76 TROTTY’'§ WEDDING TOUR.

tears came, and she laid her face down on Hungry to hide
them. You see, in all her life, no one had ever looked so at
poor June before.

“June, June, come here!” called a sharp voice from the
house. But June was sobbing so hard that she did not hear.

“ Venez ici, — vite, vite! June! Voild! The little nigger
will be the death of me. She tears my heart. J une, vite, I
say!”

June started, and jumped down from the fence, and ran
into the house with great frightened eyes.

“T jest didn’t mean to, noways, missus. I want to see
Massa Linkum, an’ he look at me, an’ I done forgot ebery-
ting. O missus, don’ beat me dis yere time, an’ Ill
neber —”’

But Madame Joilet interrupted her with a box on the ear,
and dragged her up stairs. There was a terrible look on
Madame’s face. Just what happened up stairs, I have not
the heart to tell you.

That night June was crouched, sobbing and bruised and
bleeding, behind the kitchen stove, when Creline came in on
an errand for her mistress. Madame Joilet was obliged to
leave the room for a few moments, and the two were alone
together. June crawled out from behind the stove.

“T see him, —I see Massa Linkum, Oreline.”

“ De Lord bress him foreber ’n’ eber. Amen!” exclaimed
Creline, fervently, throwing up her old thin hands.

June crept a little nearer, and looked all around the room
to see if the doors were shut.