The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-07-01

81 am sorry to say there is no way, my
friend, !" replied Mr.. Helper. ssThe laws in
vest this man with power over you and there
is nothing left for us. but to undermine bis pro-
iects. 1t is hazardous BUSINESS, as you well
know. You must not appear ia it. neither
can ;for am known to be your intimate
friend. But trust the whole affair TO me, and
think can bring it to successful issue. .
The hardest thing Of all was to apprise the
poor girl Of her situation. She had never
thought herselfa slave and what terrible
awakening was this from her. dreams Of
happy security! Alfred deemed it most hind
and wise to tell her Of it himself but he
dreaded it worse than death. He expected
she would swoon he even feared it might kill
her. But love made her stronger than he
thought When, after much cautious circum-
locution, he arrived at the crisis Of the story,
she pressed her hand hard upon her foreLe ad.
and seemed stupe6ed. < Then she threw her.
self into his arms, and they wept, wept. wept,
till their heads seemed cracking with the
agony. n 81
"Oh, the avenging Nemesis ?, exclaimed
Alfred, at last. 81 have deserved all this. Il
is all my ownfault / ought to have carried
you away f.om these wicked laws. ought
to have married you. Truest, most affection
ate of friends, how erulIy have treated you |.
YOU, who put the welfare Of your life so con-
fdingly into nv hands Y, es 5,s.
+ She rose up from his bosom. and, looking
him lovingly in the face, replied.- ~
"Never say that, dear Alfredl Never have
snch a thought againi You have been the
best and kindest friend that woman ever had.
II forgot that was slave, is it strange
that you should forget it? But, Alfred, I
will never be the slave OF another man,--ney-
er! will neverbe put on the auction stand.
will die frsr.n
seNay, dearest. you must make no rash re-
solutions" he replied. 81 have friends who
promise to save you, and restore us to each
other. The form of sale is unavoidable
So, for my sake, consent to the temporary hu-
mliatian, Will you, darling ?''
He had never before seen such an expression
in her face. Her eyes flashed, her nostrils
dilated, and she drew her breath like one in
the sagonies of death. Then pressing his hand
with a nervous grasp, she answered.
sFor your sake. dear Alfred WILLIE
From that time, she maintained outward
calmness. while in his presence; and her in
ward nneasiness was indicated only by fond
ness more .cliHging than ever. Whenever she
parted from him, she kept him ling erins, aad
lingering, on the threshold. .s.e
She followed him to the road she
kissed her haLd to him till he was out of sight;
and then ner tears flowed unrestrained. Her
mind was filed with the idea that she should
be carried away from the home of her child
hood, as she-had been by the rongh Mr.. jack
son,-that she she should become fhe slave of
that bad man, and never, never see Alfred
again. "But can die," she often said to her.
self; and she revolved in her mind var ious
means Of saicide. in case the WORT should hap
|pen.
Madame Labasse dad not desert her in her
misfortunes. She held frequen. consultation
with Mr.. Helper and his fr,e nds, and continu-
ally brought messages to keep up her spirits.
dozen times day, she rspeated,-
s.Tout sera bien arrange. Soyez tranquille,
ma chere! soyez tranquille g'
AT last the dreaded day arrived. Mr.. Hell
per had pursaaded Alfred to appear to yield
necessity, and keep completely out of sight.
He consented, because Loo Loo had said she
could not 60 through with the scene, il he
were persent and, moreover, he was afaid to
trust his own nerves ond temper. They con-
yeyed her to the auction-room, where she
stood trembling among group Of slaves Of all
ages ard all colors, from IRON black to the
lightest brown. She wore her simplest dress
without ornament OF any kind. When they
placed her on the stand she held her veil down,
with close, nervous grasp.
s'Cpme, show US your face" said the auc
tioneer. aFolks don't like to buy q pig in q
poke, you know.n -
Seeing that she stood perfectly still, with
her head lowered upon her breast, he united
the bonnet, pulled it off rudely, and held ur
her facAto public view. There was MUIR
muir OF applause. 81 e. IS
"Show your teeth" said the auc.ioneer.--
But she only compressed her month more
firmly. After trying in warn to coax her, be
exclaimed esf -
ssNeyer mind, gentlemen. She,sgot string
Of pearls inside them coral lips of hern. 1
can swear to that, for Fve seen ZEN, No use
tryin' to .rot her out. She's, leeile set up,
L ys see, with bein' made much of. Look at
her, gentlemeni Who can blame her for bein'
a bit proud9 She's fuss-rate fancy-article.
Who bids?" @ a ia
Before he had had time 10 repeat the ques-
tioa, Mr.. Grossman said, in loud voice
Fifteen hundred doIlars.''
This was rather adamper upon Mr.. Helper.
agent, who bid sixteen hundred.
GA voice from the crowd called out, .Eigh.
teen hundred" g..st sasss,s q go
ssTwo thousand, - shouted Mr.. Grossman.
"Two thousand two hundred" !" said another
voice.
"Two thousand iye hundred,p exclaimed
Mr. Grossman.
"Two thousand eight hundred, = said the in
cognito agent. slsss.
The prize was now completely given up to
III f,vn rnrn nefifnrs, and fha aUsrt a~.;tsJ