The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-07-10
THE FAITHFUL GUEST OR A NIGHT
OF DANGER.

October OF the year I had lived will
them in Burns Hollow. 1t may hav,
been funeral or some religious meet
ing, for they had drove off dressed il
their best, in the gig, with old Ala
harnessed to it, and after ha(
tucked in grandma's iron grey sill
skirt, and ran back to the house 70
grandpa's spectacles, and had seer
the gig vanish in the distance, / fel
lonely. Burns Hollow was a lone
ly place at ali times and the hand
some rambling mansion, which
have sheltered a regiment, had ;
ghostly air about it when one walked
through the upper rooms alone.
There were but two servants il
the kitchen, Hannah Oakes and the
Irish lad Anthony. heard then
Mghing merrily together, for
though Hannah was an old woman
she was full of fun, and in five min
utes the door opened and Hannah
came with the tray.
"Please Miss" said she, ''may l
run over to Mapleton tonight? My
sisters daughter had boy last
night they say, and l want to see it,
its the first have ever had of grand
niece or nephew ?
"Who brought the news?" l ask
ed.
"Anthony, MISS" said Hannah.
ale met George-.that's my niece's
husband-when he was out after the
COW, straying as she always is, and
told him to tell Hannah "she's a
great aunt"
"You may CO." l said, "but don't
stay late. Grandpa and grandma
may be away all night, and l feel
nervous. To be sure there is Antho.
ny, but / never rely on him. Be GER
tain not to stay late" repeated
this injunction with a sort of fright
stealing over me-a presentiment OF
evil, l might say-and something
prompted me to add, "be back by
nine" Why cannot say but
felt as if by nine | would be in some
peculiar danger.
Hannah promised, and after do.
ing all that | required went away.
and l heard her heavy shoes on the
garden walk, outside.
Early as it was l had dropped the
curtains and lighted the wax candles
on the mantle, and sat long over
my tea, finding a certain companion
ship in it, as women of all ages will.
sat thus long time, and was
startled from my reverie by tap al
the door-a timid sort of tap-so
knew at once that it was not mem
Der of the house nor an intimate
friend. l waited, expecting Anthony
to answer the door, but finding he
did not, went to it myself.
l. had grown quite dark, and the
moon rose late that ight. AT first
l could only make out a crouching
figure at the bottom of the porch
But when l spoke it advanced, and
by the light of the lamp l saw 6
black man. l had always had sort
of fear of negro, and instinctively
shrunk away, but as / did SO, he
spoke in a husky whisper: this il
Massa Morton's isn't it p
eyes," l replied, ''but grandfather
is out"
retreated as he advanced.
"Please, MISS" he said, "Judge b
sent me here. He said Massa 'ud
help me on. Let me stay here q
night, rs trabbled five days since
left him. Hidin' like. rs awfu
hungry, pears like I'd drop, an ole
massa arter me. For the lub OF
heaben, miss, let me hide some
where's, and glib me jes' a crust
Massa Morton 'ud help me and its
kept me Up. Missus will | know"
1 knew that grandfather had given
succor to some of these poor wretch.
es before ; but l felt that l might be
doing wrong by admitting stranger
in his absence.
Caution and pity struggled within
me. At last l said "You have g
note from the Judge, suppose sir p
81 had some writin' on a paper
said the man, "but lost it the nigh,
it rained so. All ! miss, rs tellin'
de truff-Judge sent me, sure as II
a sinner. rs been helped along sc
far, and pears like | must get te
Canady. Can't go back noways
"Wife's dare, and the young .'uns
Got clear year ago. Miss, Pll
pray for you ebry day of my life, e
you'll jest be SO good to me. Tanl
you, miss"
For somehow when he spoke OF
wife and children, l had stepped
back and let him in.
1t was, the back hall door from
which the rap had come, and thu
kitchen was clos at hand. / le(
him thither. When / saw how worl
he was, how wretched, how his eyes
glistened, and how under his rougl
blue shirt his heart beat SO that yov
could count the pulses, l forgot m,
caution. l brought out cold mea
and bread, drew mug of cider ant
spread them on the table. The ne
gro ate, and | left him to find Antho
ny, to whom intended to give di
rections for his lodging throughou
the night.
To my surprise Anthony was nj
where about the house or garden.
Hannah must have taken him witt
her across the lonely road to Maple
tou.
1t was natural, but / felt angry.
Yet l longed for Hannah's return
and listened anxiously until tn
clock struck nine. Then, instead o
her footsteps, l heard the patter @
raindrops and the rumbliug of thun
der, and looking out saw that heav,
storm was coming on.
Now, certainly, grandpa an
grandma would not come, and Han
pah waiting for the storm to pas
would not be here for hours. How
ever, my fear of the negro was quit
gone, and / felt certain pride il
conducting myself bravely unde
these circumstances.
Accordingly went up stairs
found sundry pillows and bolster
and carried them kitchenward.
'Here,' l said, make yourself be
on the settee yonder, and be easy fc
the night. No one will follow yo
in such terrible storm as this, anC
no doubt, grandpa will assist yo
when he returns home. Goodnight
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