New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-17

heavily through the fog and the clang of
bells sounded on my ear, and presently the
clatter of wooden clogs upon the stone
causeway. The mill hands were coming
home from WORK.
And yet it struck me that there was a
greater number of people coming this way
than had ever recollected before, and still
more strange, lost the sound of feet as the
people reached the house; there were foot
steps constantly coming toward me, but
heard none going away. confused muir
mur too, was in the air. a hum multitudin-
GUS voices.
| sprang to the window, and beheld a
great crowd gathered about the house. As
my face appeared at the window a smooth
cred hum rose into a loud strident yell, so
powerful and confusing that shrank back
abashed, as if l had felt the blast of a
tempest in my face.
What could be the cause of this gather
ing? had always from a boy been at en-.
nifty with these factory hands, but it was
mere class prejudice that was not likely to
have come to such head as this. The
cries, shouts, shrill whistles, and catcals
gave place by degrees to regular definite
howl, "BruH. Bruff, Bruff Hannah, Han
nah, Hannah" was shouted from hundreds
of threats in hoarse. unmistakable accents.
monentary feeling of exulta ton
took possession OF me-. My wrongs had
met with immediate popular sympathy:
felt for the instant as if l were the favorita
OF the people. But little reflection con-
WINGED me that 1 was wrong. What mat
tered it to these people how my fathers
property was distributed! On the other
hand, although it would be idle to say that
there was any high standard of morality
among them, yet there were certain forms
of immortality that sometimes aroused
popular indignation. 1t was very possible
that this populace, ubiquitous and full of
shrewdness, had detected a relationship
between Bruff and Hannah that l mad not
even suspected.
Then l heard a voice outside calling to
me; it was Hannah's; and | opened the door
and went out to her. She was standing in
the passage, livid in face and trembling all
over.
"Oh. what will become of mel" she cried,
twisting her hands to and fro til the
knuckles cracked "What shall do, They
are calling for me. Oh, they will kill mel
Get out at the back, and away over the
tields!' | cried.
They're all round the house; they've
climbed over the garden wall-tack door
anu front; they're everywhere
"Are the doors all lockedi"
Eyes, they're all fastened; but they'll
break them in. Oh, speak to them, Mr..
Richard speak to them, and tell them it's
not my fault"
You'd better get Mr.. Bruf to speak to
them" said coldly.
They're worse against him than me- oh,
they'll kill us BOTH
A tremendous boot or roar, and thun-
dering noise against the back and front
doors, a shower of pebbles against the win
dows. Hannah flung herself on her knees
and wrung her hands.
"l'll speak to them," said, after a mo.
ments thought, and went upstairs, and
opening one of the first floor windows, put
my head out and shouted "Halloow
1t was not SO dark outside as within the
house. There was full moon, and though
the moon itself was not visible it shed
strange diffused light over the scene. A
man who seemed to be rlngleader among
them held up his hands when he saw my
head at the open window, as a signal for
silence; silence that was pretty we'll kept
by the men, although the voices of the wo-
men still ran on in shrill treble.
"What do you want" / shouted, ''attack-
ing quiet house like this9
care you Master Hargrave?" said the
speaker.
"Yes, am
"We don't mean any harm to We. We
want Brutf and the woman Hannah
Why do you want them!"
"To put EN- int horse pond
There was general chorus Of appIoba.
Look here" l cried, as soon as the roar
had passed away.
''Well, MASTER"
you may do what you like with the man,
but you shant have the woman"
The man turned round as if to take the
opinion of the crowd. The women's voices
were raised in loud and shrill dissent.
"Bring her out!' they cried; "bring her
out" And heard voice, too, above them
ala determined female vOice-"We'll
settle her."
"You hear, master9' said the spokesman.
1--WE mum have 'em both"
shook my head shut the window, and
returned to where Hannah was still kneel-
ing. crying and shvering.
You hear what they say. What more
can do, Hannah? :"
"Ob, save me, Richard, save me " she
cried; ''they will kill mew
II don't think they'll harm you much;
they'll give you ducking. and there'll be
an end of it,
sob, but it isn't fit for me; it will kill me
indeed, Master Richard;" and she whispered
something into my ear.
"The deucew | said, under my breath;
Bruff9"
Hiding in the cellar, the mean sooun-
drel''
is there anybody else in the house9o
"No one."
"The horse is in the stable, Bruff's horse
and trap"
Eyes, sir; and the lad's there, too"
The stable and coach house and paved |
yard in front were inclosed by high walls |
with cheyaur-de. frise on the top of them,
and wide folding gates opened into the |
street. A side door led from the house into |
the stable yard, from which there was no |
exit save by the gates. These gates were |
guarded by the crowd, but they had not
possessed themselves of the stable yard,
which indeed was sufficiently defended BY |
It's walls and the cheraur-de,frise
| walked out into the stable, reused the
ad, who was quietly sleeping in the straw
through all this turmoil, and babe him nut
The horse into the dOg-cart. 1t was fine
spirited animal-a black horse-the prop
erty of Mr.. Brutf. Too good horse, you
would have said, for small country law
yer; but Brutf did little horse dealing as
we'll as will making, and always kept
good one.
l told Hannah to put her cloak and bon
let on, and then went to the cellar stairs
md called to Bruff. but he had hidden him
'elf, and would not answer q word. There
vas no time to be Lost, as the factory lads
lad scrambled up to the upper windows,
lad found one unfastened, and were drop
ping in one by one. l drew Hannah into
he yard where the horse and dog cart were
the horse rearing and plunging |
md half mad with excitement and eager,
less. pushed Hannah into the dog cart,
Jumped up at the other side, seized the
ems and babe the boy throw open wide
he gates.
We were greeted with roar of astonish.
nent and defiance from The crowd, and the
horse, frightened by the uuaccustOmed ipht |