Part 5 (2/2)
Through the door they made their way into the store proper. Some colored customers had just come in and these fell back with expressions of curiosity and awe equally mingled on their black faces.
”Who daid? Who daid?” they whispered, but no one vouchsafed any information. Dee looked supernaturally solemn and d.i.c.k only wanted to get his latest purchase safely landed in his car.
The house-party had adjourned to the porch in front, and when the lugubrious procession emerged from the store the gaiety suddenly ceased. As d.i.c.k backed out, the young men doffed their caps and the girls bowed their heads. What was their amazement when Dee turned out to have hold of the other end. Every man sprang forward to take her place, but she sadly shook her head and held on to her job.
”It isn't heavy,” she whispered.
Dum's eyes filled with tears. She thought with sadness that in a short while it would be heavy when it fulfilled its destiny. She was very proud of her twin that she should be so kind and helpful at such a time.
How like Dee it was to be a.s.sisting this poor young man, who had perhaps lost some one near and dear to him!
No one spoke, but all remained reverently uncovered while the coffin was hoisted on the back seat of the ragged old car. The young men a.s.sisted in this, although Dee would not resign her place as chief mourner.
”Who daid? Who daid?” clamored the darkies who seemed to spring up from the ground, such a crowd of them appeared in the twinkling of an eye.
”I don't know,” said Dum in a teary voice, ”but isn't it sad?”
”'Tain't Miss Rena Lee 'cause I jes' done seed her headin' fer the sto',” declared a little pickaninny.
”She ain't a-trus'in' her bones ter Mr. d.i.c.k's artermobe. She done sayed she gonter dribe her ole yaller mule whar she gwinter go.”
”Ain't de Lees got a boardner? Maybe it's de boardner,” suggested a helpful old woman.
”Well, I wonder if it is! Here he come! I'm a-gwinter arsk him.”
d.i.c.k came out laden with his other purchases.
”Lawsamussy! It mus' be de boardner an' all er her folks is a-comin'
down, 'cause how come Mr. d.i.c.k hafter buy all them things otherwise?
Look thar chiny an' coal skuttles an' what not!”
”Who daid, Mr. d.i.c.k? Who daid?”
”n.o.body I know of!” grinned the young man.
”Ain't it de boardner?”
”What boarder?”
”Miss Rena's boardner!”
”Sister Rena hasn't any boarder that I know of. Here, get out of the road or I'll let you know who is dead!”
He took a fond farewell of Dee and cranking up his noisy car, he jumped to his seat and speeded home with the coffin and the coal skuttle bouncing up and down right merrily.
”Ain't n.o.body daid?” grieved a sad old woman.
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