Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-01-15
the Faithful Guest.

There was something, | forget what,
to take grandfather and grandmother
away from home one day in October
of the year lived with them in Burns
Hollow. Ii may have been funeral,
or some religious meeting, for they
both drove of dressed In their best in
the gig, with old Ajax harnessed TO II /;
and after had tucked in grandma s
iron gray silk skirt and ran back to the
house for grandpa's spectacles, and had
seen the gig vanish in the distance, L
felt lonely. Burns Hollow was lone
some place at att times, and the hand
some, rambling mansion, which might
have sheltered a regiment, had a
ghostly air about it, when one wan
dered through the upper rooms alone.
There were but two servants in the
kitchen. Hannah Oakes and the Irish
lad Anthony. | heard them laughing
merrily together, for, though Hannah
was an old woman, she was full OF
fun, and in five minutes the door
opened and Hannah came in with the
tray.
Please miss said she. as she set it
down, may [ run over to Mapleton
tonight? Ny sisters daughter had
boy last night, they say, and | want
10 see it nat 'rally-it's the first ever
had of grand-niece or nephew"
s'Who brought the news" l asked
Anthony, miss, said Hannah. ''He
met George-that's my niece's husband
when he was out after the COW, stray
ing as she always is, and told him to
tell Hannah she's grand-aunt."
You may 60" said, "but don't
stay late. Grandpa and grandma may
be away all night and | feel nervous.
TO be sure, there's Anthony, but |
never rely on him. Be certain not to
STAY .ate.'' l repeated this injunction
with a sort of fright stealing over me
"A presentiment of evil, | might say
and something prompted me to add:
" Be back by nine" Why. cannot
say: bnt | felt as if by nine | should be
in some peculiar danger.
Hannah promised, and after doing all
| required, went away, and heard her
heavy shoes on the garden walk out
side
Early as it was, | had dropped the
curtains and lighted the wax candles
on the mantel, and sat long over my
tea, finding certain companionship in
il, as women of all ages will.
| sat thus a long time, and was star
tied from my reverie by a rap at the
door-a timid sort of rap-so that
knew at once that it was not a member
of the house nor an intimate friend. L
waited, expecting Anthony to open the
door, but finding he did not, went TO 1t
myself.
1t had grown quite dark, and the
moon rose late that night. At first l
could only make out crouching figure
at the bottom of the porch. But when
[ spoke il advanced, and by the light of
the hail lamp ! saw black man.
had always had sort of fear of ne
gro, and instinctively shrunk away,
but as | did so, he said in husky |
whisper, "This is Massa Morton's,
isn't it?''
Yes" 1 replied; - but grandfather
is OUT
| retreated as he advanced.
please Miss" said he, Judge B.
sent me here. He said massa 'ud help |
me on. Let me stay here night,
Miss. rs trabbeled five days since |
left him. Hidin' like. rs awful
hungry; pears ike I'd drop, and ole
massa's arter me. Foa de lob of heaben,
Miss, let me hide somewhere, and glib
NE jes' a crust. Massa Morton 'ud
help me, and its kept me up. Missus
will, L know"
| knew that grandfather had given
succor to some of these poor wretches
but felt that might be wrong
Dy admitting stranger in his absence.
Caution and pity struggled within
me. At last l said: "You have
note from the Judge, suppose?"
81 mad some writin' on a paper"
aid the man, but rs lost il de night,
L rained so. All, Miss, is telling de
sent me, as sure as rs a
sinner. rs beea helped along so far,
md pears like get to Canady. Can't
20 back noways. Wife's and young uns
lare. Got clear a year ago. Miss, I'll
pray for you ebry day of my life eff
you'll be so good to me. Tank you,
Mss
For somehow when he spoke of wife
md children | had stepped back and
ct him in.
1t was the back hall door TO which
he rap had come, aud the kitchen was
lose at hand. led him thither.
When / saw how worn he was, how
yretched, how his eyes glistened, and
low under his rough blue shirt his
leart beat so that you could count the
pulses, forgot my caution. | brought
,ut cold meat and bread, drew mug
# cider, and spread them on the table.
The negro ate, and l left him to find
Anthony, to whom | intended to give
directions for his lodging throughout
he night.
To my surprise, Anthony was no
\ here tn be found.
Hannah must have taken him with