The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-03

Whatever it was, he could read and smile,
though George did not dare even to let mars.
ter know he himself was able 10 stumble
through sentence, lest he should fear dimi.
mutton of his respect towards him. More, he
could pleasantly instance to George the fact OF
the large reward offered for information re-
speeding his whereabouts, and how easy it would
be to enrich himself by word. But he only
did this once for poor George seemed to fancy
the mentioning of the fact indicated suspicion
and alarm on the bankers part, and his dis
mayed distress was extreme, for he had saga
city enough to be aware that should such dis
trust exist, it would place q thousand obstacles
in his way, and was thing that could not be
remedied, except by the event.
" Marster," said he, going out of the room,
and returning almost instantly again, that ar
IS mort O. money, and is nothin' but q poor
collured man. Answer me one word-what'd
you do, sooner'n be ketched?"
I'D rather die by my own hand, George
ten thousand times ratber-now that have
read how men judge z.le."
o thought that ar was your sentiments, Mr..
Lioyd-so, of de money s6eald put de devil
inter me, and make me forgit at | ever had a
daddy, or nanny, or a ginteel raisin', or .
wife ats been good to me, or q friend like you
IN stress, or soul for to 60 to glory--an' eff
should turn nose, an should come to de 'clusion
TO sell dat ar soul to de devil for to be sunk
into de lowermos' pits of hell, whar' dere is
weepin' an wailn' an griffin O. teeth-den,
reck'n you'd like to die, and pisen me an my
house an my wife an chile wild you innocent
blood"
So saying he placed small, fat mahogany
box in Mr.. Lloyd's hands. The latter, after
gazing at George with wonder at the wild en-.
fhrtot al u 4
spoke, with culver of indescribable emotions
at recognition of his tender faithfulness and the
rare refinement of his SOUL at last opened the box
in his hands, and found, surrounded BY all the
necessary appurtenances and equipments, a
handsome pair of pistols He looked quickly at
George, and then turned his head away, but not
SO quickly as to conceal the tears that would
come up into his eyes.
Them is rael Derringers marster They
was give to me in Cuby by Cap'n Spruce,
when ! sailed wild him for cook, an he took de
fever in Matanzes, an all hands ruined away
'cept me. He give 'em to me Jest fore he died,
case nussed him, he said, an them was all
he had to give. They shoots splendid, sir. Hit
a two-shillin' wild 'em at fifty yards. Now, you
load 'em for youself, marster, an put 'em
under you pillow; an eff you is betrayed, you'll
have one ball for me, you know, an tother for
yourself"
All moved to his Utmost soul, Mr.. Lloyd ex-
tended his hand to George, gave him grip full
OF all that free-masonry of confidence which
cannot be simulated, and, as soon as he could
trust himself to speak, cried out: Why look
you, George, do you fancy do not trust you
do you think have not looked into your noble
heart and read all its hawless honesty? Ny
friend, were the reward an hundred fold what
it is, should sleep just as soundly o-night, /
should rely upon you just as implicitly as do
now. Trust you! All, George, had met and
known men such as you are, in my world, would
not have been what Beale Lloyd is now. Come
drop that-sit down here, George, and will
show you how much trust you, my friend =
and, forcing the negro to take a chair, he seated
himself at the little table wherein were his wri.
ting materials, and drew out large pocket
book from an inside pocket "See here" said
hei these are notes and bills of exchange
open your eyes you did not think / was so
rich 1t is cursed wealth, indeed, George,
that would willingly fling away, if with it I
could fling off the damned load at my heart.
And here are securities which, once in Eng.
land, | can convert into money-thirty times
the value of these notes. am rich, you see
yet how poor. Oh, my God, George, there is
not a rag-picker who drags his weary feet about
this city, and starves upon his crust day, but
is infinitely richer than am Come, we will
not think Oft will put these into two pack
ages; something might happen-some acct
dent-and then it would be Of no use to me ;
so you must keep it all for me, and if am
am taken, you may be able to use them in help
ing me to escape. When leave here, you can
give me the notes, as will need them to bear
my expenses. The other package, in this en-
velope, want you to put into the post Office for
me after am gone, SO that will get it in Liver
pool. You understand me? Very well. Now
take them, and put them away in safe place,
and, George-take these pistols away with
you it is too strong temptation to q desperate
man they cause me unpleasant thoughts, my
friend"
al understand, marster," said George, with
something like sob, "and thank you, too,
sir, an knows Jest as well as I'm settin' here,
at de good Lord i'll bless you for dem very
words, SIR"
Let us hope so, George" said the banker,
softly, I" for no one has greater need Of His
blessing than l."
On the evening of the fifth day, Mr.. Lloyd
assumed his disguise and made his final
preparations for departure. He was to 60
aboard the vessel that night, and they were to
weigh anchor early next morning. All things
were ready, and, excited and weak, the banker
sat in his room, George at his elbow, the wife
bustling nervously about wiping her eyes every
now and then upon her apron, and their tod
ding child peeping at the great man from be-
hind her mothers skirts, which she chung to
very closely, for she would not make friends
with that grief stricken, forbidding looking
white man" her pure instincts warning her
Of the sepulchral horrors that lived within his
breast, and fickered about his presence, as the
lurid corpsc-light is said to flicker above q
tomb.
"George," said Mr. Lloyd, speaking in low
and tremulous tones, " of course, have no idea
of attempting to pay you for what you have
done in my behalf, for your kindness, your
sympathy, your ready wit, your actual assist
ance, the new hope you have given me, the
grandness of human nature which have learn
ed to reverence in your person. That were
worse than folly-it would be blindness--the
arrogance of insanity--the bestial ingratitude
of savage. l shall not try even to thank you,
for Ii have need of all my little strength just
now, and dare not recur to all your kindness
You will take the letter gave You yesterday,
to the post Office, this day one week, and at the
same time ] wish you to 60 to the Office Of Mr.
NJ, the banker, and hand him this letter.
Wait q week before delivering it, 80 - to pre-
vent any pursuit OF me. nope tnat, Wnen you
have done so, what Mr.. M viii say to you
and do for you, viii be such and sufficient to
prove to you that at least am not an migrate
full man, however / may be sinful and weak
one. have put in it enough money to buy
you q house, where Molly can have q nicer oys-
ter cellar than this one ever will be, besides
few dollars to provide against rainy day, or
in case you happen to break your other leg, you
know. And when you two are dead and gone,
may be the little child there win remember
with kind feelings, perhaps with q prayer, the
poor publican and sinner whom you found
wounded and Ill hy the roadside. and acted the