The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-29
For the National Era.
LIFE ON PRAIRIE DE La FLEUR.-NO. Is.
BY MARY IRVING.
CHAP. ~.
Conclusion
FOR the National Era.
Conclusion.

Conclusion.
They elided across the lawn with the noise
I,.soess Of spirits AS the latch of the gate
.st,Isd in unclosing huge brown mastif
.rsrted up before it, with low growl, like
gathering thunder.
aHn,6' Ponto!n spoke his mistress in a
coaxing under tone, stroking his brlst!ing head
Lie down, good dog-there +" The dog licked
the recognised hand, drew back half under
Ms kennel, and seated himself upon his
launches, to watch them out of sight.
Ca they went, through the long, dew-damp
Grass needless OF paths or of fences.
There is wtchcraft here, or mystery still
Stranger was the young mans silent soliloquy
msanghie. "How could she know that my
name was Frank"
They had now reached the borders of the
grove. The damp leaves were rustling softly,
a. though moved bya sigh from the very heart
Of Night. The wood arches, clogged with rank
uuder.brush, looked deep in dark mysteries
For moment strange shudder, as from some
sapernatural influence, shook the imaginative
spirit of the young follower. But his guide
moved on quietly as before. Leading him to
an almost invisible path among the bushes
she crept along in advance; one moment dis
uncty thrown into relief by the yellow moon
beams that pierced some crevice in the leaf
arch of the forest, and the next, fitting like a
dim phantom through unbroken shadow.
Had den of robbers yawned suddenly be-
fore the straining eyes of Lewis he could not
have been more surprised than when, emer-
gng from this hobgoblin avenue, he stepped
at once into spot Titania might we'll have
chosen for her midsummer nights revel."
He found himself standing upon high, wild
bluff, on the very edge of still, silver stream,
which flashed up from its lowly nook, as if it
we're set there only for mirror to the moon.
The low land on its opposite side was filled with
his standpoint. A little circle of beeches and
cedars, interlacing on the very summit of the
knoll, over-arched him like a bower; and in
'front.' gnared oak stretched out its distorted
arms far over the stream, rs though bending
to toss its head in scorn at its own deformed
image. A white mist lay like floating gauze
srornd tleedgeg the water. Lewis shiyered
for yelled in that deceptive mist he fancied
the ghost of Fever and Ague intruding sud.
denly into that scene and hour Of romance.
Heigho have been walking in my sleep
and am only half walked yet he exclaimed
rubbing his eyes involuntarily "My good
friend our track must needs literally run uE
a tree if it extends any farther"
But she had stopped at the foot of the oak
where the moonlight fell in it's fullest radi
anCe on her pale raised forehead, from which
the white shawl was thrown back Turning
face to face with him. she spoke in a tone Of
earnest trepidation.
q" have no time for apologies, and know
they are not necessary; for | have read no
BILE heart in your face-s heart that will not
always be bound in the letters of custom
and ! am resolved to throw myself upon its
generosity. Answer meas yonder heaven ID
true are you Frank Lewis, of ---fn
Frank Talbot Lewis---yes."
ana your DDther-was'- She bent for.
ward as though her very life hung upon the
answer to that halfshaped question.
MY mother-I knew very little of her. She
aled before my memory dawned She was a
Massachusetts, lsdy-her nameO---
Amy Talbot interrupted his questioner
sgltaed at last beyond control, IL knew it,
knew it! My boy-my young master--my
Frankly"
She sprang forward, as though she would
have casped him in Der arms but, with sud-
den recollection, she dropped at his feet, and
chung to them, pouring out deluge of pas
senate tears and inarticuate calculations.
Who are you, woman Speak Frank
demanded breathlessly He had started back
at her mention of his mothers name; but now
he bent to life her up with almost intolerable
curiosity
"Oh, Frank! Master Frank have you for.
gotten your old first iriend-your nurse Milly
your Aunty Milly 20
,Auaty Milly!" Frank clapped his hand
hh forehead, and strove to pierce through
ng Pnzzllng memories of years "Aunty Mil
The name is strangely natural--yet--lift
IOur lace here--into the light
i -FOUR mother gave you into my arms, when
sue was dying-when you were little help
e's baby She told me to watch over you--tt
%ye yog-and never, never, TO leave you
"asler Frank, you could not forget me !"
but you did leave mel" exclaimed the be
slldered youth, as vague ray Of remem
france dawned like nebuIa on the farthes
erge OF his life-horizon. How came 20,
L., was hated-ill- treated-abused; and, al
"sH, was sold away from you. Then Goo
H'e me my own liberty-and took tn
sr 20" Nere Sldue-and my foster-moiher!
c.. our nurse, Master Frank. ,cas your
,aers slave. am your siape :"
,, QUO fOsH up in the moonlight as she spoke
r,Guuy erect, but pale in the subsiding Of the
h'S''oh that had convulsed her.
Ols%M y young master, have prayed Goo
IN N. 4e loCk upon you again. have called
tbina u"rx lonesome nights, when not living
bea,j "a' near to hear me. But have never
I'hd whisper from Won ar of voo s;nce tha,
uu morning.
sbe v "es wave OF emotion swept over her, and
nm,'t more calmly and freely. Frank sup
tho ,on'a WIN ms arm as she leaned agains,
r'hizingly. ""N gym
u your mothers very yo;ce,r sho so;a
@a clicked tone "Oh have hoard IL si
~oI reproyiug me in my dreams!D
Ny good, kind, forgotten nurse do r.
member that name. Sit down here, ON thi,
.uU OF the oak and unravel the rest Of the
~y''ery Tor me. Tell me where you have
''1u aud what brought you here
Ana ana Mllly, calming her sobs, told a shor,
'DS hurried story:
"a leaving c., she had found her way
me ,ne once mysterious underground rail
rs, 10 northern Ohio. There under the
sSaonage Of friends, she was enabled to enjoy
bs,a 'ages which one Of darker hue might not
WITH an gught 30 successfully, and to build up
6unSa, sence and delight the education whose
lad her dear mistress had no secretly
to ,s,.;. Know not why she had been suffered
Know s her masters name (slaves seldom
lesa Or "y other J but either through careless
@ 'a'se sense Of security, she had done
Tie sudden seizure az a eo,onan;o,, H.