The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-12-15

CT. MS is MaSSa morton 5, Ism IL !!
"Yes," 1 replied, "but grandfather
is out"
As retreated he advanced.
please, miss" he said, Judge B.
sent me here. He said massa 'ud help
me on. Let me stay here night, miss
rs trabbled five days since l left him.
Hidin' like. rs awful hungry, pears
like I'd drop, and ole massa's arter me.
For the lub of heaben, miss, let me
hide somewhere's, and glib me jes' a
crust. Massa Judge promise Massa
Morton 'ud help me an its kept me
up. Missus will, l know.
L knew that grandfather had given
succor to some of these poor wretches
before but l felt that might be do
ing wrong by admitting a stranger in
his absence.
Caution and pity struggled within
me. At last I said: "You have a note
from the Judge, 1 suppose, sir!"
81 had some writin' OH paper"
said the man, "but rs lost it, de night
it rained so, All! miss, rs tellin' the
truf-Judge sent me, sure as rs sim
ner. rs been helped along so far, and
pears like 1 mus get to Canady. Can't
go back noways. Wife's dare, and de
young uns. Got clear year ago.
Miss, I'll pray for you cherry day ov
my life eff you'll jes' be so good to me
Tank you, miss. q sl
For somehow, when he spoke of wife
and children, 1 had stepped back and
let him in. ..--
1t was the back hall door TO which
the rap had come, and the kitchen was
close at hand. / led him thither.
When / saw how worn he was, how
wretched, how his eyes glistenened,
and how under his rough blue shirt his
heart beat so that you could count the
pulses, | forgot my caution. 1 brought
out cold meat and bread, drew mug
of cider, and spread them on the table.
The negro ate voraciously, as only a
starving man could eat, and / left him
to find Anthony, to whom intended
to give directions for his lodging
throughout the night.
To my surprise, Anthony was no.
where about the house or garden. -,
Hannah must have taken him with
her across the lonely road to Mapleton.
1t was natural, but felt angry.
Yet 1 longed for Hannah's return,
and listened very anxiously until the
clock struck nine. Then, instead of
her footsteps, / heard the patter of
raindrops and the rumbling of thumb
err, and looking out saw that a heavy
storm was coming oil.
Now, certainly, grandpa and grand
ma would not come, and Hannah,
waiting for the storm to pass, would
not be here for hours. However, my
fear of the negro was quite gone, and /
felt certain pride in conducting my
self bravcly under these trying circum-
stances. trt
Accordingly l went up stairs, found
in the attic sundry pillows and holsters,
and carried them kitchenward.
Here" / said, "make yourself
bed on the settee yonder, and be easy
for the night. No one will follow you
in such a terrible storm as this, and,
no doubt, grandpa will assist you when
he returns home. Good night"
Good night, and God bless you,
miss" still speaking in very husky
. whisper. And so left him.
But I did not 60 up stairs to my
bedroom. / intended for that night
to remain dressed and to sit up in
grandpa's armchair, with candles and
a book for company. Therefore /
locked the door, took the most conf
Portable position, aud, opening a vol
ume, composed myself to read.
Reading, fell asleep. How long /
slept ! can not tell. / was awakened
by low sound like the prying of a
chisel.
AT first it mixed with my last dream
so completely that 1 took no heed of it,
but at last l understood that some one
was at work upon the lock of the door.
| sat perfectly motionless, the blood
curdling in my veins, and still chip,
chip, chip went the horrible little ms
trument, until at last l knew whence
the sounds came. ......
Back of the sitting-room was grand
pas study. There, in a great old,
fashioned chair, were stored the family
silver, grandpa's jeweIry, and sundry
sums of money and valuable papers.
The safe itself stood in a closet in n re-,