Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-10-20

night with him, and / never once re-
member Of having seen him at the barr
"You astonish me,' replied. "lwas
at the hotel week with him, and new
or once remember Of having seen him at
the bar"
"No, no." exclaimed Mr.. Northup,
Saunders don't drink at o bar. He's o
very peculiar man, very methodical; all
his drinking is done at the club. But
really / am OBTAINING you. My object
was to ask you to inform my daughter,
whom you will find at home, that Jake
has run away from me again, and sup
pose he has taken the woods. Tell her,
If you please, to inform Thompson, the
everseer. No doubt he'll be sneaking
around before ] return"
sRun awayp l ventured to observe.
"Yes," replied Mr.. Northup. II was
taking him up to Larkin's plantation to
sell him, for he's no manner of use to
me. So lie managed to slip away soon
after arrived at the village yesterday"
Promising to attend to Mr.. Northup's
request, we babe each other good-by,
and separated. After good nights
rest, set out the following morning on
my journey.
1t was almost dusk when l rode up to
Mr.. Northup's mansion. A dozen or
more hounds seemed determined to dis
pute my passage up the lane, and their
barking had the effect of bringing Miss
Northup to the front porch, where she
welcomed me and received the message
her father had sent.
"Jake is o bad fellow" she replied.
''Papa has borne with his bad conduct
for long time, and he never had him
punished until last week. The wretch
cut out the tongue Of one Of our favorite
hounds, and az Mr.. Larkln was willing
to buy him to work in his lumber mill,
papa determined to sell him."
"He must be bad fellow / said.
Indeed, you are quite correct" she
answered "But knew he had escaped
before you arrived, for be visited the
quarters about daylight. Thompson on
ly heard Of it at noon, and started with
some neAghbors in pursuit Of him, and
he has not yet returned. It's wonder
papa has not turned back, but now that
| recollect, he had some business at
Cranch's creek. Did he say when he
would return 7"
| II think not" replied.
| During the evening we had pleasant
conversation, and I took occasion to in
form Miss Nofthup Of the object OF my
visit to Hickman"
II dare say uncle will be glad to see
you. for he is really overwcrked with
business. He took young gentleman
into his Office short time ago, but they
couldn't get along at all; SO they separ
ated. Uncle is very forgetful and ner
vons; scarcely anyone can manage t.
endure him, but he is kind man al
heart and very generous. Papa and HI
are so very different in temperament
, you would suppose they were brothers.
!, 1t was ten o'clock when | started tt
90 to bed, and Miss Northup came
up the stairs behind me, accompanied
, by her maid, who carried couple o
: candles. On the upper landing ] met al
/ enormous black cat with green eyes
, who crouched as ifshe intended TO spring
upon me. am not superstitious nor IN
clrned on the metaphysical doctrines 0
, those who sport them, but strange AM
unaccountable feeling crept over me a
stood in front of the animal with it
glaring orbs and raised back. At
. word from the girl, however, the ca
| glided down stairs and was lost to sight
f When reached my chamber Mis-
Northup remarked
''Your door has bolt on it, and | be
t lieve it is the only room in the house tina
| is secured"
"Don't you lock your lower doors ?"
| asked.
t She smiled and replied
1--WE never think it necessary"
1 Musing on the strange custom which
: by the by, did not consider very safe
e ! went to bed and tried to sleep, but wa
unable to do so. Strange visions foate
4 across my brain, and lay twisting an
4 turning in the bed, vainly desiring Stun
: ber | heard the clock in the hall strik
two, and then some chanticleer, perhap
y as sleepless as myself, began to crow
AS the voice of the rooster died away
y there came noise as OF a person jump
: inc from the window-sill to the floor, an
: then followed by the light and almos