Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-03-03

arter few moments, and bid dem good
evening, but j couldn't get any furder
dan de next room, where took seat;
de door was ajar, so could hear de
conversation as was going on. / felt
awful bad. I knew him to be an old
lover of TSkiddy's, and 1 knew he had
come for some purpose dat night.
didn't doubt Skiddy's love, but knew
he had much on his side. Il feared
Skiddy might be tempted. heard him
pleading for her love; he offered her SO
many JUDGEMENTS; he said: g / am
free man, have money, love you with
all my heart-here. have brought
you this gold ring, and these fine long
ear-drops. / can give you nice dresses
am free; don't want a slave for my
wife! 1 have saved $1,000, and will
offer it all for your freedom, and before.
we are married, too.''
When I heard desc words it seemed
my heart stopped its beatings to hear
Skiddy's answer; my head swan, for I
felt how great was dat inducement.
Lady, what do you think was her replyp
"No! love George, and have loved
him desc five years, and aldo freedom
is de dearest ting to poor slaves heart,
my love for George is still dearer."
| He still plead, but dat was her final
answer; he got no other, so he left. I
felt SO grateful, so thankful, l said to
myself, "Skiddy, you are noble little
creature, how could I doubt you'll"
While I was thinking desc sweet
thoughts, suddenly it entered into my
head: "Oh George, what selfish, sell
but your own joy, and wrapped in your
oUu, dooiroc uo11 oaro for nntbinr op1y
the JOY of being so loved. Think a mo-
ment! Would it not be far better for
Skiddy to marry dis free man! Would
he not give her freedom, fine gold rings!
while you could not even so much as
give her the plainest kind of ring!
With him she. would be rich; arter a
little while she would forget you, and
her life would be far happier!"5 My
heart sank like lead at desc toughts. I
felt worse than ever felt twas duty to
urge her to accept him. Then self spoke
in me, and said, g What if q rich free
woman was to come to me and say, If
you marry me will give you freedom
and fine clothes, and should take her;
what would Skiddy think of me! She
would say, He is a man of no honor, or
principle. He loves de freedom-and
de money-better dan he loves me, when
he has sworn he loves me better dan de
whole world! l can not respect him
any more OATS it, says I, ''no more
could respect Skiddy if she acted so. 1
know what will do, will 60 to Skiddy,
and say will give her up it she wishes
to leave me, but if she will still cling to
me / will love and cherish her all my
life, and say she's worthy to be de wife
OBJ any man in dis world, dat [ will
So I got up and went into de room
where she was and told her all I had
thought. "Why, George" she said,
..what for have | been waiting all dis
time, if I don't 'spect to marry you?
and now after waiting five years, just
now when we can be married, why
should leave you?' couldn't say
word, but folded her to my heart, and
never arter dat did doubt dat dear lit
tie lady's love.
De time drew near, when de missis
was to go to Philadelphia, and Skiddy
was so delighted to go, for she loved to
travel with her missis, when all of sud-
den de missis's father took it into his
head dat Skiddy should not 60; he said
his daughter was too 'strav giant and he
would not let her take a lady's maid.
We did not know what de matter was, he
was always willing de young missis
should take Skiddy afore, but dis time
he said no. Well Skiddy took on awful
bad, and her missis got right down am
CRY with her father; she told him Skiddy
was delicate, she had always gone out
OBJ de town in summer, and if she re-
manned in town during de hot weather
she would get sick; but he would not be
turned, so de missis went widout Skid
dy, but she told us when she came back
we should be married. Skiddy grieved
much because she could not go.
Two weeks after missis left de typus
fever came in town and Skiddy was taken
| sick with it. A week afterward was
laid on de bed-I can't tell you how [
felt. l only could think about Skiddy,
whom feared should never see again.
I used to tell de doctor SO, but he would
only laugh and say, "Folly, folly,
George, you will see her soon she is get
ting along nicely" Ebery day mes
senger brought nue. tidings dat she was
gro owing better; still | felt sick when
eber l thought OBJ her, | did so long to
see her, hab her with me! When Twas
getting well, just SO l could sit up few
hours, was looking out oh de window
and saw a friend OBJ mine come into de
l 4
4 tsHave you heard from -Skiddy?
Say?p "a
"Yes,"I answered, g word has just
been sent dat she is better.'
| "Oh, George said he. 81 can't bear
to tell you, bat ! must; dis great wrong
/ shall continue no longer. You must
know all. Skiddy is dead!''
When he uttered desc words all de
life seemed to go from me, too. 1
groaned out, 81 knew she would l
told 'em so! Take me to heri Where is
she? tell me, quick!"
He said, ''De funeral Is now going on,
l could not bear you shouldn't know it,
Massa would almost kill me if he knew
! told .rou; dey said 'twould kill you,
| too ?'' So -
He took hold OBJ my arm, helped me
out. was so weak, could scarcely
walk, but crawled along. l had gone
| about two squares, when I looked up
| and saw a hearse COMING alOno wild