The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-08
For the National Era.
LIFE ON PRAIRIE DE La FLEUR NO H.
BY MARY IRVING.
CHAP. H-Continued.

| III MANI ihNiN6
CHAP. II-Continued.
The lady's fingers trembled "a his departing
steps died away. She bent more and more
closely over her book, until her face, winch
was varying every moment from red to white
and white to red nearly touched its gilded
pages
Milly arose from her crouching posture az
silently as a mouse at midday. With one long
look of the gratitude she must not speak upon
the strange friend Heaven had send to her
sorest need, she glided out Of her range of Wis
| ion.
"There Pye been fool again :" eiacuat-
ed Laura, with a start, throwing the book to
her feet. But she was so pretty, and so sad
With sigh she sunk back in her cushions
The cook Ia mulatto) seized Milly's hand az
she crept around the corner of the cabin, and
hurried her over the plank from the boat in
| Up dngy, narrow lane, dark in the shadows
of dusk, he pointed her significantly, and turn
ed back. She had not a moment to ask a
| question, she knew that it was for her liteo
turn-which way to take? She looked
upward in her bewilderment as though asking
of Heaven. A hand touched her shoulder, and
the cabin-boy, who stood near, silently waved
his hand toward the left. Thus it was at an
other turning, and yet another the sailors had
well arranged their signals, and none was i'm
plicated by word.
She had passed the last of the human guide
posts, and entered a somewhat broader street
when, with suifocating heart-throb, she felt
| her arm seized. colored man. a stranger
who stood in the door of a dingy basement
whispered quick word, and hurried her down
| into its darkness, locked the door behind him
and Milly was fugitive slave ~
"Ha)fpaSt nine o'clock! Really, Cousin
Frederic is growing most excessively dissipat-
ed, to be away from ms 80 late, auntW remark
ed young lady, of c., that very evening,
with an air of mock concern on her smiling
lips, as she tossed herself playfully upon Il Grim
son velvet sofa, beside a quiet elderly lady
Your influence should be all powerful GER
| family" observed, with o bow, one of her lin
gering callers. "Can Miss Floride devise no
charm to lure home the runaway? 2"
"Talking Of runaways," spoke up the other,
hastily, =" have you heard Of the evenings at
fair? %
"Not II have been fainting of enau all
day long, without n whisper of news to revive
me, Tell it, for charity's sakelD
He proceeded to tell the story 30 far as ru-
NOR had waited it to the public ear-not cor
rectly in all its details, very naturally.
"Scandalous!" retorted the first gentleman
How bare-taced these Abotionists are be-
coming! No doubt some of one them sneaked
down TO the wharf and stole her off
Most probably; and just imagine the NOR
| LITIGATION of the lady in whose care she was
| left! She declares that she neither saw nor
heard a movement Of the girl, anu that she had
been reading scarcely five minutes before she
missed her and gave the alarm
"Ah good evening, Mr.. Frederic We were
about taking out n search warrant for your es.
pecial benefit, or rather your fair cousin's"
I HhQ. entered int as Floride rep.isa so ,.,s'
"Well for my part, neither pity the mas
ter nor blame the girl You may call me an
Abolit,Onist, or what you please | only know
this if 1 were a slave tonight | would run
away instanter, if could and if either of you
gentlemen were gallant enough to extend a
helping hand, why, ! would thank you with
my prettiest courtesy should natter myself
my el0pement would create quite sensation"
"Be never surprised, then, 10 find ladder Of
ropes making its mysterious appearance ut your
| chamber window returned the young man,
bowling in genuine ID Orsay STYLE as he arose
to depart Fred" he added laughing, "your
cousin holds dangerous sentimental Take heed
of all moonlight serenaders J"
al will be responsible az her conscience
keeper and door keeper returned Frederic,
| in the same tone.
The young gentlemen paid their goodnight
compliments and bowed themselves ont. The
aunt arose, and left the room.
Flor did you mean what you said or was
it one Of your hightnessesp asked Frederic
turning abruptly upon her.
Your humble servant sir, | attempt no
hghtslp
do leave joking for moment if you can,
Floride; am in earnest Did you mean what
| you told R---lp
"That | would elopet Most assuredy, ut
the first opportunity No danger of his risking
his neck in the undertaking, with its immacu-
late starched dickey -" she added, laughing.
"Ihat you would help "a runaway? Tell me
quickly for mean something"
what is it!-ycs, ! rcoud!' she exclaim-
cd, decisiyely.
AT little risk 90
DAT great risk When and howln She
started up from the sota flushed with excite
men and curiosity.
"lll trust you, Floride! You can do it, and
| am sure you wiH That girl whose story
suppose they have been telling you
"Welin
"She sD-he drew nearer-"in the house
| of free colored man in - lane the police
are on the track it may be searched ut any
hour. Now, if she can be conveyed TO the house
| Of Mr.. - a white man, who is willing 10
secrete her, she will be safe from suspicion, for
| time at least. But she dare not venture into
the street with q strange white gentleman
| che must not with the negroes A white ladys
,, - Ia bod for
| and a white lady must accompany her. Do
you understand -
ayes yes will 90 instantly, glady!n she
exclaimed clapping her hands {" But Fred,
had no idea that you were an Abolitionist +"
"Nor ! that you wcre!" retorted no. "My
noble Florde God bless you. But we have
need of oil possible haste"
| MiIly uttered low scream az her door
opened, scarcely half an hour later, to a white
gentleman and lady. The intense excitement
Of the day had nearly crazed the poor girls
brain.
"Oh! don't send me back, don't ~ she plead
in low, wild voice, falling at the feet Of Fred
| eric
"Hush be quiet and don't be afraid We
arc all friends-reai friends !" whispered Flor.
ide, springing TO her side and hastily tying q
white silk hat over her disordered hair.
snow put ON this large shawl and this veil ;
and, oh, these gloves! Dear me, We must be
quick Now come! Poor thing how your
heart beats Don't trembe 10 you can't walk,
surely There, come between us--take Fred
cries arm and mine. Now, be firm!p
| CHAP. H.
The Prairie Home.
| Have vou f,ryotteu pra;r;e IA la Eleur dsar
reader, in the long episode through which we
have wandered to reach its borders again :
Here it lies in the mellow light Of summer
same blue arch above--the same rampant Of