The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-01-03
- "Forty miles, afoot?' queried, rs
1oy,,,1,t If fE.. az ,ponth<-.,-


Almost felt my way dem cold, dark
nights. was most starved, too, fur
sometimes fur a whole day couldn't
get mare 'nough to dem as would bafren'
a pore darkey wild bite of vit,als.
"Once | was so cole an wet an hun.
cry dat stole ento dc, quarters Oh Kur
mel Prlce's place, an jis' as l was eittin'
de chill often inc an a oit OF bread IN
my ham, l hearn McCu:dy in de lane
a-askin':
''lliiio, Kurnel, seed any niger Won.
IN round de placer" -
''De kurnel sad ne hadn't, an McCur-
dy sa,s
''l'be loss likely woman, an reck on
she's headln for Salem"
IL didn't nait 10 hear mo- an loss no
time a-gettin' into Il hundred-acre GAVIN
der, Il leadn' even CO pore rags had
IN my bundle. Den | stuie troo de fie'
AN tux to de woods, never DARN 10 20
into de road, fur Iknowed dey was OIL
my trac."
II lay in dc woods all dat day, in
slow dr4zzlin' ram. bus when do night
cum on, made traces iur de road, tell
you; an beio' daylight cum
10 plantation, an soon seed
culled man at de barn a. ieedln'; to!e
him my story, an he took me to his
wiie's cabin, au' she stripped Oft my wet
c!u'es, an put some o. llern on Ine, an
made me drink some hot coffee. On.
how she cried when l tole her all l
had gone troo wild SO fur on dc road!
She tu!e me had only ten miles more
10 go; an dat Was good news, tel you.
Alter l got warm au' ted, She made m- 20
up de Ladder 10 lie loi', an dere slep'
oil IL II
was SO sore an frosted dat When lust
step, eben fur my freedom.
Il Stayed dar two days an nights, an,
den de lnan-Sam Hail ny name, IN ssus;
IL mighty white suui he had snuah-he
got his master to let him bring u load o.
truck 10 market, an so l started TO-
H. lit, an he son cotct I'D wld me, an
rid Ill de kyart mos all dy way.
knowed h q good iren's here, who
'cu.d see dat had jes:ice eff could ou'y
git to 'em; an Dress de Lord l did.
Your man, m.ssns, says he will see me
troo. an de siierin says l needn't re
alsead o McCuruy even ct he was TO
caln, 'kase ue law will purtect me-"
Aud judy gave sigh of relief and,
ancied, Of exul! alton, TN It at last she
had escaped from dat rapa bus vi!luin,"
us She called tho tibet McGur. y.
So Judy Settled down III quiet, minis
tering 10 the needs Of our small house
hold, waiting, III sutl,:le confidence,
or the ri" to right her grieyous wrongs.
The domestic machinery moved smooth.
~, ami forgot, n measure the bur
dens which had pressed 50 heavily upon
.ne rtevlrus to Judy's advent, when,
one misty, cool morning, alter Sl|as had
gone to his office. | was startled by IL
shrlll scream and piteous call upon my
name, aiid rushing hastily to the door
opening Eilo the yard, there stood judy
ds!iy with fear, while red headed and
Xhi-k red man was holding her by the
arm, and dragging her toward a horse
WHICH was held outside the fence by
another man, and near him q third,
whom | recognized as a constable, was
urging Judv in forclble persuasive Ian
GuAse, not TO resist the law.
/ saiti Mr.. Jones. DO you know what
the penalty IS for interfering with per-
SON who is suiug tor tbs freeuoln" Tor
knew he penalty was a heavy one.
Have you seen Mr.. -" (mv husbanu)
abunt this natter"
$40, madam" said Mr.. Jones; 81
nave not. bit l stw William we'll
Known lawyer land he said it was all
right, tor your husband had been de-
coived, and that McCurdy had perfect
right 10 take the woman"
l thought this stran - tor Silas, I knew
adopted David Clockett's maxim, ''Be
snre You're right aud then 60 ahead" so
said.
''H;ve you seen Mr.. Hughes- the
sler.H-for l knew she Was legally put
INTO his charge. and hired out by him on
the Goth, to my husband, and know 1t
is IN one case Il penitentiary offonse, and
in q lother heavy fine for, taking per-
son after the requirements of the law
have been obayed?"
"We!!," be sad excitedly, as the two
kidnapper5 were forcing Judy on one
of the nor-es, II assure you We are do.
III what is right, or would not be
here
My only reply was, II protest against
taking tkis woman away until Mr.
is sent tor and consents to it; believe
it to be al outrage against law and hu
lnanity, and warn you all OF the risk you
rum"
o. course my words availed nought,
and | saw the poor woman forced away,
with dllateu eyes and shuddering form,
witt, visions Of arDarous cruelty which
she knew McCurdy to be capable OF,
Despite the Soft and gentle tones he adj
hered to in my pre- ence.
stood, in q Il .zed mood, watching
the group as they rode over the crest OF
the hill, just beyond our cottage, until
arousesi by tile cries OF my baby, when
l joined my tears to hers. and with q
sore heart sat down near 4 window that
commanded a view OF the 70 d. to watch
f. t,,,$., ,yyl,S <.t, I f<,tS
The first WAS the return of the consta-
b!e, after seeing his victim fairly start
ed on the way to bondage. l tancied
hs rode along in sell satisfied manner,
feeling that, dressed in bis brie au-
thority," he had sustained the majesty
Of the law in returning q Runaway slave
to her legal owner.
l had no recourse but to wait, for
was near mile from my husbands of.
lice, with no telephone in those days,
and not even smaA boy to bear a mes
sage, or u neighbor near enough to take
charge OF b by, while delivered it my
self; 50 had but to wait, while the lag
gard hours dragged wearily on.
AS sat thus moodilygazing out at the
Ieaties5 trees, the. leaden clouds and the
misty atmosphere, caught glimpse Of
4 man on horseback, urg ing his horse,
ny whip and spur. to his Utmost speed,
hy over the brow Of the hill. I felt sure
1t Was the self sufficient constable. and
that at last he had seen my husband
(who knew fully understood the case
oefore he entered into it. and had made.
no mistake, as lis brother lawyer had
so carelessiy stated, learned ofthe griev
JUS error ne had committed, and was
Fastening 10 remedy the evil by res
cuing Judy from her pretended own
or.
This thought, or rather conviction,
gave me comfort, courage and hope for
an hour or two. In the meantime it be-
gan to rain, and as the chilly drops
chased each other down the window, l
shiversd as thought of the poor wom-
an with only THU shawl TO shield her,
ana with such a hopeless heart in her
bosom.
Just before dark espied Silas hurry
ing home with rapid strides, very differ
ent froui his usual SOW and measured
.ait. | knew he was in haste to rel,ev,
my apprehension, and perhaps to go to
July's rescue himself.
He soon allayeu my fears, and gave
me comfort by the assurance, in emphat-
il language, that Mr.. Jones, the cons;a
ole, was responsible. A.
HE must bring her back, !" said Silas,
land put her where the Sheriff hired
ner. or pay the penalty, even ii it leayes
suim pennlless."
Silas. found, had been busy in his
,iffiro u II dow on1 ho,( b NON, n mi hyory az