The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-15

Houa)n TOOK cnhir, anu plhoihk " oioht
boiid his wife. sat down, aud, with his hand
oaressing her shoulder. whispered In heI
ear.
"Halnt this yere Jest glor'us2
| hit air" shs answered, lifsletaly,
| Mandy'n face was as pink as the petas OF \
Wild rose and her heart was hutterinR
strangely.
D'Antinac. keenly alive To tina dramatic
situation, aud some hat troubled as to how
| 10 was 10 end, glanced around the ROOM aud,
despite his mental perturbation, became
aware OF the rude but powerful settling OF The
scene. The pine smoked walls and ceiling,
the scant, primitive furniture. thu scrupu
lously clean punoheon floor the long hint
locked rifle, tho huge ''stiok.and'dirt DIRE
place, the broad, roughly laid hearth
and the smoKe grimed wooden crane, oil
taken together, made an entourge In perfect
accord with the figures. the costumes and the
pred icament
Jord turned his banjo with some show OF
ALTERING, and presently he began TO play
aud sing. The following. which were The
closing stanzas, will serve to give on idea OF
the performance:
"Ab'um Linkum say he gwine ter
Free ole nigeah I'm dc wah,
But Mars hodson says he mine ter
see how Album do dat dari
Hoop to.loody, how 70 gwlne ter
Don ole Album says: 'You free umr
hut Mars Hodson cut an shoot
An say To Album dat he see um
AZ do debbil fore he do ~
Hoop-te.loody how he gwine ter
When Mars hodson not or mine terri
THAT air q fac :" exclaimed Hodson, al.
most gleefully, "thst air fac. Here's what
never guv In yit Dave They tried FUR ter
mex me fight fur the Oonfedret States an
they never done bit, an ZEN they tried ter
consorip' ma, like they did you. Dave, but I
cut 'em an shot 'em an hid out aroun' In
these yere woods tell they guv my place the
name o. Hide out an they didn't conscrip'
me, nuther; an EN- the tother gov ment
proclamated and fot ever body's nigger rs
free. but yer daddy he'll on ter his one lone
niger les ter show 'em at he could; fur
theirs not q gov ment onto the top side o.
yearth at kin coerce or subjergate yer daddy,
Dave"
Jord hung his head In the utmost humility
while his master was speaking A keen pang
OF sympathy shot through D'Antinac's
bosom. TIE thought that this kindly faced
old negro was still q slave, the one lone man
of his race whose shackles remained unbro-
ken, was touching beyond compare. And yet
it seemed qaite In consopance with the ma
ture of things that such person Al Hsdson
should be able, situated ~ he was, to resist,
for any length OF time. the tide of the new
regime. This easy turn from the absurd to
the pathetic gave new face to the situation,
hardening aud narro wing Its setting. whilst
it added infinite depth TO its ne ming Here
indeed, was the very heart OF Sand Noun
tain. and we'll might II be called Hodson's
Hide out, where slavery's last instance had
been hidden safe from the broad eyes OF
freedom.
DAntinac could not sleep when ut last he
had been left by Hodson in little dlngy
room, whittier his gun and pack had also
been transported. The bed was soft and
clean. and the moonlight pouring through q
low, square, paneless window invited to
sleep; bat he lay there pondoring and rest
less. Hodson's last words. before bidding
him good night, kept ringing In his ears:
"fnet ole Jording air Twin example o
my Termination sn' vndurancs, Dave, an
hit shows what stuff yer dsddy's made out'n
The whole etarpal worr kin never free air
niger. He err mine ter keep, 20 the ole
by mn say "Whatever may expose.
D'Antiuac was small OF stature and not at
liberty loving ancestry, and was. despite HE
foreign looking name, an American TO his
hearts core. No doubt the wild, rowing life
he had for years been leading. as on emissary
OF an ornithologicsl society. had servsd 10
emphssize aud aocentuntc his love OF free.
dom In every sense.
He had turned and tossed on his bed for
w
a chant and mayer In It's intonAtions came
I'm through the little window. along with
the white stream 0f moonlight He got up
and softly went 10 the aperture. The voice
came from a little detached cabin In the
bsk yard. II was Jord praying. ,
"Dor'. hsb' de ole man saro ys we'll an
truef Nus die er slabe an come 'oms &c
glory Wild do chain on' VIVA. done. Lor' I,
' at ye cart mo when rse ols7 IL nebber
gwine ter bs freef Come down, Lor', an
stain de ole man In he 'tl,otion an Trouble,
oh freedom afore he die. Amen"
Such were the closing words OF the plain
tive and touching prayer. No wonder that
suddenly D'Antinsc's whole life focused
itself In the desire to liberate that old slave.
He forgot every element OF his prediosment.
save his neArness 10 the last remnant OF hu-
man bondage. He drew on his clothes, seized
his pack and gun. and crept out through the
little window. The cool, sweet mountain
air braoed him like wine. This ought to be
the breath OF freedom. These rugged peaks
surrounding the little pocket or valley
ought not TO fence In . slave o. harbor
master.
Riley Hcdson slept soundly oil night, and
did not get up before breakfast was ready.
Let the little rooster sleep: hit air Sun
day, anyhow; let i'm glt mp when he wants
ter" tald the old man, when D'Antinac
failed TO appear.
Mandy had fried some ham and eggs for
breakfast. and she came 10 the table In very
becoming blue calico gown. Mrs. Hodson
appeared listless, and he eyes had ne cheer
full light In them.
The old man ate ravenously the choicest
eggs and the best slicss OF ham, with the air
OF one determined upon vicariously break