The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-25
NO. 273.

guards COulu near tnclr conversation.
Madame De ThOux was very minute in her
inquiries as 10 Kentucky, where she said she
had resided in a former period Of her life.
George discovered TO his surprise, that her for
mer residence must have been in his own vi
entity and her inquiries showed a knowledge
of people and things in his vicinity, that was
perfectly surprising to him.
! "Do you know" said Madame de 1houx TO
him, one day, "of any man in your neighbor-
hood, of the name of Harris -
There is an old fellow of that name, lives
not far from my fathers place" said George
1--WE never have had much intercourse with
him. though
He is large slave-owner, believe" said
Madame de Thoux, with manner which
seemed to betray more interest than she was
exactly willing to show.
81 He is said George, looking rather sur
prised at her manner
Did you ever know Of his haying-perhaps
you may have heard Of his having mulatto
boy, named George"
"Oh, certainly, George Harris know him
well. He married servant of my mothers
hut has escaped, now, To Canada
lie has % said Madame de Thoux, quick.
ly. Thank God !"
George looked a surprised inquiry, but said
nothing
Madame de Thoux leaned her head on her
hand. and burst into tears.
"lle is my brotheri' she said.
Madame :" said George with strong ac
cent of surprise
yes said Madame de Thoux, lifting her
head proudly, and wiping her tears mir.
Shelby, George Harris is my brother!"
II am perfectly astonished,' said George,
pushing back his chair pace or two, and look
ing at Madame de Thoux.
, - - Ne A lie So ----,..sr Is ~ss
boy, said she. Twas bought by good and
generous inNu" :. 49,. ,..> .,,t,,, -. 70 the
West Indies set me free and married me- 1t
| is but lately that he died; and | was coming
up to Kentucky to see if could find and re-
deem my brother
a. have heard him speak of sister Emily,
that was sold South said George
Yes, indeed ! am the one, said Madame
de Thoux; "tell Inc what sort of a.
a very fine young man. said George, not
withstanding the curse of slavery that lay on
him. He sustained frst-rate character, both
for intelligence and principle know, you
see, he said because he married in our fam
| ly'
What sort of a girl 90 said Madame dc
Thoux eagerly
A treasure said George; "a beautiful
intelligent, amiablc girl Very pious. My
mother had brought her up and trained her
as carefully, almost as a daughter She could
read and write, embroder and sew beautiful
ly and was n beautiful singer"
WAS she born in your house 2" said Mad
anne de ThOux
mo. Father bought her once, in one of
his trips to New Orleans, and brought her up
rs a present to mother She was about eight
or nine years old, then. Father would never
tell mother what he gave for her; but the
other day, in looking over his old papers, we
came across the bill of sale. He paid an ex-
travagant sum for her. to be sure. | suppose,
on account of her extraordinary beauty"
George sat with his back to CASEY and did
not see the absorbed expression of her cOunte-
nance, as he was giving these details.
AT this point in the story, she touched his
arm, and, with face perfectly white with in
terest, said, ado you know the names of the
people he bought her Of"
"a man of the name of Simmons, think,
was the principal in the transaction. At least
think that was the name on the bill Of sale !"
49, my God ~ said Classy, and fell nsensi-
bly, on the floor of the cabin.
George was wide awake now, and so was
) Madame de Thoux. Though neither of them
could conjecture what was the cause of Cassy's
faintng still they made oil the tumult which
is proper in such cases-George upsetting
wash pitcher and breaking two tumbers in the
warmth of his humanity and various ladies
in the cabin, hearing that somebody had faint
ed, crowded the state-room door, and kept out
all the air they possibly could, so that, on the
whole everything was done that could be ex-
pected
Poor Classy when she recovered, turned her
face to the wall, and wept and sobbed like
child, perhaps mother, you can tell what she
was thinking Of Perhaps you cannot but she
| felt MS sure, in that hour, that God had had
mercy on her, and that she should zee her
daughter, as she did, months Afterwards
when-but we anticipate
CHAPTER XLll-Reaifs.
The rest of our story is soon told. George
Shelby, interested, rs any other young man
might be, by the romance of the incident no
less than by feelings Of humanity, was at the
pains to send to Classy the bill of sale of Eliza,
whose date and name all correspondent with
her own knowledge of facts and left no doubt
upon her mind as to the identity of her child
1t remained now only for her to trace out the
path of the fugitves
Madame de Thoux and she, thus drawn to-
gether by the singular coincidence Of their for
tunes, proceeded Immediately TO Canada and
began tour of inquiry among the stations
where the numerous fugitivcs from slavery are