Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-02-27
FAITHFUL GUEST,

day In October of the year l lived
with them in Burns Hollow. 1t
may have been 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 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
ffrrficrw was ron1sorne pIssce at arr
times, and the handsome, rambling
mansion, which might have shelter>
ed a regiment, had a ghostly air
about it. when one wandered
through the upper rooms alone.
There were but two servants in
the Kitchen. Hannah Oak' S and the
Irish lad Anthony. | heard them
laughing merrlly together, for,
though Hannah was an old woman,
she was tull of fan, and in five min
utes the door opened and Hannah
came in with the tray.
Please MIS-. said she, as she set
it down, may run over to Maple
ton Tonight 2 My sis'er's daugh
ter bad boy last night, they say,
and [ want to see it nat'rally-i'' s
the first I ever had of graud-niece
or nephew
who brought the news, | asked.
'Anthony, Miss said Hannah,
He me- George-tha,'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
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 An
tbony. but I never rely on him.
Be certain not to stay late 1 re-
peated this injunction with a sort
of fright stealing oyer me-a pre-
sentiment oil evil, I might say-and
something prompted me t" add:
BE back by nine Why, l cannot
say f.; but [ felt as If by nine
should be in some peculiar danger
Hannah promised, and after do
ing all required, went away, auu
I heard her heavy shoes on the
garden walk outside.
Early as it was, [ had dropped
The cur tains aud lighted the WAY
candles on the maEtel, and sat long
over my tea, finding a certain com
panlon hip in it. as women of al
ages will.
sat thus long time. and was
: startled from my reve'le by raE
at the door-a timid sort of Il rap
! q that | knew at once that it wa
e not a member of the house no' al
intimate friend. | waited, expect
ing Anthony to open the door, bu
inding he did not, went to /: my
>eif.
1t had grown quite dark, and th'
moon rose late that night. A frs
| could only make cut a crouchins
6gure at the bottom Of the porch
But when spoke it advanced, ant
by the light of the hall lamp l saw
. black man l had always bad !
sort ot fea, Of a neg,o, and instinc
lively shrunk away, but AS I dit
n 90, he said III husky whisper
'IhIs is Massa Mortnn's isn't it?'
YES replied but grandfathe
is "ut.
, retreated AS he advanced.
Please Miss said he, Judge E
sent me here, He said mas a ut
help me- on. Let me stay here
night, Miss rs trabbeled fvs dag
since left him. Htdin sttke. L
awful hungry pear like I'd dsoI
and ole massa arter me-. + n q
lob of heaben, Miss. letme hid
some where, and glib me lsst a crus
| Massa Morton I'D helpAne, aud ii
q KEEP me up. MissusSwilT, i know
/ kuew hat grapdfatTet had gis
Ell succor to some of these poo
wretches before but i fe.t that
might be wrong by admitting
stranger in his absence.
,. Caution and pity struggled with
in me- At last L said You hav
note from the Judge. Isnppose I
Il had some writin on paper
|. said the man, but rs lost it d
:, night, it raiued So Ah Miss, I
telling detruf--Jndge sent me, .
sure rs rs a sinner. rs been helpe
along SO far. and pears like ! g
= to Canady. Cant go back noway
: Wife's and yonng nns dare. q.
clear year ago. Miss, I'll pra
for you ebfy day of my life ef you
be SO good to me. Tank you, Mis-
!, For sone show when he spoke
=, wife and children had steppe
back and let him IN.
Il WAS the back hall door
sE which the RAE had come, and IL
kitchen was close at band. I |.
rs, him thither. When saw how wo
he was, hcw wretcheI, how b
iss bes eyes glistened, and how under b
ar. ar rough blue shirt his heart beat
that you could count the pulses,
forgot my caution. / brought o
e Z cold meat and bread, drew a ri