Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-21
CHAPTER VII.

Outstretched on the floor lay the pris-
oner, bis bound hands thrown above his
head, stony cOmpOsure in bis face. he
had done the deed and he would meet HE
punishment with all the courage be could
I summon TO his aid. AS that slight shad-
Ow darEened the window, be turned his
mead and stared up at the young plying
face, framed IN the dark wool. Az first
he did not recognize 1t, and his superstI-
tlous soul quailed In terror at sight Of the
supposed spirit.
$50 way. go way don't torment me.''
"Why, Neal, don't you know meW
ION, little missus, is it your ne grOan-
| ell, II thought IL was ghost. l tried not
to do it, but 'taIn't no use To try emmy mo-.
| The deviPs got me hard an fast. l felt
IL long time er go; now Pm done for"
''Will you try againT"
Cant promise, missus."
'If YOU think you can do better | will
ask Mr.. Lawrence to pardon you this
| time"
"No, let me die. Oh, Lord Pm skeered
/ ter die tho. What shall | dOY
''rrust in God" said Magdalen, weep
| ing softly.
The amber light of the west FURNISHED
Der brown head, and brought out every
/ feature of her face distinctly. 1t turned
every falling tear into drop of liquid
| gOld-tears shed for a lost and tortured
! soul.
''Oh, little missus, don't cry for me;
faint worth it,
''Yes it is worth it, and am so sorry -
| "Wbat! are you rally sorry fer me, the
/ POI niggerW staring dOubtfully up at
her.
Eyes, yes, am very, very sorry for you,
Neal. Goodbye; L must go now"
Goodbye, my sweet little missus."
She stepped down and went away, sore
| ly grieved for what had happened. Her
| father did not come in to his supper that
night, and in her anxiety to know what
they intended to do to Neal, she waited
| quite late for his coming. But she was
forced to 20 to sleep without seeing him,
and did not wake until reused by old
/ Manse the next morning. Tue moment
/ she opened her eyes and looked at ner old
nurse, she felt that something new had
| happened.
WHAT is it, mammyF" she asked ca
| gerly, sitting up.
''fhat mean, goOd-for-nothin' Niger has
got away"
| "NealY'
''Yes, Neal. They put the sleepy-head-
| eldest niggers on the place ter watch him,
an now he's done gone"
! Yes, he had broken his bonds and fled
while his guards lay in the outer room
and slept the sleep Of the Just. A hue and
| was hunted in every direction, but no
| trace of MIN could be found.
The black scOundre! | would con-
J slider 1t good radiance il did not desire
/ TO give him the punishment he deserves, -
| SAID his old master. In few days the
| freshness of the excitement wore off and
| life at Cammack slipped back into its old,
steady, even groove, although it was a
| long time before the Cammack negroes
! ceased to talk about 1t.
One morning Magdalen went up to her
lessons little earlier than usual, and she
had just sat down in the deserted school
room and opened one OF her books, when
the door opened aud Cordelia entered.
Lawrence wants TO see you, Magda-
len"
ITO see meY'
eyes. He told me to ask you TO please
step down TO mammals sitting room fe W
minutes"
Magdalen reluctantly obeyed. The
young man lay on an easy, comfortable
lounge drawn near the window, book
and cigar case lying conveniently near
him on little carved stand.
Good morning, Magdalen."
"Good morning." she said, stopping in
the middle OF the room. "Cordelia said
you wished TO see me.v
"Yes, come here, child. want to ask
you question"
She drew nearer, and, at his request.
sat down on a fOOtstOOl.
"NOw let me see your eyes,"
She raised them, puzzled, but not
afraid, to his searching scrutny.
They are beautiful, honest-lOoking
eyes," he murmured 10 himself. mag.
dalen, did you help Neal TO escapey"
Strip
"Did you give him a knife or any sharp
instrument TO cut the rope which bound
him. IL was cut, as you know
The color famed in her cheeks a mo-
nent, and her childish heart swelled will
indignation, then pale and solemn sh,
looked straight at MIN.
"Mr. Lawrence, / did not. l was sorr,
} for him, and climbed up to the littl,
window TO speak 10 him, but | nevel
I thought OF helping him TO escape.0
81 believe you and am satisfied. Til,
only reason ! had for thinking YOU len
your and was that knew that YOU fell
sorry for him and believe you are some
what OF little a6olitionlst. All! childY
what Is an ab0lltiOni-tU
"One who desires to see a thing abol
isbed."
III know that, but" she stopped, CLASH
+ ing her small, brown hands IN perplexity
"But you do.not understand how appl,
it 10 YOU"
"N0. SIR"
"Well. because without clearly under
standing the ground you occupy, you Dc
long TO that class who want slavery abol
ished."
"Ohp
"You comprehend now" watching he
closely, and thinking her brow was sin
gularly line aud we'll shaped. A daugh
3 ter Of the people she might he, but Natur
IN capricious humor, had given IN,
child tue features and intellect which ar,
suffered TO belong only TO those OF wealth
and gentle blood.
al do comprehend, but though | hea
. father talk about 10 sometimes, | do no
very clearly understand 10. | must u
back 20 my lessons now"
, He caught her hand as she rose, and de
tanned her a moment longer,
, "Child, you must not think that
regret Neaps escape. He is boo
wicked, ignorant wretch. No, let him K,
, so he does no greater mischief. Now 1 10
lease YOU"
He opened his hand, well-kept un
/ sOiled hand. which had never male ao
! Qualntance with rough or dirty work
hut which showed strength aud drmness
= II was 50 much winter than Magdaleui
that she noticed It, aud smiling spread on
1 her soft warm palm beside II.
'sSce, Mr. Lawrence. bow brown N
. fingers are, aud how white yours"