He could not stop those terrible things, and afterward he could never uand.
This here supper sure smells good to me, said Portia. expect us better eat now because Highboy and Willie liable to e trooping in any minute.』
Doctor Copelaled his spectacles and pulled his chair up to the table. Where have your husband and William been spending the evening?』
They been throwing horseshoes. This here Raymond Jones haves a horseshoe pla his back yard. This Raymond and his sister, Love Jones, plays ever night. Love is such a ugly girl I dont mind about Highboy or Willie going around to their house any time they wishes. But they said they would
e bae at quarter to ten and I expeg them now any minute.』
Before I fet, said Doctor Copeland. I suppose you hear frequently from Hamilton and Karl Marx.』
I does from Hamilton. He practically taken over all the work on randpapas place. But Buddy, he in Mobile —and you know he were never a big hand at writiers. However, Buddy always haves such a sweet way with peoples that I dont ever worry ing him. He the kind to always get alht well.』
They sat silently at the table before the supper. Portia kept looking up at the clo the cupboard because it was time fhboy and Willie to e. Doctor Copela his head over the plate. He held the fork in his hand as though it were heavy, and his firembled. He only tasted the food and with each mouthful he swallowed hard. There was a feeling of strain, and it seemed as though both of them wao keep up some versation.
Doctor Copeland did not know how to begin. Sometimes he thought that he had talked so mu the years before to his children and they had uood so little that now there was nothing at all to say. After a while he wiped his mouth with his handkerchief and spoke in an uain voice.
You have hardly mentioned yourself. Tell me about your job and what you have been doing lately.』
Course I still with the Kellys, said Portia. But I tells you, Father, I dont know how long I going to be able to keep on with them. The work is hard and it always take me a long time to get through. However, that dont bother me about the pay I worries about. I suppose to get three dollars a week—but sometimes Mrs. Kelly likes a dollar or fifty ts of payihe full amount. Course she always catches up on it soon as she able. But it haves a way of leaving me in a pinch.』
"That is nht, said Doctor Copeland. Why do you stand for it?』
It aint her fault. She t help it, said Portia. Half the folks in that house dont pay the rent, and it a big expeo keep everthing up. I tell you the truth—the Kellys is just barely keeping one jump ahead of the sheriff. They having a mighty
hard time.』
There ought to be some other job you get I know. But the Kellys is really grand white peoples to work for. I really fond of them as I be. Them three little children is just like some of my own kinfolks. I feel like I done really raised Bubber and the baby. And although Mid me is always getting into some kind of quarrel together, I haves a real close fondness for her, too. But you must think of yourself, said Doctor Copeland.
Miow------ said Portia. She a real case. Not asoul know how to mahat child. She just as biggity arong as she be. Something going on in herall the time. I haves a funny feeling about that child. It seem to me that one of these days she going to really surprise somebody. But whether that going to be a good surprise or a ba