"
"Did Doctor Elton see the baby?"
"Yes'm. Huldie, she done cover the baby with her cook apron.
The doctor, he uncovers hit hisself. He say, 'God damn! Ward
Lawson's!' He puts the apron back and walks out the front door!"
"I declare to my soul!"
Doanie and Mama stopped talking. At first I thought it was
because they didn't have anything else to say, but it wasn't
that. They came hurrying into the room where I was to look out
the front window 'cause both of them had heard a horse galloping
up our road.
"That's Mister Jodie comin' yonder!"
"Goodness, I wonder what's the matter! He hasn't been gone an
hour!"
Mama ran to open the door.
It was Papa, all right.
"Nannie! Nannie!" He started calling her before he even got
off his horse.
"What's wrong, Jodie?"
"He's dead! They just found him!"
"Who?"
"Ward! Ward Lawson's dead!"
"Oh, the Lawd have mercy!" Doanie screamed. She threw up her
hands and ran for the back door.
"Doanie! Papa called her back.
Doanie let the door slam and came running back inside.
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