacow-hide,andhebeatmeoverdehead.Ithoughtmysoulhe'dkillme!ButIgottodedoor,andshutdechileout,andHannah,shetookitandrunwithit.But,blessyou,it'pearedlikehewasatiger,—screeching,andfoaming,andbeatingme!Ibrokeawayfromhim,andrun.Hejustcaughtderifle,—healwayskeponeloaded,—andshotatme,anddeballjuststruckmyarm,andglancedoffagain.BlessdeLord,itdidn'tbreakit.Datarwasamightycloserun,Icantellyou!ButIdidrun,'cause,thinksI,derean'tnosafetyformeindatarhouseand,yousee,IruntillIgottodebush,anddenIgottowharderewassomefreecoloredfolks,anddeydiditup,andkepmeadayortwo.DenIstartedandcamehome,justasyoutoldmeto." "We