"
"There now, Toney, you have said enough about me to make the gentleman
think I am a very silly little girl."
"God bress my young missus!" he said as he tenderly patted her head. "I
wouldn't hurt your feelins for noffin. You is too good, Miss Alice.
Toney lubed your mamma--Toney lubs you, and de day you is married and
goes away, I want to go away too. I want to go yonder, Miss Alice, on
de top ob dat mound, and lie down wid ole massa and missus. He told
your pa to put me dar; but your pa's gone. O Miss Alice! dey's all gone
but you and me and your brodder, and he don't care for Toney, and maybe
he will trow him out in de woods like a dog when he die." Tears stole
down the black face of the venerable man, and the eyes of Alice
filled--and then she laughed the shrill, fearful laugh, and rode
rapidly away.
She was singing and walking hurriedly the gallery, when the stranger
and her cousin came leisurely into the yard.
"Your cousin, Miss Ann, has a strange laugh."
"Indeed she has, sir; but we who know her understand it. She never
laughs that unearthly laugh when her heart is at ease.
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