The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-05-27

oy5r,eer TO give her a severe whip
ping. The girl had run off into the
Black Swamp during the night, and
Captain Martas, who impaired this
information to me, was in state of
terrible distress by reason OF her abb
sence. He did not seem to under~
stand the cause OF the trouble, but
he could rot justify his slave without
oondemning his wife, whom he
seemed to regard with q most tender
and dutiful devotion. The only emo.
ton which seemed to master him was
a heartbreaking and hopeless griet.
volunteered to hunt for the runaway,
and while as king for such intorua
ton as l thought to be necessary
about the neighboring plantations,
and OF he most bouDdless andimprsc-
ticsble wilderness known as the Black
Swamp, I saw Celia slowly and
quietly coming up the broad wa TX
which led from the portjco to the big
gate.
She carried in her hand q branch
Of the magnolia tree, from which
depended a splendid blossom of that
most glorious OF all flowers. She
bowed slightly as she came near the
portico, and, passing round the cor
ner of the house, entered in by side
door. Mrs. Martas was most passion
ately devoted to the magnolia, and,
from her EXPLANATIONS of delight,
which were soon heard in the hall.
we knew that Celia had brought the
beautiful flower as a pesce-oferiug to
her mistress, and that it had been
accepted as such. Very soon the two
women came nearer, and from our
seats on the veranda We could hear
their conversation. A terrible weight
seemed to have been lifted from the
heart OF Captain Martss by the girls
return, and by the apparent renewal
of friendly relations between bis
beautiful wife and even more beauti.
full slave-a relief which showed
itself in his face and form, but not in
his speech.
"Yes," said Celia to Mra Martas,
sit is an old, wide-spreading tree on
the very edge of the water, snd ia
glorious with just such splendid
blossoms as these. There must be
more than 800 clusters, some that
could not reach being much larger
and finer than this one."
"And you say" answered Mrs.
Msrtas, that the air is still, and that
the perfume broods ali around the
tree? Oh. how sweet"
Eyes," said Celia to Mrs. Martas,
sit ig so strong that you can taste as
we'll as smell the wonderful perfume.
Few people could bear to stand i'm
msdiately beneath the shade; it is SO
sweet as to be almost overpoWering. "
"Oh, how I wish could zee i'll
how far is it Cellar"
"Only four miles. You can go. It
is deep in the swamp; but the pony
can follow the ridge all the way. You
can go, and get home before duck.
would like you to see it before rain
MAKES the road too bad, or the winds
came and scatter the delicious per-
fume that now hangs as heavy as dew
al around the glorious tree for yards
and yards away"
81 will CO." she cried. "Tell Toby
to bring out Seiim, and you can take
horse. Let us go at once. It is get
ting late"
II would rather walk" said Celia,
go as to be sure that will not miss
the route in going back, although
watched go carefully that know
can find it on foot"
Very soon boy led up Mrs. Mar
tas's pony, and she went out TO the
steps and mounted. followed By Celia
on foot. The girl held the stirrup
for her mistress, and as she did SO
looked back at Captain Msrtas with
eyes in which shone strange love, pity.
and tenderness; but the voice of her
mistress called her away, and, even
in turning herl back and lustrious
eyes toward Captain Martas, their
expression totally changed, and
showed for heeting instant the muir.
derous glitter that cleaned from the
eyes OF panther when ready for q
fatal spring.
l was startled and troubled. and
half moved forward to tell the LADY
not to 90; but a moments reflection
showed me how foolish such an IN.
necessary and silly interference would
seem. A strange mistrust fitted
ACROSS my mind. but there was noths
ing on which to base it. I could not
give reason for it, except to say that
l had seen the light of a gladiator's
eye, the twitch and spasm OF an aasas-
sins lip, in the eye and mouth OF
that now smiling and dutiful young
slave girl. The thing was too foolish
to think Of, and held my peace.
The women passed out of the gate
ard went on quietly in the direction
of the Black swamp. Martss and /
resumed our conversation. Hour
after hour passed away, and the sun
grew large and low in the west; still
Mrs. Martas did not return. The sun
was setting-set; but she did net
c0me. Cnen Captain Martss called
Toby and bad hinl ride to the edge oil
the wood, and gee If be could learn
anything of his mistress; but Tobv
soon came back saving that be 90 ~