The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-08-12
SCENE v.

O"A pAOLSCIlOu
SCENE V.
Mr. Noble arranged the wreck of his
affairs as speedily as possible, eager to be
on the way to Montreal. The evening
before he started, Frank Helper waited
upon Mr.. Grossman and said: "That
hadsome slave you have been trying SO
hard to catch is doubtless beyond your
reach, and will take good care not to come
within your power. Under these circum-
stances she is worth nothing to you; but
for the sake of quieting the uneasiness of
my friend Noble, | will give you eight
hurdred dollars to relinquish all claim to
her"
"I'll see you both damned frst," he
replied. Il shall trip 'em up yet. I'll
keep the sword hanging over their cursed
heads as long as live. I wouldn't mind
spending ten thousand dollars to be re-
venged on that Internal Yankee"
Mr.. Noble reached Montreal in safety,
and found his Loo Loo well and cheerful
Words are inadequate to describe the emo
tions excited by reunion, after such dread
ful perils and hair r-breadth escapes. Their
marriage was solemnized as soon as posi-
bic; but the wife being an article OF pro-
perty. according to American law, they
: did not venture to return to the States.
Alfred obtained some writing to do for a
commercial house, while Loo Loo instruc-
ted little girls in dancing and embroidery
Her character had strengthened under
the severe ordeals through which she had
passed. She began to question the right
fulness of living so indolently as she had
done. Those painful scenes in the slave
) prison made her reflect that sympathy
with the actual miseries of life was better
than weeping over romances. She was
rising above the deleterious influences of
her early education, and beginning to feel
the dignity of usefulness She said to her
husband, II shall not be sorry, if we are
always poor. 1t is so pleasant to help
you, who have done SO much for me -
And Alfred, dear, want to give some of
my earning to Aunt Debby. The poor
old soul is trying to lay up money to pay
that friend of yours who bought her son
and sent him to Canada. Surely, |, of
= all people in the world, ought to be will
ing to hel Up slaves who have been less for
tunate than [ have. Sometimes, when |
lie awake in the night, I have very sol
eun thoughts come over me. 1t was tru-
Iva wonderful Providence that twice saved
lhe from that dreadful fate that awaited
me. | can never be grateful enough to
God for sending me such blessed friend
as my good Alfred"
They were living thus contented with
their humble lot, when letter from Frank
Helper announced that the extensive house
of Grossman & Co. had stopped payment.
Their human chattels had been put up at
auction, and among them was the title to
our beautiful fugitive. The chance Of
capture was considered so hopeless, that,
when Mr.. Helper bid sixty-two dollars, no
one bid over him and she became his
property, until there was time to transfer
TIM legal claim to his friend.
: Feeling that they could now be safe
under their own vine and fg-tree, Alfred
returned to the United States, where he
became first clerk, and afterward pros
: porous merchant. His natural organiza-
, ton untitled him for conflict, and though
!. his peculiar experiences had imbued him
with thorough adherence of slavery, he
stood alOof from the ever-increasing agi-
, tation on that subject; but every New
. Years day, one of the Vigilance Commit
tees for the relief of fugitive slaves re-
ceived one hundred dollars from an un-
known friend" AS his pecuniary means
increased, he purchased several slaves,
who had been in his employ at Mobile,
and established them as servants in North
ern hotels Madame Labasse was invited
to spend the remainder of her days under
his roof; but she came only in the sum-
mers, being unable to conquer her shiyer-
ing dread of snow storms.
Loo Loo's personal charms attracted
attention wherever she made her appear
) ance. At church. and other public Da-
T ces people pointed her out to strangers,
: saying, THAT is the wife of Mr.. Alfred
, Noble. She was the orphan daughter of
> a rich planter at the South, and had a
! great inheritance left to her; but Mr.,
} Noble lost it all in the financial crisis of
1887" Her real history remained a Sc
r cret, locked within their own breasts.
: Of their three children, the youngest was
} named Loo Loo, and greatly resembled
) her beautiful mother. When she was six
years old, her portrait was taken in .gIp-
, sy hat garlanded with red berries. Sh
: was dancing round little white dog, and
: long streamers of ribbon were floating be-
hind her. Her father had it framed in
an arched environment of vine-work, and
! presented it to his wife on her thirtieth