The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-08-05


appear iu it; neither can I; for l am
known to be your intimate friend But
trust the whole affair to me, and | think
eau bring it to successful issue"
The hardest thing Of all was to apprise
the poor girl Of her situation. She had
never thought of herself as slave; and
what terrible awakening was this from
her dream of happy security! Alfred
deemed it most kind and wise to tell her
of il 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 circumlocu-
ton, he arrived at the crisis Of the story,
she pressed her hand hard upon her fore
head, and seemed stupeGed. Then she
threw hcrselfinto his arms, and they wept,
wept, wept, till their heads seemed crack
ing with the agony.
ooh, the avenging Nemesis" exclaim-
ed Alfred at last. Il have deserved all
this. 1t is all my own fault. I ought
to have carried You away from these wick
ed laws. | ought to have married YOU.
Truest, most afectionate Of friends, how
cruelty l have treated you you, who put
the welfare Of your life so conidingly into
my hands 2"
She rose up from his bosom, and, look
ing him lovingly in the face, replied.
"Neyer say that, dear Alfred Never
have such a thought again! You have
been the best and kindest friend that
woman ever had. If forgot that [ was
a slave, is it strange that you should for
get it? But, Alfred, [ Will never be the
slave of any other man,-never. [ will
never be put on the auction-stand. l
will die first"
NAY, dearest, you must make no rash
resolutions" he replied. 81 have friends
who promise to save you, and restore Us
to each other. The form of sale is una
voidabe. So, for my sake, consent to
the temporary humiliation. VIII you,
darling? ?"
He had never before seen such an ex-
preston in her face. Her eyes flashed,
her nostrils diated, and she drew her
breath like one in the agonies of death.
Then pressing his hand with a nervous
grasp, she answered"
"For your sake, dear Alfred, [ will"
From that time, she maintained out
ward calmness while in his presence, and
her inward uneasineSs was indicated only
by a foudncss more clinging than ever
Whenever she parted from him, she kept
him lingering, and lingering, on the
threshold She followed him to the road
she kissed her hand to him till he was
out Of sight; and then her tears flowed
unrestrajned. Her mind was filled with
the idea that she should be carried away
from the home of her childhood, as she
had beer by the rough Mr. Jackson,-
that she should become the slave Of that
bad man, aud never, never see Alfred
again, But | can die" she often said
to herself; and she revolved in her mind
various means Of suicide, in case the
worst should happen.
Madame Labasse did not desert her in
her misfortunes. She held frequent con
sultations with Nr. HcIpGrand his friends,
and continually brought messages to keep
uP her spirits. \ dozen times day, she
repeated,-
"Tout sera bien arrange. Soyez tran
guile, ma chere. Soyez tranquille!"
At last the dreaded day arrived. Mr..
Helper had persuaded Alfred to appear
to yield to necessity, and keep complete
ly out of sight. He consented, because
Loo Loo had said she could not 90 through
with the scene, If he were present; and,
moreover, he was afraid to trust his own
nerves and temper. They conveyed her
to the auction-rOom, where she stood trem-
bling among group of slaves Of all ages
and 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.
Come, show US your face" said the
auctiouecr " Folks don't like to buy a
pig in poke, you know"
Seeing that she stood perfectly still,
with her head lowered upon her breast,
he united the bonnet, pulled it off rudely,
and held up her face to public view.
There was murmur Of applause.
"Show your teeth, said the auctioneer,
But she only compressed her mouth more
l.. I
"Never mind, gentlemen. She's got
a string Of pearls inside them coral lips
of hern. / can swear to that, for I've
seen EN-. No use tryin' to trot her out.
She's a leetle set up, ye see, with bain'
made much of.-Look at her, gentlemen
Who car blame her for bein' a bit proud?
She's fust-rate fancy article. Who
bids 2"