The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-07

tub, in offended dignity
@ say?0 spoke another Of the house SER
wants, several of whom had joined the debating
group at the gate "will he tote off our Miss
Gussie, most likely"
:" spec! laconically replied the oak-perch-
ed Vic, who, in his white apron and airs Of
wouldbe wisdom, bore no slight resemblance
to a white owl in the branches in the fast
deepening twilight.
Glad she amt mig missis no-how," he add
ed, twisting the twig of spice tree in his teeth
" None o. your totin' about for this child"
aid like it she was ma missis," said Tim.
"Pd like it she'd show me the up country
thar
"Wish she was mine I'll be bound, said old
Kitty, a coal-black chambermaid, settling her
self heavily upon the horse block. "Sich far
spoken little lady as she alters was, and alters
will be! Pve seen her stand cryin', when she
was no bigger nor a picaninny, when Mass
Kurnel would be laying it on, or mebbe the
old Mass'r hisself Bless the eyes Of We all
chin! the bght'il be put out of 'em the day
Missy Gussie quits the place!8
Who's gwine to make her quito scornful.
ly asked the blue-turbaned, who had returned
to the charge, with an empty bucket. al tell
We, when Mass'r what-y e-call-him totes of the
big house on that frizzly head of his'n, he'll
stan chance to tote Miss Gusse up Nor'ard
It's the old place whar she was raised, aud it's
her'n; and she knows as how there amt nothing
to come nigh it in them parts nor in theselN
"Sich as makes up to quality ladies, most
gin'ally stays on" observed old Kitty, in her
grum monotone.
The harmony into which the gang of dispu-
20 10 IunIx h.,
the apparition of the very gentleman in ques-
ton, who walked calmly out from behind a
Cherokee-rose hedge that divided the front lawn
from the side yard, almost into their midst
There was sudden scattering of all but the
white owl, who sat still on his perch, solemnly
winking up at the gathering stars. Lester look
ed up at him as he passed, and bit his lips to
repress the laughter that was gathering behind
them.
Henry Lester had been New England boy,
born among the hills, and nurtured on the
bread of poverty, the well-earned widow g
mite.n His father died when he was quite
young, leaving Henry and an infant sister to
the care of an almost penniless but strong
hearted mother. She was ambitious and per-
ceiying in her precious boy the tokens of tai
ents above the common stamp, she had deter
mined, at all hazards and sacrifices, to give him
the education that would develop them. She
had sent him to college had infused her own
ambition into his kindling spirit. and reused
him to persevering and successful effort Never
did mothers heart beat higher than hers
on the day when, in crowded hall, he stood
up before her and the sages Of his native State,
the valedictOrian of his class
There was another heart in that throng too,
that throbbed more quickly at that sight and
there was another, fairer, younger face, screen
ed rather than hidden by fall of white Cos
samer, on which the eye of the young orator
rested before it sought even his mothers. Ii
was that of a young girl from the South, whose
acquaintance he had formed, by happy acct
dent during one of her school vacations and
often renewed by skilful maneuvres. even while
she was under the guardianship of boarding
school discipline. Augusta Manning was then
only child in years Yet her birth under an
almost tropical sun had warmed her into pre-
cocity of feeling and of manner. She unlock
ed the heart of Henry by her arch, artless eyes,
and childish naivete; and stole into it by that
nameless charm-that combination of grace,
dignity, and carelessness, that characterizes the
high-bred Southern girl, almost from her era
die
She had returned six months before we so
unceremoniOusly introduced her to her estate
of which she was heiress in her own right, un.
der the guardianship of an half brother on the
maternal side, some years older than herself
Col Leroy was "a thorough man of the world
high-spirited, hospitable, extravagant or win.
dictive, as occasion might, in his view, demand
At the conclusion of his legal studies, Henry
had flown southwark, to give shape to plans
which as yet hoated dreamily in his brain
Augustus promise to him had been given with
childish lips, in land of strangers He wish
ed to know if it would be sealed Mt her home,
under a serious realization of all which she
must consent to sacrifice for his sake.
CHAP III.
The morning dawned without cloud. Hen
ry Lester woke to its brightness with a gush
of music in his ears that thrilled the chords of
his heart A tiny wren sat on the sill of his
open window, pouring a volume of unrivalled
melody from its infnitesimal throat Ii was
startled by the uplifting Of his head, and dash
cd through the trumpet-vine that curtained
the window, shaking a shower Of silver dew
drops from the scarlet flowers and dripping
leaves.
Henry stepped from the window upon the
side verandab, and strolled along with no other
aim than to drink in the beauty and fragrance
with which God had clothed the morning. He
found himself before he was aware of it, in the
path leading to the quarters"
A long brick ar-house," containing a
steam-mill, with all other machinery necessary
| to sugar making, was the centre building.
Around this, in several short streets, as it were,
stood the huts of the negroes Neat little
whtewashed cabins they were; some Of them
shaded by stray china-tree, or spreading
magnolia; some even overhung with rOse-vines
or grit about with fower-patches The great
bell rang as he approached; and standing at q
little distance, he leaned upon the hedge tc
make his observations
The work of that day was to be in corn
field not far away; so all hands, both old mer
and children, young men and maidens," wer,
pressed into the long file. Some came merrily
out, swinging their hoes or bright tin buckets
over their heads; others Jagged lazily, as j
weary or sick, and were greeted with no very
comforting words by the negro-d-ivers wbt
stood leaning against his door, with his fee
crossed, smoking pipe with great unconcern
apparently. As he saw the file complete, HI
drew the pipe from his teeth and having NUT
tered something about "'tarnal lazy, and devil
ish lste hours hc bade them keep quicl
step" and nodding them off with their drivers
betook himself again to his pipe.
Lester turned, and walked towards the gar
den, whose balmy breath wooed him to forge
the scene he had just witnessed. His patti
was under magnolia trees just bursting int
bloom. The air was heavy with overmucl
sweetness The knocking birds, darling int
the sunlight, and catching it on their wings
kept up an oratorio that well Knocked the at
tempts of human yocalists. II was dazzling
bewildering Henry shaded his eyes with hi
hand for moment and paused in the invol
untary homage Of deep feeling.
The garden gate opened and Augusta in {