Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-20
CHAPTER K.
NARsARkr TIGHTEEs THE CHAINS WHICH
RyND HFp To SLAVERY.

next entreateQ MIN upon my hneee W tSA
me where could find Clariee l know
that he made lame attempts at explana-
ton, which I refused to accept, and that
In the end he struck me, and forcing me
into a small room, turned the key upon me.
There was bed in the room, but I did not
seek repose through that long, long night
] sat in the dark OF walked about the room,
asking myself what I could do to rescue
my sister, and what motive my master
could have had in getting rid of one who
was useful and profitable to him. could
find no answers to my torturing questions.
ALI that L could do was to suffer and wait.
SIN the morning my master came to the
door.
"' Are you upr he called.
IS Yes, / answered.
fHe unlocked the door, 1 ran out to
him; there was still lingering hope.
Clarice might have arrived during the
night.
"' Has she Gomez 1 cried eagerly.
Have you heard anything of her? ?
al have heard nothing of her. He
looked at me keenly. you have not
slept
e. How could 1 sleep in such agony and
suspense as ain suffering?
$50 1t will not help you to find Clarice,
he said.
".I wish I could diet I exclaimed
despairingly.
THAT viii not help you to find
Clarice.'
You really mean it? implored.
You wish to find her, You will try to
find her p
60 Without doubt shall, unless you
reasoner, Margaret. Did not Clarice put
money in my pocket, and did you ever
know me go against my own interests ?
she had breakfast placed before me,
and stood over me while l forced myself to
eat indeed, was compelled to eat, hav-
ing partaken of so little food during the
last two days Then he babe me accom-
pany him, and to my surprise took me to
the office of magistrate, where he made a
formal complaint of the abduction of Clar-
ice, his apprentice. He gave minute de-
scription of Clarice, and of the man into
whose care he had confded her, of the
wagon which conveyed her away, of his
instructions to the man, of his inability to
discover any trace of him; and of my pros
tration and grief at my sisters disappear
ance- l listened in amazement. He spoke
with such an assumption of sincerity and
sorrow that it was scarcely possible for
stranger to disbelieve him.
q His statement was taken down in writ
ing, and he was informed that the law
could not assist him until he discovered
the person into whose charge he had given
his apprentice.
"' 1t shall be the business of my life to
find and punish him, said my master,
'and to restore Clarice to the arms of her
unhappy sister.
''The magistrate complimented him
upon his humanity, and me upon having
80 kind-hearted a master and guardian.
He was, indeed, too strong and cunning
for me.
"When we left the magistrates Office,
my master said
'' Margaret, it is time we came to an
understanding. You did not sleep last
night. whyr
81 am very unhappy, I replied, and
could not sleep
q You passed the time in thinking
what it was best for you to do to find
Clarice
eyes
81 also have been thinking seriously
of that-as have proved by my visit to
the magistrate this morning-and of the
relations in which you and stand to each
other. They do not satisfy me-
%" Neither do they satisfy me-
IS You do not trust me =
81 was silent with Clarice in my mind,
/ felt it would not be prudent to anger
him too far.
90 1T is clear that you are determined
not to do me justice, and that you are
tired of me. Well, l am also getting tired
of you You pine for liberty. give it to
you. Do you understand me-?
''Not quite, l replied, with inward
fear.
as Yet it is not difficult. have legal
claim upon you by which can compel you
to work for me until you are 81 years of
age; am willing to relinquish that claim.
You look upon your servitude with me as
kind of bondage; l offer you release
from hateful slavery. If you so decide
it, you are free to go. l shall require you
to sign paper to the effect that you leave
me with your own accord, and that you
will never trouble me again and this
night, if you wish, shall terminate our
partnership
81 was so COMPOUNDED by this unex-
pected proposal, made apparently in a
frank spirit, that could not find words to
reply.
""'I intend, continued my master, to
have this matter settled Immediately. 1
will no longer put up with your whims
and caprices. l give you till six o'clock to
reflect and decidej if before that time you
do not come to me, either to agree to my
offer or to promise to be more submissive
to me in the future, will take effectual
means to rid myself of you. You have
sense as well as spirit, and 1 think yoa
can see that l am in earnest.
"'If resolve to leave you, I said, will