Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-02-16

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paper It's a duty owe to tue profession.
But how to get it, that's the question: ~ and
| he sank into revery from which he was
aroused by the entrance Of Sam, a bright faced
mulatto boy.
When was an evil deed ever premeditated
! that a fitting instrument was not at hand for
! its accomplishment
"Sam," said Reynop, there's little job l
want you to do for me-will you 2"
"rhat pends altogether, massa, on whoth-
or it will go again the conscience of gentle
man to do it,"
'Oh, you know, Sam, I wouldn't propose
anything dishonorable to you
"Fire away, then, Mars Reynop, and I'll
tell you in jilfy whether / want to do II or
not"
"Well, it's just this Hagar has a paper
which she carries in bag around her neck,
that must get hold Of. If you'll get it for me,
! I'll pay you for it."
"Umph! umph :" said the negro, shaking
his head, "you don't get me in that sap That's
| Maum Hagar's trick bag. She'd kunjer me,
shore"
| "Pshaw, Sam there's no trick about it ;
it's paper | wrote myself, and if you get it
for me I'll give you suit Of clothes
"Bran now clos, Mars Reynop--out ob de
store 2" inquired the boy eagerly, for he was
sparkling Aunt Dinah's Jane, and felt that a
suit of store clothes would render him ire
sistible to the damsel.
"Yes, they shall be brand new" came the
promise, whereupon Sam, with hearty "Yas
stree, I'll get it for you, disappeared in the
| darkness.
So, with bribe and falsehood, the Christian
gentleman allayed the superstitious fears Of
the ignorant slave.
The physician summoned to Hagar enjoned
| perfect rest and quiet 30 Mrs De Clancy uu-
| dertook, with the aid of Aunt Dinah, one Of
the oldest and most trusty of the slaves, to
nurse her. That evening, as Aunt Dnah sat
alone by the sick woman, Sans tawny face
appeared at the door.
"Aunty, you're wanted down to your house,
quick Sinas Jim's swallered button, and
he's chokin'.'
Stay here, boy, till get back, said she,
aud hustled away.
Sam entered the room on tiptoe aud, bend
ing over Hagar to assure himself that she was
asleep, drew his knife, cut the string and
possessed himself Of the coveted bag. As he
did so, Hagar's great black eyes opened wide
and stared him straight in the face Throw
ing her arms over her head, she exclaimed
mo, he shan't have it I'll burn it to-
morrow, and there'n be no more trouble.
Miss Nellie's a good woman, and she'll see
that he has his rights. Little Hope-I could
because I'm not clear white nothing hurts me,
and my heart is breaking all these years. My
own child, that God gave me, would be asham-
ed of mellow could l bear it He shall
never know it till we meet up yonder. Yes,
| I'll burn it to. morrow" and with a sigh like a
tired child she fell asleep.
Aunt Dinah came back and found Sam with
his teeth chattering as if he had an ague ht.
What devilment you been up to now p she
demanded. You look like you'd seen a
ghost And what did you tell me that lie for,
anyhow =
Jane told me, Aunt Dinah"
II know Jane didn't she's in the house,
waitin' on the table. You've been up to some
meauuess."
You're always cusing me of something.
aint done a blessed thing. Twas always skeer
ed of Maum Hagar, and now she looks so
much like a dead woman can't abide the sight
Of her"
Then just crar out o here, you yaler-
faced sneak. You ain't wanted here no long
| crn
Sam went gladly, and, creeping behind the
| hedge, soon gained the road A brisk walk
brought him TO the lawyers, where, after
considerable bartering, the paper was deliver
| ed and the bribe received. II was long after
midnight when he returned to the plantation,
| to hnd lights fitting to and fro, and the ne
| groes clustered in groups around their cabin
doors. Hagar had sunk into an easy, natural
sleep, from which she awoke seemingly re-
freshed. She passed her hand around her
neck, and finding the string gone, started up,
wringing her hands
oh Miss Nellie, it's gone. and promised
the Lord I'd burn it. He stood by my bed
last night and looked at me so sad.like, and
told me TO put all the wickedness out Of my
heart and he'd give me a gold crown and a
harp. promised him ia do it. Aud now
that wicked white mans got the paper, and
he'll hurt my little Hope. But, Miss Nellie,
the other one was my very own you know
how they pull at your heart Ny own child !
God knows l wouldn't hurt you and the baby.
Dear Lord, take me to Thyself, where these
wicked white men cannot reach me any
| more :"
The passion of her grief spent, she sank
back upon the bed, moaning piteously;
Gone gone!'
The third day Hagar's fever subsided, and
the doctor declared that with careful nursing
she would recover, but would probably never
be strong again. During a tedious GONZALES
cence, no sister could have been more atten-
tive than was Mrs. De Clancy. The sight Of
Carl affected Hagar SO strongly that it was
| deemed best for him not to visit her. Naught
could ever bring a smile to her face save
Hopes childish prattle. She would sit by the
hour watching her at play but when the little
one passed out of her sight, it was like taking
sunshine from the flowers.
When, after weeks of careful nursing, she
was able to leave her room, in the detected.
looking creature lowering about, seemingly
glad to perform any menial service, there was
no trace of the queenly, voluptuous woman
who met Mrs. De Clancy on the Threshold OF
her home that October evening. She seemed
always to be expecting some blow. The rus
tie of a dress would make her start and trem.
BILE like leaf shaken by the wind. The un-
expected click of the gate-latch would excite
her for an hour. Finally the doctor advised
the trial of a change of residence, saying she
had sustained nervous shock after a long
continued mental strain, and it would be diff
ficult for her to recover from it. Hearing OF
their intention to send her away, she fell into
such passion Of weeping as TO alarm Mrs
De Clancy. In piteous accents she entreated
ooh, Miss Nellie, don't send me away from
you. You are the only friend l have even
known. All the others have treated me SC
badly that have sometimes thought there
was no God, for He would not suffer His crea
lures to be so tortured. Miss Nellie, indeed
didn't mean to hurt you or the baby. There
is no place in all the world for poor, miser
able creature like me to go to-.
"As long as / live, Hagar, you shall neyel
leave me, and whatever trouble l can saw,
you from, shall never come near you,' Mrs
De Clancy said, feeling the promise to be al
sacred as a vow sworn on bended knee befor,
a mitred priest. The shadow of Hugh d.
Clancy still upon the hearthstone
Mrs. De Clancy sat in the library one morn
ing with Carl, planning future for him anC
Hope which should fructify into beauty the
seeds that had dropped out of her own life
For the sake of her children she strove to b'
cheerful and to Danish all bitter memories
The door opened, and they looked up to set
Col. Reynop, ever the messenger of i'll L
them. His yisage was more sharply marked
his voice more unctuous, and his salutatiol
more profound than ever. Still he seemed il
at ease until, after few moments, he drew
from his pocket paper creased and yellow
with age, and said
Madame, it has become my painful dut.
to acquaint you with the contents of pape
which accidentally came into my possession
few days ago"
He proceeded to read in a cold, mechanics
tone, 1.-THE last will and testament of Hug
De Clancy" by which he bequeathed to hi
beloved Hagar Rawdon, and their son Carl
all the property of which he died possessed.
He would scarcely have read to the end witt
| that monotonous drawl had he seen the youn