The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-04-28

wore It's Wonted, placid and self-satis-
fled air. "Tom," l asked, as he de-
posted my gown and slippers, the one
upon chairback, the other beside
the bed, "did you perceive anything
in the closet just now Z" "Sah %
answered Tom, with a vacant stare.
81 mean," continued I, "did you OBJ
serve a-that is-did you-a-well-the
truth is, my nose bled in the night,
Tom, and | was obliged to got up out
of bed and change my linen. eyes,
sah," responded Tom, at the same
time scratching his head, with sleepy
mystified air. At this moment the
the clock struck tho hour of ten. The
sound renewed my tcrrors. BY this
time, thought I, the murder is out,
and the blood-hounds of tho law are
perhaps on the track Of the perpetra-
tor. Flight, instant Flight, is my
oaly chance for escape. "Tom, quick (!
lay down my vest; 60 pack up my
portmanteau for a journey. / must
be ready in ten minutes"
"I SUPPOSE" said Tom, as he obey
cd my order with alacrity, "that mass
George is gwinc to pay visit 20 Miss
Bella" my married sister, WI lived
in an adjoining State, "but it's mon
sous sudden, dis visit"
At the mention Of my sisters name
l gave deep groan, whereupon Tom
turned and surveyed me with look
of astonishment, which changed to one
of concern; and laying tho portman-
teau upon the floor, advanced toward
mo quickly.
"N1assa George, something gone
wrong; l know it. You amt looked
natural dis morning and please sar,
tell mo why you gwine off in sich a
hurry2 Member, mass George, dis
here old niger has carried you on his
back when you were picaniny, times
widout number"
Tears of emotion started to my eyes
at this evidence of attachment in my
old servant, and [ seized his horny
hand, saying, cas- Heavens my wit
ness, | believe you arc my best and
most faithful friend in tho world
Tom, | am about to put your courage
and loyalty to the test; l am about to
put my life in your power. Listen.
last night | arose from my bed, and
Arming myself, waylaid and murdered
an unarmed man shot him with my
revolver"
"No, NO, nlass Oou,gc, don't cay
dat. Oh |! gor mighty! dis chilo's
heart is clean broken please don't
peak dat agin % and Tom retreated,
with outstretched arms and fingers,
and with his eyes protrudipg from his
head, until he had backed against the
wall, whore he remained petrifed with
horror.
At this moment there was q loud
knock at the door. "The officers
the oificers" exclaimed l, in all the
agony of despair.
Tom, asif a galvanic shock had been
applied to him, started into life at the
sound, darted like lightning to the
door and double locked it, after which
he knelt and applied an optic to the
key-hole.
"Who do you see ~ I asked anx-
iously. "I see several men, and one
~oman-de house keeper I tink." The
knocking was repeated. "Who you
want dere," now inquired Tom still
at the key hole. "Mr. George Dan.
ners," answered voice from the out
side. "Mass George no here" spoke
Tom again, che been gone to de city
desc tree days" '"You lying rascal"
-cried the shrill voice of the house
keeper--'you know that your master
slept hero last night and that he is at
this very moment in his bed, you are
a pretty fellow, to keep the Squirc's
man from delivering tho note his Mas
ter has sent and an answer wanted i'm
mediatelyjtoo." "You hear dat Mas.
sa," said Tom, "NIiss Willious sa ays dat
de old Squire's servant am here, wild q
note for you, dat is all.-dere is no
ossifers yet sartin." With that, he
cautiously opened the door few inch.
es and extended his hand for the
note, receiving which, he brought it to
the bed where | lay, almost ovorpow-
cred by tho violence Of my emotions.
Alas ! thought I, as I looked at the
superscription which was in the we'll
known hand writing of my dear Uncle
John. Alas !! Fanny's (I dare not say
my Fanny father has written to de-
nounce me, whom he loved SO, for
having dishonored his name, for hay.
ing destroyed the happiness Of his
declining years, and for having blight
ed Fanny's future prospects; the
tears would not be repressed. "Come,
Massa George no time for dat, we
must be gwino." I hastily tore open
the note. Good Heavens was I
awake 1t could not bo, and yet it
was cousin Fanny's hand writing, and
there, at the bottom, by joe, was her
name.
"Dear Coz;. (it began) I have the
greatest mind to give you scolding,
but no, I will reserve my fire for, some
future candle lectures. Why did you
abscond from the ball at so early an
hour last night and that too without
so much as saying, by your leave to
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