The Republican journal., 1884-09-25

as if they saw the familiar features by a
new light.
Matt stopped at last, passed his arm
over his wet forehead, and then tried the
edge of the plane with his thumb.
whats the word to-day, Colonel E? |
thought heard the tramp Of horses feet
awhile ago. Anything up?"
"Well, yes" said Donner.
He gave a quick, questioning glance at
the Colonel, who answered by a cd.
Kildare was a little weazened old man,
nervous and tidgety in his movements.
He was sngularly quiet to-day. and
stood with his back to Matt, so that the
latter could not see him. The pompous
landlord pulled little before he began.
"Strykes is up Sheriff Strykes, you
know. and three coDstables from 'Somer-
set, and with them lot of other folks
"Why, what's the matter?"
Matt spoke in quick, hurried tones
and REACHED for his cap.
"No, don't go, Habersham There's a
fellow there from Georgia. Major"
He stopped, eveing Matt keeny. But
the young man did not blanch. He stood
waiting, eager and amused, as any lad in
kittery would be, at the rare chance of
an incident in that sleepy town
"Major - Major Starr. That's the
name"
Matt took up his cap, and pulled out
the fur rim.
ale has come here" went on the land
lord, "to find runaway slave"
The Colonel gathered his courage. and
looked at Habersham even made a step
Ir, NIo4t II l.;
cap about in his hand.
Runaway slave? In st. Domingo ?"
he said. at last.
"No Lord knows wish it was Tom
Crawford he'd laid claim too," burst out
Donner THAT would be a good rid
dance"
"les, Crawford could we'll be spared"
said Matt, coOly. "Who is it he does
claim 2"
"He says"
bonner lowered his voice Then he
pushed the big door to, which act left
them in partial darkness, except for a
beam of light which struck through the
window, and fell full on Habersham's
head.
''lle says that house servant of his,
named Lydia, ran away eighteen years
ago, and came North that he has lately
found, through the other niggers, that
she came to kittery, and he's followed
her"
81 know no woman Of that name
among our darkeys,7 said Matt.
He took up his jacket and drew it on,
buttoning it closely. Both men were
scanning him, as though they had never
| h.t "A li,,l
pactly built figure, the figure of we'll
born white, but how dark he was Why
had they never noticed the color before
'1he Lydia-is dead" said
| Donner.
"Who does he want then ?"
The innkeeper hesitated
"She had a son, he says boy of
about three years old"
The Colonel, as Bonner spoke, went
up to Matt. He liked the boy. They
had often gone hunting together: to-
gether they had fought the last township
election, and won it.
"When Bonner was goin' to tell him."
he said, afterwards, lit cut me as if it
had been my own son. | didn't know
as keered for any man that a. way"
''Who is the boy? He must be a man
now" said Matt, looking the landlord
| directly in the eye.
''He is man. exclaimed Donner
"Matt, Matt y cried the Colonel,
catching him 10y the shoulder, 81 don't
believe it. That isl don't know-God
| help us.
"What do YOU mean ?" The carpen-
ter turned from one to the other. "Who
is this boy p
"lou-you Storr has identified your
mother as his slave"
Matt flung off the hold of the Colonel,
: and glared at them both
"ls this meant for Il joke, gentlemen
Because if it is, it is certainly very poor
one"
1T is no joke, boy Starr is at Squire
! llutt's office now, swearin' to the facts.
The constables are outside here, guard
in the shop. They let the Cunnel and
me pass. to break the news to you"
"a slave Mother a slave ?" IIaber-
sham broke into yell of wild laughter.
"This is simply ridiculous"
"Then, cried Kildare, anXiously, 'you
know who she was ? She left some pap
ers-proof? She never, you see, said
word about her past life to any of us
Collect yourself, Matt. Try and think.
Your freedom depends on it,"
'Freedom DO you think L"
He stopped and wiped the drops of
sweat from his face
"NO,' he went on, ''mother never told
me anything, except that my father was
dead, and that we belonged to a very
different station from that we held here"
I'm afraid that's true enough, NUT
tered kildare.
\ yolley of terrific blows resounded on
the door at that moment. The door
flew open. The crowd, headed by the
constables, rushed in. Starr stood apart
The officers seized Matt.
Heres your man. they shouted.
They were powerful men; but Matt
hurled them to the ground.
''Stand back" he shouted. II am as
white man as any here. You, StrykeS,
YOU hound. You came whining to me to
help elect you; and | would not do it be-
cause You are thief, and now you head
this plot Cali off your dogs"
Il didn't know what ! know now,
when | asked your vote, Habersham," ;"
said Strykes, with a chuckle ''lou've
trcked us ALL"
''l on must bring sufficient proof that
this man is your slave, or you cannot
seize him." said the Colonel, nterposng
and addressing Starr. ''You know that
much law, don't you ?"
The crowd instantly surged up to back
him. Matt was their friend and they
would have done it before but they had
a too wholesome dread of the law, to in
tertcIe without a leader.
''Ihe proof is complete" said the Ma
jor.
There was breathless pause, waiting
for the next sentence. Every face was
| turned to Habersham, who stood alone
in their midst, his eyes fixed on Starts.
In this last moment, frightful doubt
crept over him Could it be trueY There
had always been a strange my stery about
his mother. He knew nothing of her
| of himself.
81 am WHITE" he saiu. facing Starr.
every man in kittery knows me-"
Starr turned his back on him. He was
at bottom a kind hearted man. Some
thing in Matt's manly bearing touched
him. But he felt that he had been cheat
ed somehow, out of the work of half a
lifetime.