The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

and babe them rest quietly, as he should pro-
coed no farther in the matter now. The meet.
ing soon after broke up One by one the mem
bers of the little community took leave of Val
entine, promising to guard his secret, and re-
member him in their prayers. After all the
others had departed, old Portiphar still lnger-
ed. And when the room was quite clear, he
called Valentine to the door, and said
" Brudder Valley, Use poor man, wild fam
'ly o. chillun, an so be ct youse 'termin' on
gibbin o yourself up, wouldn' min walkin'
far as the squiros Office wild you myself
Thank you, Portiphar, / viii inform you
when l need your services. Good night" re.
Piled the young man, shutting the door upon
him.
Portiphar had not proceeded half dozen
steps on his way, before he felt himself seized
by the shoulder, and he recognised as his as
saiiant the strapping negro, young Joe, who;
holding him tightly, said
See here, Daddy Fox / thought what you
was up to; so | stopped to give this 'vicel Eff
Valleys took up we shall all know who slipped
the bloodhounds on him, an then some dark
night, somethin will happen to you 80 sudden,
you wont never know what hurt you'll Taint
only me but a great many more is watchin'
of you'll"
And with this brief and pithy exordium, Joe
released Portiphar, or rather spurned him for
ward, and went his own way. This threat put
the old man in cold sweat of terror He knew
the strong fellow-feeling among his own class;
that even in the dangerous number of twenty
persons, it would keep Valentines secret that
he himself was suspected as traitor; that, if
Valentine should now be arrested, his own life
might not be safe, with those of the meeting
who were not protesting Christians; and he re-
solved to guide himself accordingly.
Several weeks passed, in safety, to the wretch.
ed young man. But, released from the awful
solitude and silence of his own heavily burdened
soul, Tree to come among few of his fellow
creatures, free TO speak of the deep sorrow and
remorse that consumed his heart among those
who pitled and shrank not from him, who
prayed for and with him, Valentines mind be-
gan to recover its healthy tone he did not cease
TO mourn his crime, but he mourned no longer
rs one without hope; he was again received
into the little brotherhood of the church, the
simple ceremony being performed in the lone
cabin; again he became the man of fervent
prayer and eloquent exhortation; and powerful,
far more powerful, was he now, through his ter
rible experiences and profound repentance, than
ever he had been. To his confdant brother
Elisha he was accustomed to say
! ~ know that l shall not finally escape the
earthly punishment of my crime know that
sooner or later it must come; nor do / wish to
avoid it; yet, will | do nothing to hasten its
arrival; but when it shall come, will accept
| it."
To which Elisha would reply: "Our lives are
| in the hands of the Lord" or words to that pur-
! pose.
Weeks grew into months, spring ripened into
summer, and summer waned into autumn, and
still Valentine lived unmolested At length,
however, near the last of September, rumor
| got aAoat that Valentine, the murderer of Mr..
! Waring, was concealed somewhere in the neigh
borhood of his late masters residence. How
this report first got in circulation, no one seemed
to be able to tell; though how the secret, known
to twenty people, had been guarded so long, may
be more of subject for conjecture to many
minds Be that as it may, the peace of the
unhappy little family was gone forever. Phe-
dra's lonely cabin In the pine barrens and Fan
MES humble home in the city were subject to
sudden invasions and searchings by day and by
night. Their weekly prayer meetings were
surprised and broken up. But no trace of Val.
entine could be discovered as Unexpectedly as
he had appeared, so suddenly had he again dis
appeared; the earth seemed to have swallowed
! EiI.
But this could not last forever; and upon
the Sd of October, Valentine was arrested
under the following suspicious circumstances {:
A police officer, stationed in concealment be-
hind hedge of Spanish daggers that bordered
lane crossing the highway at right angles, and
running midway between the pine ridge and
the cypress swamp, saw what seemed young
negro woman coming down the lane. She was
poorly and plainly clothed, and wore long
sun-bonnet. There was nothing whatever in
her manner or appearance to attract attention.
Yet this police officer watched her closely.
Presently, coming up the lane from an opposite
direction, appeared the figure of an old neuro,
! The policeman favored him also with a share
Of notice. Meeting the seeming woman, the
Old man laughed, held out his hand, and ex.
claimed, in clear voice
"Ha Brudder Valley Good morning
walking out to axe little air, eh /"
Hush for Heavens sake, don't speak 40
loud, or call me by name. Yes, have stolen
forth for breath of fresh air."
Glad to hear it. Which way is YOU walk
ing, Brudder WalleyP" inquired the other, raj.
sing his voice.
A" For the Lords sake, beg you do not call
me by my name, or speak so loudl"
No danger at all, Brudder VALLEY, no one
IN sight!" exclaimed tie old man, louder than
yyer: Which way did you say you wer' goin',
Brudder Waley?"
L am going home"
"Well, Rrudder Valley, let me 90 long wild
you dis time. I'd like to see sister Phedra."
pleaded the old negro.
Come along, then, but be careful"
They walked up the lane together, and then
struck into the pines. The policeman followed
them, and, himself unseen, keeping them in sight,
traced them into the cabin of Phadra. Then
having, as it were, pointed his game, he ran
back as fast as possible, sprang over the hedge.
ran down the lane, crossed the highway, sprang
over second hedge dividing the road from
Major Hewitt's plantation, FASTENED up to that
gentleman's house, gave the alarm, procured
the assistance Of the overseer and the garden
er, both Irishmen, and with this reinforcement
FASTENED back to the scene of action. They
found Ph@dras cabin quiet enough. To the
knock of the policeman, the old woman's voice
responded, "Come in" They entered, and
found no one within except Phadra and the
Odd negro preacher, Portphar-no sign of Val
entine. As the cabin contained but the one
room, with but one door and window, and no
loft or out-buildings, the premises were easily
searched. The little room was also very scant-
lily furnished: rag carpet concealed the
rough floor, rude bed stood in one corner, a
cupboard in another, an ok chest in third,
pine table in the fourth; couple Of chairs,
a few stools, &C., completed the appointments.
The cupboard was opened the big chest ram
sacked; the bed and bedstead pulled to pieces
the chimney inspected but no trace of the flu.
gitive could be found.
Phedra was questioned; but she sadly shook !
her head and remained dumb.
The ole negro preacher was examined, but |
be replied, eyasivey, that he had Just come, and |
knew nothing about it, while at the sane time |
he kept his eyes strangely dxed upon the corner
Of fte room occupied by Phedra's bed
Yet, the policeman had pulled that bed to |
pieces and found nothing, and now did not know