Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-05-07

lou have two pistols-they will fire twelve
times and think you are good shot, Ham,
said Mr. Melville in significant tone.
can shoot some when am obliged to. II
hope you II come back safe, but it seems jest as
though you was going on an unfortunate err
rand
IL may be as you say, yet hope not
Open the door, and when am gone, close it
but he ready to let me in al a moments warn.
ing
Irene watched her father as he went out, and
though she longed to throw herself upon his
bosom and ask him to stay, yet she forebore,
for she knew it would only give him pain
Bidding Irene stand at the door, ready to open
1t in case oil an emergency, Ham, with pistol
in his hand, stationed himself at crevice.
whore he could watch Mr. Melville. The lead
|ereof thegang stood within q few feet Of tbe
house, while the rest Of the men remained at
the gate. Lie was mau who would have been
perhaps good looking, had not severe ,contus-
ion upon his temple, and mnustache, dyed ev
identity with the blood from the wound, given
him an air of ferocty.
:" have come as you requested" said Mr..
! Melville, as he approached him."
=" ain glad that you have done SO, for we
shoa d have been sorry to have been under the
necessity of rcsorting to force"
81 see no reason why you should take such
a course am not conscious that YOU have
any claims upon me-"
Perhaps have Be that as it may, wish
to state to you in few words, my reasons for
coming here. am from Missouri and having
disposed of my plantation in that State, Few
weeks since accompanied by my Slaves set my
foot upon the soil of Kansas was not then
aware that the Territory was infested by set
of Northern Abolitonists, who had come here
with the avowed determination to make it a
Free State at all hazards. Since have been
here one half af my Slaves have absconded,
seduced by the glowing picture of Freedom
held up to theirview by those have mentioned.
Would you submit to asvrong like this!"
:" think not.
:" am glad to hear you say so, for you are
the first Northern man who has not applauded
the deed. need not tell you was indignant
at it, and have determined that by fair meant
or foul, every Ahotionist, who has set his foot
upon this soil, shall leave it, or receive just
doom for their temerity in remaining here.
will give You ample time--a week, if you wish
to retire from the Territory"
s. 1t strikes my mind, sir, that because on,
Northern man has seduced your slaves ava,
from you it is gross injustice to charge tn,
crime upon all Northern men. The laws of tn
United states Of which yourself and are fre
and independent citizens, plainly state that tn
people shall decide whether Slavery shall O
shall not come into this Territory I hav
come here, not with the avowed purpose O
making Kansas Free State, but to find HON
where might spend the remainder of my days
Is it for you, sir, to say whether shall remai
here or not "
~ y'N uiOaii w iiiNC NV uHucTStuLu lila
you shall not, when the time comes, give YOU
vote 10 make this Territory free -
"No sir, sincerely hope Kansas may b
free, and when the time comes | shall so vote
Further than this shall do nothing
6 1t all amounts to the same thing. | sa
you have no right to settle on Southern soil an
II - -
Slavery does not yet exist in Kansas, and
slave ceases to be such the moment he enters II
Territory"
Even now your words smack strongly
| the accursed doctrine. What, sir, do you thin
o would have been the effect of such languae
upon Slaves, had they heard it They wou
a have abscondcd on the first opportunity. Al
yet you contend that yon have come here as
peaceaJle citizen. What damnablo hypocris
A SIR
q -" You can spare your epithets," replied M
Melville, somewhat excited at this last remar
" Before God, | have as good right to DIVE
here as yourself, and while life lasts, will n
yield in the least to Your demands. y
Beware. You had better consider ere y,
;, give final decision.
81 ask no time to consider. You have Il
final and the only answer | shall give
, While Mr.. Melville was speaking he did IL
y. notice mans form swing from the caves of
cabin to the ground He did not see the cage
~ catlke pace with which the figure approach
him, and gathered ready for spring
As Mr. Melville ceased speaking, u sm
st portion Of the log Of the cabin, where there "
m no indication of crevicc, was opened n
O. ment elapsed, and the muzzle of Il pistol proti
at ded from the opening just made-another, u
sharp report broke the stiffness, and the wor
,e be assassin fell to the ground
id "Open the door quick, Miss Irene :" shouI
Ham. Your father is running towards I
open it, say and will stand ready to pepl
ID, the first man that dares show his ugly head.
on Before Irene had time to comply with Har
directions, hand was laid upon her should
H. and, turning, she beheld Ham struggling in
it strong grasp OF one of the rulfans, while
other stood by her side. With loud cry,
am quickly withdrew the bar, and the same nst'
bc her father burst into the room
in /" Good God, the scutte were his f
,al words as he saw the state Of affairs.
no. careless in me not to have thought of that.
hand that girl, sir, he exclaimed to the n
who in spite of her attempts to escape, '
, to still holding Irene.
,od save, SO will" cried the villain in rel
a as he let go of Irene, and made dash at
the Melville. with knife he had drawn. " He
IIan M