The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-14

9" Is that such a terrible event ~ asked Les
ter. with calm smile "You will be of age
in two years
TwO years. she repeated, with slow en-
phasis.
Yes, Augusta it will take me at least two
years to carve out a home for you in Iowa"
The tears started again. but this time they
fell more softly. Z" had hoped, 30 much, that
you would stay here she whispered
"You see now that cannot, and irhy can
not. Two years will soon pass on the wings
Of Love and Faith Comfort yourself Angus
ia it is far better thus. You need different
mental atmosphere, to make you the woman
you yet may be- You have had, and will yet
have, enough to fatter you l speak the
truth ~
CHAPTER III.
1t was winter month when Henry Lester
| next alighted at that gate on the rivers bank
| The sky was thickly lowering above the
| ground was a sea of mud beneath. He tossed
his soiled cloak into the carriage that had
conveyed him thither, and, as no one appeared
to open the gates, swung them apart himself
and walked hastily up the now leafieSs avenue.
Everything bore tokens of neglect and con-
fusion. A large bough had blown across the
carriage track. He stopped to remove it and
passed on. Nota negro was visible; all around
was silent save for the creakihg of the car
| riage-wheels through the softened clay.
As he untastened the second gate a muatto
woman came running from the piazza, whom
he at once recognised as Ruby, minus the blue
turban. She wore a look of distress, and did
not recognise him until he asked, in an under
Tone Chow are they!n
| 81 q \ Ill
Deary me, Mass'r, ives bad enough, and like
to be worser. ~
1" How! Speak quick
"Mass'r kurnel, he's Jest layin' dead in his
bed yonder, and Misss is in such takin' and
the byleats is up ready, cotchin' his poor fence
less niggers and furnitur'! Come along!n she
exclaimed, pulling him by the arm. "They's
got Nanny into the lot, an Miss Gussie il
ravin' distracted ~
A summons from Augusta had been the
cause of this hasty visit. Her brother, who
had gambled deeply and met with ruinous
losses, had at last in desperation challenged
and fought Major Raby, his successful oppo-
nent in the political field and at the gaming
table He had received IL mortal wound, UNI
der which he had fingered II month, and ex-
pred but the day previous.
Lester was guided by the sound OF mingled
voices no less than by his conductress to-
ward the room that had been the late mas
ters. As he approached the door, he saw that
which fired him to sudden energy. Augusta
stood in the passage, with her barred arm
thrust before the latch of the door, which two
men, in the guise of bailifis, were trying in
vain to pass.
"But have the writln one harsh voice was
exclaiming.
"You shall not step into the room where my
brothers body lies!' exclaimed the young girl,
firmly.
He waited his time about dying-made a
mighty long job of it but you needn't think
we're going to make as long a one"-
The sentence WAS cut off by the grasp of n
strong hand, and in an instant he was hurled,
spinning round and round, like n top to the
end of the passage-way, where he fell, with n
dull sound, against the oaken panels. He
picked himself up, and shaking his stubby
locks, muttered something about Insulting
officers of the law ~ but finding his companion
completely cowed and not desiring to venture
again within the sweep of that ireful arm he
prudently and sulkly beat retreat.
Augusta had dropped upon the arm of Les
ter, without n word. The supernatural strength
Of nerve that had blazed moment before wa
suddenly extinguished She trembled in ever,
limb. Henry drew her, without resistance
within the door she had 30 successfully barred
The room was hung in black and the heavy
curtains that yelled the windows gave scarcely
ray of Heavens light admission. But by
the few beams which fell through the open
door, Henry distinguished the outline of that
saddest sight on earth-a human form without
the human soul. Beside it sat woman, with
face buried in her arms, and long hair sweep
ing. neglected over her shoulders She gave
one upward glance rs they entered, and then
sunk back into her former posture-a widowed
wife.
Henry was about to turn from the room at
this sight, when the curtains Of the high bed
parted and dark figure crept toward them
at first steathily, then swiftly, with appraised
hands.
"Lord up in heaven bless ye!" sobbed Mann
nv. for it was she My chile my chile
oh what Fse done, for to live to see dis yer
awful day"
"Come out, Nanny" whispered Augusta;
"the officers have gone
"Tll be beat if ] knowed it was Mass'r
Less'r! ~ exclaimed the nurse, in an ecstacy of
delight, catching the gentleman by the arm,
as soon IA the light fell on his features. "Lor
now, Mass'r, if you isn't one of the born an
| gels Fse hearn Miss Gussie read OF, sent to
liver dis poor sinful cretur out Of de mouth OBJ
| de lions and de osstersD
Leaving Nanny with tear-streamng cheeks,
| Henry led Augusta into the parlor. She broke
| the silence by "a passionate exclamation.
"Oh my poor, poor brother if he had but
| followed your example," She wept bitterly,
| and grew more calm Henry gradually led
| her to a statement of the whole affair, and of
the condition into which Col LcrOy's debts and
death had thrown the family.
Col Leroy had been a reckless gambler
With his dying lips he had told the sister who
had hung over him night and day how griev-
ously he had wronged her, by stalking, in q
desperate moment, the greater part of her pat
rimony, after he had exhausted his own
ale told me-" said Augusta trying TO clear
her voice, @ that my servants were free from
encumbrance, and that the sale of them would
clear the homestead but nothing else would
be left to me, except the family plate, 1t seems
that Nanny has been drawn into the writ, by
some mistake or some fraud. cannot let her
20 must part with portion of the plate
or with my own jewelry.
"Do you intend to let any Of them go!'
"Poor things would not if could help it.
But what can | do! Where can they gof
cannot keep the homestead and the servants
too then, the plantation has gone"
"Do you hesitate which to give up"
81 don't for my life, Henry, SEQ what they
could live upon!
"Why what haze they lived upon, hither-
tor
"The land, to be sure" said Augusta, look
ing mystiiied.
And there is land enough upon the broad