Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-09-29
From the New York Ledger
A Night Of Danger.
By MARY KYLE DALLAS.

father away from home one day in Octo
Der of the year / lived with them in
Burns Hollow. 1t may have been fu.
neral, or some religious meeting, for they
both drove of, dressed in their BEST in
the gig, with old Ajax harnessed to it
and after l had tucked in grandma's iron.
gray silk dress and run back into the
house for grandpa's glasses, and had seer
the gig vanish in the distance, felt quite
lonely. Burns Hollow was a lonesome
place at all times and the handsome
rambling mansion, which might have
sheltered regiment, had ghostly all
about it when one walked through the
upper rooms alone.
There were two servants in the kitch'
en-, Hannah Oaks and the Irish lad, An
thony. heard them laughing merrily
together for though Hannah was an old
woman, she was full Of fun, and in five
minutes the door opened ard Hannah
came in with the tray.
please, Miss said she, as she set il
down, may run over to Mapletown to.
night? My sisters married daughter
had boy last night, they tell me, and
want to see it, nat'rally--it's the first ]
have ever had of grand. niece or nephew.
Who brought you the news ? asked /
Anthony, Miss said Hannah. He
met George--that is my neice's husband
when be was out after the COW, stray
ing as she always is, and he told him 10
Tell Hannah she's grand-aunt,'
you may go, said l, but do not stay
late. Grandma and grandpa may e
away all night, and / feel nervous. To
be sure there is Anthony, but l never
rely on him. Be certain not to stay late.
| repeated this injunction with sort of
fright stealing over me--a presentment
o { evil, l might say-and something
prompted me to add, be back by nine.
Why, cannot say, but l felt as if at
nine, / should be in some peculiar dang>
er.
Hannah promised, and after doing all
that I required, went away, and in ten
minutes, l heard her heavy shoes on the
garden walk outside.
Early as it was, ] had dropped the cur
.ains and lit the wax candles on the man.
tie, and / sat long over my tea, finding
certain companionship in it, as women
Of all ages will
I sat thus long time, and was start
led from my reverie by rap at my door
"a timid sort of rap--so that l knew
at once that it was neither a member of
the house nor an intimate friend. ]
waited, expecting Anthony to answer the
door, but finding be did not, l went 10 it
myself.
1t had grown quite dark, and the moon
rose late that night. At first | could on
ly make out a crouching figure at the
bottom Of the porch, but when i spoke
be advanced, and by the light from the
hall lamp, saw a black man. / had al
ways had sort of fear of a negro and
instinctively shrunk away, but as / did
lie spoke in husky whisper:
This is Marsa Morton's, isn't il, Miss ?
Yes l replied. 'But grandfather is
out
retreated. He advanced.
please, Miss he said, Judge B
sent me here. He said Marsa Morton 'ud
help me on. Let me stay here a night,
Miss. rs trabelled Fl We days sence i
left him. Hidin' like. Is awful hungry
-'pears like I'd drop, and Ole Marsa is
arter me. For de lub OBJ Heaben, Miss,
let me hide somewheres, and glib me jest
a crust. Marsa Judge promise Marsa
Morton 'ud help me, an it's KEEP me up.
Missus will, / know
l knew that grandfather had given
succor to some of these poor wretches be-
fore but l felt that l might be doing
wrong in admitting a stranger in bis abs
sence. ... ........
Caution and pity, struggled within me.
At last said
You have note from the Judge, /
suppose
Il had some writin' on a paper said
the man, but rs loss it. De night it
rained so. All, Miss, rs tellin' the truff
Judge sent me, sure as rs sinner.
is been help along so far, and pears like
l must git to Canady. Can't go back
no ways. Wife's dar, an de young uns.
Got clar year ago. Miss, I'll pray for
you ebery day OBJ my life if you'll jes' be
so good to me. Soil Dinah. Tank ye
Miss
For, somehow, when be spoke OF wife
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