The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-29


had sought shelter under the folds OF the Brit
ish banner. She went to Canada as teacher
among her degraded and ignorant cOuntrymen.
Life among the refugees was new and sad
chapter to her, who had never been Injured by
hard toll to bodily strength, and her health
sunk under hardships Then the kind Eyer
tons, in their English freedom from prejudice,
had taken her as their ohildren's governess.
More like sister and aunt was she, now to
the hearts that had twined 80 closely around
her, as to deem her an essential part of their
home Only to the invalid Mrs. Egerton, how
ever, who delegated to her the whole RESPONSE
bility of her household did Milly intrust her
whole story. The children, even to Ada, had
gathered only brief hints here and there.
She had emigrated with her friends from
their Canadian to their prairie home. For two
summers she had presided in the pretty school
house, two miles away whose inmates were in
nocently and delightfully."- unconscious of the
one drop Of degrading blood that weighed like
nsillssoue on the destiny of their best beloved
| of schoolmistresses.
Crank, Master Frank you will not betray
me y she concluded, her voice trembling to
| weakness.
GHush, Milly, not a word of it! What do
you take me for don't believe you were
ever rightfully a slave and, at any rate, you
shall be free he exclaimed, lifting his buoy
ant face into the moon-beams.
She shook her head doubtingly. No one
was ever rightly slave believe it, Master
Frank You're wanting three years yet of
your majority come next -; and God
knows what may happen between this and
then. Oh | tremble under that Henley's
eye! Is he not the son of Colonel Lathrop
Henley ~
Colonel Henley? Yes; he is my guardian"
q feared it !" She clasped her hands, and
dropped her face upon them. Then starting
up, she exclaimed, ave must not stay. That
man has the power of life and death over me-"
"Why?" urged Lewis Henley is not the
the man to harm you in any way. He should
not if he would"
"Ahl Master Frank you don't know has
heart yet Trouble has made me sharper
sighted than used to be- Listen That man
could sell me into louisiana for the money
that would richly pay his gaming debts.
say, could do it in spite of your utmost strength
of will; and he piA do it. if he knows me-
Come, we hnger."
"What do you know about his gaming
debts!" exclaimed Frank, in fresh surprise.
81 have read them on his forehead, and on
his fingers, when he was shufiling that pack of
cards on the little table Oh Master Frank
beware of Henley He may veil tho black
ness of his heart in friendship to you, but he's
his own fathers true soma lawless enticer to
vllany. By your mothers memory, by your
hopes for time and for eternity, | conjure you,
have little to do with Henley Break the net
be is weaving, spider-like, about you"
" Be calm, be safe will never name you to
him; for half believe you can read the hearts
deepest secrets. Believe me, you may trust
me, my own best nurse, my childhood's mother
as you were, whom my own angelmother loved
and trusted actH beware of Henley" And
they replunged into the wood path.
81 will not forget YOU" said Frank "if
cannot yet free you. can make you comfort
able and happy Tell me, frankly; what can
do for you"
erous young master My life's only wish is
q see You Walking in the path your mother
trod to heaven !"
The clock rang twelve % they re-entered
the shadow of the door.
"Well my fine fellow ~ exclaimed Henley,
rousing himself out of DOING dream, and
raising himself upon his elbow, are you turn
ing poet, metaphysican, or maniac, to be stray
ing out into the moonlight at this hour ?"
Either--or all, Frank replied, confusedly
trying to evade his question and his glance.
Henley fixed his eye on him, almost sternly
"Speak truth to me, youngster have you
seen Ada Egerton? ~
Nonsense, Henley; no ~ exclaimed Frank
almost irritated from his equsnimty by the
insinuatiOn. Let me alone will you? | am
not in mood to be questioned tonight"
Lewis, you are making fool of yourself
retorted Henley, emphatically, turning away
Frank shut out the friendly moonlight, and
flung himself upon his pillow, but not to sleep.
His eyes had opened upon new world of obi
CATION to himself and to others. The right he
had inherited had never risen before his mind
as questionable, by any other than blind ia
matte. But here the very foundation of his
slaveholding had been shaken.
In the early morning the travellers arose to
renew their journey Henley, with bland civ
llity, offered the price of the hospitality which
had been 80 generously rendered II was al
most haughtily refused and Henley whistled
lightly to himself as he turned upon his heel
toward The gate.
Lewis fingered one step behind, apparently
to shake hands with Ada but really to whisper
word, which he dared not speak aloud. in an
other ear than hers. He feared even 10 glance
into the eye whose trembling lashes yelled
world of unutterable wishes but he pressed
the cold, quveriDg fingers in sacred pledge
and whispered" Do not fear will come
again-and alone F"
He looked up Ada's child-face, softened
to something more like sadness than it had
ever worn before, met bis glance. He extend
ed his hand, with more awkward attempt at
bow than he had ever perpetrated before,
as he remarked, GOOD morning, Miss Eyer
ton shall not forget our pleasant EVENING"
Ada had painful consciousness of the rosy
tide that tinted her temples, as she returned
that parting pressure. For her life the girl
could not have spoken, without unlocking tears
from her eyes at that instant; but angry at
her own speechlessness, she shrunk back, and
began TO pull the prettiest blossoms of the
eglantne to fragments.
"Lewis! what q laggard you are growing!"
Henley called out impatiently. Are you un-
der spell, to stand palavering till the sun is
three hours high"
Frank caught up little Nora for one more
kiss, and then, with a graceful wave of the
hand, sprang lightly to his seat. Away over
the prairie they swiftly sped Ada almost un-
consciously followed her friend to the little
gate; and, leaning upon it stood to watch the
receding carriage. 1t was sad-dreamy-de.
lightful, all at once Ada knew not why, nor
did she try to analyze her impulses 1t only
seemed, one moment as though her heart had
mysteriously received a new sense of the beauty
Of the earth-the glory of the sky; but tho
next, when she lifted her eye to that receding
speck in the distance, that heart sank in her
bodice as though it could never bound again.
One at her side watched yet more intently,
with breath firmly held, and lips compressed.
Afar on the green horizon the wagon lowered,
dim dot, for an instant 1t vanished. The
nightmare Of fear was lifted from the heart of
the fugitive
"Thsnk God!D she CALCULATED, in the low,
fervent tones Of emotion, too deep for tears