The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-18

! freedom. This secret cannot be kept forever. |
have lately learned 1t, as others viii. The cred
itors of Major Somerville are growing impatient.
They will not modest him now-but he is in ex-
treme age If anything were to happen to him,
they would swoop down upon his property, and
sweep it all away and though as Major Somer-
vlles largest creditor, my claims are just and I
promise to forego them, yet Others will not or
cannot afford TO be so mercful. Therefore, i'd
wise you to get your prosge out of the State, with
all possible expedition. IL is pity that young
| girl, so nearly white as to pass for white, and
with mind and heart so rich and go highly cul-
tivated, should be reduced to slavery! And, ring
ing the bell for her servant. Mrs. Armstrong
dismissed men
"well, Brutus, what do you think of this
story?o
"Sir, am confused-amazed but think that
when the devil or Mrs Armstrong grows philan-
thfobic, something is 10 be saspeole3. and sSodld
be on their guard mosned Brutus, in tone of
"And i, Brutus%. My braid ret,s, '0oiinv,rnnvo,
my memory fails | am unable to fix my atten-
ton upon anything. This child, Brutus! loved
her as my ownV
"Ah, sir p heavily sighed Brutus.
C You do not know all she was TO mep
ooh, sir! yes, do"
"She was the life of my heart"
"Oh Heaven, sir of mine too! :"
81 called her Zoe-iJs~
"God have mercy on us y
81 taught her GREEKW
"God have mercy on usw again prayed Bru-
tus, passionstely clasping his hands
"Brutus ~
"Sirw
"You can never marry her"
ooh! know it,n groaned the young man.
"Therefore, Brutus, there must be no more
love passages between you"
"Oh no, no, sir p sighed the Lion, dropping
his shaggy head upon his hands.
"lf take her to the Lair, where indeed she
will be safer, in some respects, you will regard
! her misfortunes ~ -...-
ayes, sir, oh yes But tell me-does she
no, she does not-this unfortunate child-suspect
her real position ~
"Ah, mol have not had the courage to tell
| her YETI
At this moment the coming up of Zoe arrested
their conversation.
By nghtfall they were all at the Lair. The
old man, as is frequently the case with the ex-
tremely aged, had, after this spasmodic clearing
up Of his intellects, relapsed into the confused,
ssssrset:a s0nd'tsec- Of $~'nd that had If late
Immediately on reaching the Lair, Brutus had
fire lighted in a musty old study, filled with
mouldy books, and conducting the schoolmastel
there, told him that that opened into sleeping
room and that they were to be his apartments
Here, seated at a wood fire. the old man fell int
reverie, forgetting even to inquire about hi
pupil
In the old stone kitchen below, little Zoe busted
herself in making whey for the patient, while
Brutus walked modify up and down the floor
Gertrude remained at the bedside of her invalid
She did not even join the schoolmaster, Brutus
and Zoe, at supper but after supper, she came
down, and sent Zoe up to watch, while she took
some refreshments. The schoolmaster had retired
again to the musty study Gertrude took seat
near the window and while she ate some straw.
berries she talked to Brutus.
How is your patient Gertrudep he asked.
"Feverish, restless tumblipg about his bed, and
worrying himself to death about some State pa
| pers that must be returned to Washington
"Whers are they nowW
ain his coat pocket
"Send them to the post-ofice"
"He will not trust them to our uncertain coun-
try mails besides he knows that this is not mail
day, and it is Of the utmost importance that these
papers be in the Minister'S hands the day after
tomorrow Unless his mind can be set at rest
upon this subject, he will be excited into high
fever, perhaps delirium. The physician, who
left him just as you returned, says so. was
about to ask you, Brutus, if you could not posi-
quake will take you there and back in two days
Oh Brutus, you would so much oblige me IL you
would, and 1t might be the saving Of the young
mans lifen
Brutus mused-Gertrude coaxed. II seemed
not unpleasant TO Brutus to get away, If possible,
from torturing regrets. Nothing could happen,
or at least was likely to happen, to Zoe, in 80
short space as two days.
"Brutus, | never asked a favor of you before,
\ 4
az will 20, Gertrude
Indeed. both brother and sister were wonder
fully subdued and softened-the one by pity
the other by sorrow-both by love.
In order 10 lose no time, Brutus arose before
dawn and called Gertrude, who had watched by
the wounded mans couch all night Taking
Gertrude down into the dark and silent hall, he
there related to her the secret history revealed
by the schoolmaster, at which Gertrude expressed
no surprise at all on the contrary, che replied,
al suspected 1t all along"
"You did, Gertrude! But from what circum-
stances ~
III can scarcely tell you! From the vaguest
things. that yet impressed me strongly things
no intangible that they would vanish when
would try and seize and prove them. And, more
over, mtat feel most Certainly, Is, that Mrs Arm,
strong is darkly and psrhops er'mi"affy, Implicated
IN shis same busu.ss!"
"Your reasons Your reasons2"
81 cannot give any that you would not set
down as fanciful and absurd. II were TO tell
you, for instance, only of certain looks tones ana
gestures, upon certain occasioDs-starts and pal
| Tors, upon the naming Of certain subjects-you
would consider them fantasticsl, as do when
really examine them; yet | feel In my inmost
heart that Mrs Armstrong is criminally imPlica-
ted in this affair." For, sometimes by little hints
capable Of double meaning, brighten her into
the idea that | know something when ! know
notbing!p Brutus groaned deeply, and then
said, ,,
aGertrudel old Major Somervile hiss been
threatened with an apoplectic stroke. IL Is
scarcely likely that anything should happen be-
fore nv return but If IT should chance that the
old man is stricken down-his creditors only
wait his death, TO swoop down upon his property
In a word, Gertrude, II the sheriff should attach
Zoe as his property, you will defend her ="
9With my life. Come, you know mol"
sYou will not permit the constable To take
hertz ..
aT.xr HERi Glory We shall take the con-
stables! snuff the battle afar on ("
| vi
pEATHA AT TAX cRAGs.
No-plsssures, hopes, Affections gone,
i ..A 3 4 an