Part 26 (2/2)
”Bless my soul, if it aint Ma.s.sah Harry Powell!”
”Of course it is, Ben.”
”Yo' is so changed I didn't know yo', sah.”
”I suppose I am changed, Ben. Is my aunt at home?”
”Yes, sah.”
”Good. I want very much to see her.”
Old Ben shook his head dubiously.
”Ma.s.sah Harry, yo' aint gwine an' joined de Yanks, hab yo'?” he questioned.
”Yes, Ben; I am fighting for the old flag.”
”Yo' aunt an' Miss Marion will be wery sorry to heah dat, sah.”
”I presume so. But that cannot be helped. I did as my heart dictated, Ben. I want to see all colored folks free, as you are.”
”Dat would be wery nice certainly, sah, but--but----”
”It was too bad we had to fight, you mean.” Harry Powell looked up. ”Who is that coming?”
”Dat am Ma.s.sah Jack, sah?”
”Oh! Why, when I was here before he was nothing but a little shaver.”
The young surgeon raised his voice. ”Hullo, Jack! come here.”
Wondering who it was who was calling him so familiarly, Jack came forward. He started back upon seeing Harry Powell, and in a Federal uniform.
”You!” he cried.
”Yes, Jack. Come, won't you shake hands with me?” and the young surgeon smiled good-naturedly.
”Well--that is--I don't like to shake hands with a--a Yankee,” stammered Jack.
”Oh, so you object to my uniform?”
”I do, Harry. Why did you join the Yankees?”
”Because I thought it best. If you won't shake hands with me as a Yankee, won't you shake hands as a cousin?”
At this our hero's face relaxed, for he had always liked Harry Powell immensely.
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