Kansas University Weekly.
129
such simple souls were unable to find each other in the turmoil and the trouble of their strange, new, independent life. Smoke Angel had not forgotten Daddy however. Year after year had rolled by. She was a shrivelled, old woman now, but Daddy was still her only thought.
Life had gone hard with her. It had been all she could do to keep soul and body together. Nieces and nephews had been left to her "tender and watchful care," and she had uncomplainingly worked all the harder to support them too. Her strength was marvelous; but the weather and unrelentless time, were beginning to have their effects upon her.
For years, she had been trying to save enough money with which to find Daddy. Old Judge Squires had laughed and said that perhaps a hundred dollars would do it. But what a big sum that was! What an immense sum!
Once, her long cherished hopes had almost reached realization. She had had ninety-one dollars and fifty-three cents in the old, cracked teapot at home! It had taken sixteen long, weary years to collect it; and all that time the rent had to be paid every month without fail, and the nephews and nieces had to be clothed comfortably, and sent to school, for Smoke Angel was firm in her determination that they should have an education.
Then, Rosalind Mary got married; and that took quite a big lump from the old teapot. Rosalind Mary had to have a pretty wedding dress with big sleeves, of course, and a little present, besides.
But now, since Rosalind Mary was married, and Tom and Moses were both at work, she could save more. Yes, her dream that had begun sixteen years ago was again nearing realization. The hundred dollars would soon be hers.
- * * * *
Who was that coming down the street? He was a poor looking sort of a man to be sure; but still, he reminded her of "Lill' Massa." Could it be?
"Oh! Bress de Lawd!" she cried, "Bress de Lawd! Massa, my lill' Massa!"
Smoke Angel peered into the man's dissipated-looking face.
Great tears of joy were rolling down her cheeks.
The man stopped still. "Who are you?" he growled, "and what do you mean,you miserable,old witch,by stopping me on the street in this way?"
"Doan' you know Angel—Smoke Angel, lill' Massa? I'se Smoke Ange!, an' I'se tryin' to fin' Daddy. Oh! Daddy misses me so, lill' Massa." Her voice died away, and the far away look came again into her eyes.
The man started on. Smoke Angel clutched his arm with both her horny hands.
"Lill' Massa," she pleaded, "Holp, holp me to fin' Daddy! Ise Smoke Angel, honey, hones' I is. An' Ise got money to fin' him wid, lill' Massa—" The man's eyes glittered.
"Why Angel," he cried, "I didn't know you. 'Pon my word! Yes, we'll find Daddy. In fact, Smoke Angel," he lowered his voice to a whisper, "I know where Daddy is right now. Just you give me the money, Mammy, and I'll send for him in a jiffy."
Smoke Angel was radiantly happy. Her eyes were beaming with joy, and her crooked, old back was almost straight once more. She hastened away, leaving the man to follow as best he could.
"Here it is, honey," she cried, meeting him at the door of her cabin, with the old, cracked teapot in her hand. "Here it is. You kin taike the mos' of it, honey, but leabe me jus' a lill' to buy a new dress; won't you? Hones' lill' Massa, I hain't had a new dress fo' seben years; an' Daddy would'n' laike to see me in this here ole thing. Now go, honey,-go! She pushed him from the door.
“By the fates!" the man muttered, as he hastened away, "It's against my principles, but I will help the simple, old thing. She's done me a good turn. I will tell her where her old man is even if it does—”
Smoke Angel went about her work as if in a dream. She had not been so happy since the dear old days on "Massa's" plantation. Life