The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-22
THE FAITHFUL GUEST.

TO take my grandfather anu SianuHno'uoi
away from home one day in October OF
the year lived with them in Burns
Hollow. 1t NAV have been a funeral or
some religious meeting, for they both
drove off dressed in their best IN the gig,
with old Ajax harnessed to it; 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, felt lonely.
Burns Hollow was lonesome, rambling
mansion, which mig ht have sheltered
regiment, and had a ghostly air about it
when one wandered through the upper
rooms alone. ...e...z
There we're but two servants in the
kitchen, Hannah Cakes and the Irish lad
Anthony. heard them laughing mer~
rily together, for, though Hannah was an
old woman, she was full OF fun, and in
five minutes the door opened and Hannah
came with the tray.
'Please, MISS said she, as she set 1t
down, 'may run over to Mapleton to-
night? My sisters daughter had boy |
last night, they say, and want to see 1t,
at'rally-it's the first I've over had OF
grandniece or nephew"
w
"Anthony, miss" said Hannah. He
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 grandaunt.' ~
"You may CO." l said, 'but don't stay
late. Grandpa and grandma may be
away all night, and feel nervous. TO
be sure, there is Anthony, but l never
rely on him. Be certain not to stay late"
repeated this Injunction with sort of
fright stealing orer me-a presentment
of evil, 1 might say and something
prompted me to add: ''Be back by g."
WHY, I cannot say; but felt as if by 9 I
should be in some peculiar danger.
Hannah promised, and after doing all
I required, went away, and heard her
heavy shoes on the garden walk outside.
Early us it was, l dropped the curtain
and lighted the wax candles On the man
tie, and I sat long after my tea, finding
certain companionship in it, as women
of all ages will.
sat thus long time, and was startled
from my reverie by rap at the door--a
/ timid sort IF rap, so that knew at once
that it was not member OF the house nor
an intimate feiend. 1 waited, expecting
Anthony to open the door, but finding he
did not went to it myself.
It had grown quite dark, and the moon
}, rose late that NIL ht. At first could only
make out crouching figure at the bot
tom of the porch; but when spoke II
e advanced, and by the light of the hail
lamp saw black man. had always
IS had a sort of fear of a negro, and instinc
,, tive.y shrunk away, but as did so hi
spoke in husky whisper: "This is Mas
e sa Morton's, ISN'T it,"
EYES," replied, ''but grandfather il
- out"
1 retreated as he advanced.
it "Please, MISS" he said, "Judge B. sen
me here. He said massa 'ud help me on
~ Let me stay here a. night, Miss. rs trab
k bled five days since lett him, hidin' like
rs awful hungry. Pears like I'D drop
i! and ole massa s arter me. For de Tub Of
= heaben, Miss, let me hide somewheres
Il and glib me jes' crust. Massa Morto
ud help and it's kept me up. Missu
81 will, know"
~ knew that grandfather had give
~ succor to some of these poor wretches be
* fore; but I felt that might be dom
wrong by admitting stranger in his ak
at sence.
be Caution and pity struggled with me. A
last said. You have note from tn
nd judge, suppose, sirS' .....
II had some writin' on paper" sal
ID the man, shut rs lost it de night it raine
~ so. All! Miss, Is tellin' the truf- -Jude
se sent me, sure as Is sinner. rs bee
helped along SO far, and pears like g
W. to Canady. Cant go back noways Wifi
.rs dare, and the young uns. Got clear
year ago. Miss, I'll pray for you e51
lis Cay of my life eff you'll be 50 good to m
- Thank you, Miss
III For somehow when he spoke of wi
and children had stepped back and L
ur him in.
1t was the back hall door to which tt
'rt rap had come. and the kitchen was clio
o. at hand, led him 4hither. When I So
how worn he was, how wretched, how b
III eyes glistened, and how under his roue
blue shirt his heart beat so that "
40 could count the pulses, forgot my ca
net ton. I brought out cold meat and brea
drew mug Of cider, and spread them {
the table. The negro ate, and left hi
'n' to find Anthony, to whom intended
s. give directions for his lodging throug
out the night. .a
up To my surprise, Anthony was nowhe
md about the house or garden. -....
Hannah must have taken him with b
hat across the lonely road to Mapleton.
1t was natural, but was angry.
anu Yet I longed for Hannah's return, al
listened very anxiously until the clio
struck nine. Then instead of her TO-
steps, heard the patter of raindrops a
the rumbling thunder, and looking c
on. saw that heavy storm was coming on
Of Now, certainly, grandpa and grands
- would not come, and Hannah, waiting
u IL the storm to pass, would not be here
the hours. However, my fear of the nee
e it was quite gone, and 1 felt cert,
1eir pride in conducting myself bravely I'm,
lers these trying circumstances.
ers) Accordingly l went up stairs, found
3 of the attic sundry pillows and holsters, a
xed carried them kitchenward.
lily "Here," said, snake yourself (
yem on the settee yonder, and be easy for