Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-08-28


condition, though for few years | did
not make up my mind to free them.
"Among the slaves was a really beau
tiful molatto. Negro blood certainly
could not have predominated in her veins.
Her features were regularly and finely
cut, aud her form and movements were
grace itself You may have seen such.
The red color came and went in her COM
plexion, at sudden emotion, as visibly as
in whittier face. Her voice was music
and her eyes were ike stars"
The visitors smiled at each other
you may wonder at my rhapsody,
and yet more when 1 tell you that l
loved her. Sympathy is often the fore
runner of love, and here it was height
ened by admiration and a peculiar sense
Of wrong. ! often regarded her in Sc
cret meditation. There thought l, is
the innocent offspring of undoubted guilt
the more heinous because the intelli-
gence and style apparent in her. show
that mind and education were coupled
with unbridled passion, which they sho'd
have checked-not suffered to shadow
forth their own shame in the future, and
swell the calendar Of souls in chains
II loved her, but still it was repugnant
to my Caucasian blood 10 marry her;
and yet, the more my pride struggled,
the feebler it became before the power Of
love. Will you believe il? l finally
disclosed my affection, and proposed to
marry her. And will you believe still
further? Though convinced of my sin
cerity, she refused me. She was in love
with another, and a backbone of my
own slaves.
My disappointment was lLus doubly
mortitying. But, thank Heaven! ! had
honor as well as philosophy, and ! did
not abuse my power, though my heart
was writing. l could not conquer my
love, but I conquered myself"
That is a rare case, under such cir
cumstances,' said Mountfort.
u fear So" returned Lone Jack, a
deep sigh escaping from his quivering lip.
but let me unfold the sequel. A neigh
boring planter, having seen her by acci-
dent, came to me and wished 10 buy her.
declined. He urged me for hours, Of
fered a large amount, doubled, trebled it
bribed, swore, and begged by turns
Still / refused-my frmness increasing
The more ardent he became. l suspected
bis motive, for / knew his character
and I would not part her from her loy-
er.
The man went away batting me for
it and making handle Of my northern
and extreme kindness to my slave, he
excited prejudice against me. One day,
on my return from a journey Of some
miles, | hard shrieks issuing from my
house. AT distance, l saw one Of my
boys rush toward the house, and enter
it. 1t was Phil, the lover of the mulat-
to girl. fastening TO the house, what
was my horror, on entering, TO find my
neighbcr, who had sought to purchase
the girl, weltering in bis blood on the
floor; while Phil and Jessie stood by,
the latter with her garments torn, and
exhibiting all the signs of having been
engaged in desperate struggle. Iun-
derstood all at a glance, The villain had
taken advantage of my absence, and had
expiated his brutal attempt at once. A
hatchet in the hand Of Phil had cleft his
skull. He was dead.
"Jessie was wild with fright and agony.
Phil spread out bis arms humbly as |
entered, aud said he, Master, you have
always been kind to me, and you may
hang me now or burn me, and l will not
blame you. But, o, master, what could
Ido?"
"Nothing less, and nothing better,
Phil, said l and will sacrifice all !
have before you shall suffer. l would
have done the same, Phil
"What with their fright and gratitude,
l found it difficult TO hurry them off with
proper directions to evade pursuit.
There were no mothers of my people in
sight; and furnishing them with money,
and bidding them take wagon and a
fresh horse, and ride till he dropped, and
then trust to God, l saw them soon out
of early reach, at least; and then un-
seen, l re-entered the wagon l had left,
and drove, in roundabout way, to the
village tavern, as if l had but just arriv-
ed from my journey, and had not visited
the house at all"
"Some hours later, while l was calmly
transacting some superhuous business in
the village, crowd of my neighbOrs and
slaves came rushing to me, with the It'd