West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-01-11
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. 1t may have teen funeral or
some religious meeting, for they both
drove on dressed in their best i'm the gig.
with old Ajax harnessed TO it; and after
j 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 Hellow was lonesome rambling
mansion, which might have sheltered q
regiment, and had a ghostly air about il
when one wandered 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 with the tray.
Please, Miss" said she as she set il
down, may 1 run over TO Mapleton to-
night? My sisters daughter had boy
last night, they say, and ! want to sec
il, nat rally it's the first Pve ever had
of grand-niece or nephew"
Who brought the news? asked.
Anthony, Miss" said Hannah. " He
met George-thats my niece's husband
when he was out after the cow, straying
rs she always is, and told him to tell
Hannah she's n gIand-aunt."
You may go" ] said. " but don't
stay late. Grandpa and grandma may
be away all night, and / feel nervous
To be sure, there is Anthony, but ]
never rely on him. BE certain not to
stay late" j repeated this injunction
with sort of fright stealing over me-
presentiment of evil, j might say-and
something prompted me to add: BE
back by nine" Why, can not say
but felt as if by nine l should be in
some peculiar danger.
Hannah promised, and, after doing
all l required, went away, and ! heard
her heavy shoes on the garden walk out
side.
Early asit was, / had dropped the
curtain and lighted the wax candles on
the mantel, and / sat long over my tea,
finding a certain companionship i'm 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 Of rap, 80 that knew
at once that il was not q member OF the
house Moran intimate friend. / waited
expecting Anthony TO open the door
but, finding he did not, went TO it my
self.
1t had grown quite dark and the
moon rose late in the night. At first
could only make out a crOuching figure
at the bottom Of the porch; but when
spoke II advanced, and by the light o.
the hall lamp / saw black man. / hac
always a sort of fear OF a negro, and in
stinctively shrunk away, but "a ! did $,
he spoke in a husky whisper: " This Il
Massa Morton's, isn't it?'
" Yes" ] replied; but grsudfathe
is out"
retreated as he advanced.
=" Please Miss" he said, Judge B
sent me here. lle said massa 'ud he'll
me on Let me stay here q night, Miss
rs trabbled FIVE days since left him
Hidin' like. Ps awful hungry, pear
like I'd drop, and ole massa's after me
For the lub OBJ heaben, Miss. let me hid
somewheres, and glib me ies q crust
Massa Morton nd help me, and it's KEEP
me mp. Missus will, ! know"
knew that grandfather had qivel
succOr 10 some Of these poor wretcbe
before but / felt that ! might be doin,
wrong by admitting q stranger in hi
absence.
Caution and pity struggled within
me. At last ! said " You have a not
from the Judge ! suppose, sirT'
had some writin' on a paper" sal,
the man, but Ts lost it de night /
rained so. Ahl Miss, Ps tellin' th
truf-Judge sent me, sure ~ r. n sin
ner. rs been helped along 40 far. an,
pears like 7 get to Canady. Can't q
hack nOways Wife's dar. and tb
young uns. Got clear a year ago. Mis-,
Tll pray for you ebry day of nv lif
ef you'll be 70 good to me. Tank you
Miss"
For somehow when he spoke Of wifi
and children ] had stepped back and le
him in.
II was the back hall door to- which On
rap had come, aud the kitchen was clos
at hand ] led him thithcr When
saw bow worn he WAS. how wretcheC
how his eyes glisteued and how unds