The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-25
For the National Era.
LIFE ON PRAIRIE DE LA FLEUR.-No. Is.
BY MARY IRVING.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE.
CHAP L.
"MiUpu
For the National Era.

Ahh CLAW T..
CHAP. L.
"fiHyU
Reader, are you weary of wandering If
not, spread the wing of imagination once
more, and follow me to the sunny SOUTH |
pledge myself for your sale-eonduct back to
prairie land before we part.
He has not come yet, MillyN
A pale, emaciated woman breathed this
question, in an eager, broken whisper, as the
suifocatlng cough of consumption aroused her
from the sleep-like lethargy of exhausted ma
ture.
She half raised her head in her earnestness
then dropping it back upon her wasted hand
revealed IN the filckering lamp.light features
very beautiful, even under the seal of Death
Every vein that wound over her dreamy, dew
gathering forehead, was betrayed by its too
transparent veil A thin embroidered cap, un-
fastened in the spasm of painting had fallen
back from matted masses of soft brown hair,
that lay heavily on her heaving left shoulder
The thick curtains Of green damask that
tapestried the bed, had been drawn aside for
fresher air; and between their folds stood
young girl Of fifteen, holding in her right hand
n lamp, which with the left she was trying to
screen from the eyes of the sufferer 1t was
Milly.
Never was there, perhaps, greater contrast,
even where Life stood, AS then, watching the
bed Of Death The tall, erect fairly rounded
form of the girl, buoyant with youth and perfect
health--her checks of clear, warm, creole
tint, flushed to crimson by tears and excite
member dark, strangely bright eyes, hiding
their despair behind their deep, willowy frin.
ges-her long hair, of an amber brown, bound
tightly back in waving bands from her full
forehead, and wound, like a rich turban
around her head. Such was the picture that
met the gaze of that almost spiritualized con-
snmptive, AZ she Enclosed slowly hor tremu-
lous hazel eyes, preternaturally enlarged
through emacation.
He has not come, say, Milly?" she repeat
ed, in a hopeless kind of eagerness.
Not yet, missis! It's only one half hour
past,eleven and it's chance if he could be
here before midnight The wind roars dread
fully down the river gorge, and it's a wild
night out Pm grieyed you woke up 80 un-
timely. Do let me mix you one of the sleep
ing powders"
She had set down her lamp in its place be-
hind the curtains, and dropped on her knees
to lift and arrange the pillows.
No Mlly +" spoke the sick woman, clear
y, with glance of strange meaning upon her
lattendant--"I shall Sleep"
Sinking back from the momentary effort,
she shaped with voiceless lips request to re-
tic her cap.
ooh, Pm so glad this coughing spell s of
you" remarked Milly, soothingly stroking
back the tumbled locks, as she FASTENED to
fulfil the request. MAY be you'll have ne
more tonight; and tomorrow morning, III
comb out your hair so beautifully, and III
braid 1t, that 1t WON'T be always botherine
you 80 ~
The lady's pale lips trembled as if to speak
again but they did not open only sgi
came struggling up from the low-ebbing hear
beneath. She did not dream Of the morrow
sun, y for she felt that il must shine upon he
corpse.
"Hush bark, Milly !-that--those are cal
riage-wheels! J" she hurriedly gasped agar
seizing the hand that was yet fastening tn
cap-strings and kindling into hectic glow
A peal of thunder had ratified by and with il
mufled vibrations confused sounds SCENE,
mingling.
"Go girl--look !"
Milly foated noisclessly as a snow fake int
the huge, high, echoing hall, and lifted the sash
of the bay window that overlooked the carriag,
avenue But the blast that Numbered through
nearly swept her from her footing, down the
broad staircase. Recovering her breath, she
chung to the window-sill for support; and fear
less of the driving, drenching rain, looked ou
into the night.
She could only distinguish however, q min
glcd mass of whirling mist-wreaths and sway
ing boughs, under sky whose black wing
brooded close above them and among them
the stormspirits were shrieking in infnriats
reyelry The roar of rushing torrent in the
gorge near by, swelled angrily through the
wailng pauses OF the tempest.
All mt once an arrow of f0rked lightning
shot into the half blinded eyes of the gazer, and
startled her back to the floor Just as crash
like the overthrow of ten thousand war chari.
OTIS shook the stone foundations Of the old man
sion as an earthquake. By the lurid CLEAN
however, she had caught one glimpse of a
massive tree across the lawn, gloomily shaking
its crest, and hoarsely bowling over large,
lightning splntored branch, which lay upon
the turf below.
She pressed down the window, and, bending
over the oaken balustradc, called
"ChristyW
ava what you bout up dar ~ grumbled a
white-wooled negro starting sp from pile OF
cushions in the lower ball.
He was the porter.
"You keep eyes and ears wide open for
masss, and send him straight up to missis,
when he comes!"
"Ya! ncber you 'fraid Bress you dis wind
amt gwine TO brow massa back gem"
Bat you keep close watch Christy +"
"O-oh!D yawned he "neber no sleep for
dis ole head-him watch, watch, watch--like
dc ole white owl in dc 'simmon trce-topl"
Mlly nodded, and hurried back to the sick
room.
With parted lips and sparkling eyes, the lady
was gazing toward the door.
"NOt Mr.. Lewis!" she repeated, almost in
agony; then, burying her face in her pillow,
"0h, God that he would come
Dear, no, missis; it was only the thunder
gust tearing off the big branch of the great
elm Rest easy, yet. wouldn't blame massa
to bide the batting Of the storm, for it's dread
tul night"
"And he will not come +" broke almost pas
sionately from the sick woman's parched lips.
HOnce nc wouldn---- but che stuffed the sen
tence, covering her face again.
Mlllys eyes filled with large, sad tears, which
violent effort Of her will forced back into their
sluiccs.
"And you'll fret yourself with talking, dear
mis-i-, and fetch on bad night DO try TO
20 to sleep. and PIl watch by you every minute,
and wake you the very first he comes"
my poor Milly!" whispered Mrs Lewis,
casting glance Of deepest COMMUNICATION on
the bending girl. Strange! that the dying
should have pity TO spare for the young life OF
the living!
"My poor Milly, II is for your sake!'
"For my sake, missis Oh, then, sleep quiet !!
ask nothing, only to stay with master Frankly
when-after -
The hot tears rolled down over her cheeks
at last, though not muscle moved.
"And you aciH stay with Frankly" exclsim-
ed the sufferer, with now energy. "WH you
stay with Frankyi"
ooh, misris, don't-how could help it-how
could no anwher0 else 90 abe sobbed.