The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-01
CHAP. III.
The Escape.

Three years had passed. Under that same
roof, in long, high, nursery chamber, sat the
same silent girl who wept out that fearful night
industriously embroidering child's frock. Dc
casionally she stopped to dash off the binding
tears, or to glance towards curtained corner,
where laughing boy had lain down to sleep
with her name and her kiss on his lips.
The door swung open, and the house keeper
bolted in upon her.
"Come stir about your business, and let
knick- knacks alone. Didn't give you an eve
ning's job, you"-
She was about to follow her words with
something more emphatic, but Milly sprang
up and confronted her with that glance of con-
scous dignity before whose power an inferior
spirit quais.
$50, none of your impotence, sit down to
your darning! You're getting mighty high for
my hand but I'll answer your master shall at
tend to your airs !"
She left the room with vindictive glance
| Milly clasped her hands passionately, and
| dropped her needle work to the floor.
what am bearing it for all ths?" she
calculated. III might 60, like the rest that
can read and write, and be away from
Oh, no! no! my Frankly promised, and
will keep it,!
She arose, bent over the child's pillow with
a quick sob, kissed his bright cheek, and wen
back to her work.
Again, and this time it was q lazy little knife
scourer, who drawled out
"Maussa ring for him want you in the greer
chamber
With a sudden tremulousness, Milly gather
ed up her work, and went to obey the mandate
Her MASTER wrapped in his flowing dressing
gown, sat in his large easy chair, over one arm
of which his left foot was lonngingly thrown
| A choice Havana" garnished his temples with
| its incense wreath. He stretched out his hand
for his chamber lamp as Milly entered, and
flashed its light upon her unrelaxing features
for she did not approach him, but stood by
the door she had closed in statue-like rigidity
al have had trouble enough" he exclaimed
at length, with stifed execration "and-I
have found purchaser Go pack up your
gowns and gew. gaws! You shall start with
me at five in the morning."
If a stroke of lightning had fallen upon the
head of the listening girl, she could not have
dropped more quickly at her masters feet than
at that dreadful sentence. She clasped them
entreatingly, but recoiling in moment, and
turning pale, she begged, with white lips:
Don't send me away from him, your boy
your Frankly for sweet missis' sake, blessed
missis, that blessed you with her last breath
donttD
"Fool!" muttered her master impatiently
"The matter is your own choice! wa you
stay? or go?N
| Milly's blood curdled at the significance oil
that question. Instinct was stronger than af
fiction and once more she started to her feet
trembling, though not with fear She looked
around almost wildly.
| "My mssis died 10 this room" she exclaim.
ed; then clasping her hands, and gazing up.
ward, ooh look, look down out OF the sky
and tell me schieh promise to keep!n
She covered her eyes for a moment, then
turned slowly to her master
| She bids me go-I iciH go :"
"yery well, got" he remarked, with a care.
less snecr. 1.-TWO thousand dollars is o price
fair enough to pocketp
| Mlly scarcely knew how she reached the
| bedside of her boy, but she watched by it in
anguish until the day-brenk.
8Oh Aunty Milly!n shouted Frankly, start
ing geofully from his sweet sleep, q Kiss me-
dress me, quick ~
She only threw her arms about him, and
kissed him with a burst Of tears.
| "Poor aunty! did Rosa trounce you?n said
the child, putting up his little hand ptyingly
TO stop the Installing tears. "Now | say,
when Frankly is man, he'll trouncc Rosa
worser! Aunty will whip her 81! Don't c'y"
ooh, hush dearyl" sobbcd MiIly, gently
"Maussa bids for you to leave alone Maus'
Frankly, and put yourself right ready !" scorn-
fully spoke her old enemy, Rosa, entering the
chamber at this instant, and taking the child
| from her arms
al won't | won't!n screamed Master Fran
KY kicking and houndering like fresh caught
lobster in her clutches Get away, you ugly,
bladder, wickederest. Rosa Aunty Milly Aun-
| ty Milly come backbone back, I sdyin
MilIy did come back-did clasp him in one
passionate caress and, while enchanting ooh,
| don't, don't ever forget Aunty Milly Frankly,
nv precious! she was torn away forcibly from
him and his home.
MilIy knew her destiny when she found her
scif ON the deck Of swift steamer that was
| gliding down the current Of the Ohio river.
She would have guessed il too surely, even with
| out her masters exutant hints OF Louisville"
and the Southern gentleman" who was there
10 meet him. She did not plead where plead
ing would have been worse than in vain; but
che wrung her hands in agony whom he had
gone, for her very reason seemed Keeling on 'ts
throne. \
What is tho matter, my poor girl'" asked
one OF the passengers-herself q Southern la
dy-who, in promenading the decks with
friend, encountered the wrstched girl.
bliily looked up 10 see q sight strange now
TO her--a kind, sympathzing face. She was
too miserable for any concealment, for any
hope. She told her story in few but burning