Nevada County picayune., 1891-10-01

oDlic diy ElNt ll DdCh IO Llll. Cdiu got no life; it blong to Mars Arfur He live yonGcr."
 Wrenchng his hand away from me he turned and fled swiftly down the path, and in few minutes was out of sight. returned to where left Laza, rus and dragging the shaggy little pony to his feet l mounted and fol lowed the direction taken by Sam. A ride of fifteen minutes brought me in sight of a farmhouse standing upon q little elevation a short distance from the road. Passing through the open gate rode up to the front porch, upon which stood white man, while by his side stood the queer negro boy, Sam. Dismounting, l ascended the few steps that led up to the gallery, and, intro ducing myself to the owner, begged permission to pass the night. The gen tleman welcomed me cordially and bade me make myself perfectly at home His name, he told me, was Ar thur Delon, and he was the proprietor of a large tract of land that lay be tween Bogville and Naddon
 Turning to Sam, who had stood all the time staring at me, he told him to take my horse to the stables Sam at once obeyed, casting at his master a look of affection as he left to do his bidding Mir Delon now asked me to enter the house Doing so he showed me to room and told me to get ready for supper He returned in a few minutes and showed me at once to the dining room, where supper was already prepared, although it was barely dusk We were waited on by Sam, who stood behind Mir Delon's chair and executed each little order as though it were a very important matter could easily see that he was deeply attached to his master, for it evidently gave him great pleasure to obey his orders. When he was unoccupied he would stand behind MT Delon's chair, look. ing at him with sad. earnest gaze that made his large, black eyes almost beau tiful.
 Supper being over, my host invited ne'to smoke cigar upon the porch. Thither We went, and together walked slowly up town in the moonlight We had b., ere but a few minutes when we were joined by Sam, who car ried his banjo He came up to MT. Delon and taking his hand walked by his side At length Mir Delon told him to sing He at once seated him self upon the steps and began playing upon his banjo He sang song after song, while the shadows deepened around us, and the stiffness of night was only broken by the voice of the negro and the tinkling of the banjo At last his master told him to stop. He obeyed at once, and upon being told to leave us he arose, and taking Mir Delon's hand kissed it, and saying Good night, he turned away and left,
 When he had gone asked Mir. De. lon what was the cause of Sam's great affection for him Delon turned to me and said;
 will tell you. Five years ago chanced to be riding through the woods, along the very path that you travelled today, when I heard faint cry It proceeded from dense thicket, and at first thought it was the cry of some wounded animal For few minutes l listened, and again l heard it This time thought it sounded like ting of my horse forced my way into the thicket Again heard the cry, and going a little farther found lit tie negro boy lying naked upon the ground and apparently dying He was so weak that he could not talk, and from time to time he would utter the faint, desparng cry that had attracted my attention
 picked him up, and carrying him out of the thcket, wrapped him in my saddle blanket and brought him to my house Here he has been ever since, He soon recovered from his weakness,
 
 brain Was affected, and he has been ever since as you have seen him today. All that his brain is able to grasp is the fact that saved his life, which he says is mine The strange part of his delu sion is that some day he will give his life for mine and save me as l saved him He will never leave me unless order him to, and at night he sleeps in my room He will will wear nothing except my old clothes, and will listen to mo one except myself Sometimes his devotion is almost pathetic, and at times have had to take him with me when l went on a trip to keep him from running away hunting for me, as he calls it.
 His only passion besides his fondness for me is his love for music. The banjo that l gave him is his constant com panion, and he will sit for hours as you saw him today, singing plantation songs and strayng aimlesSly through the woods After had brought him home the first word he uttered was Sam, and Sam named him How he came in the sad condition in which l found him. whether he was always half wit ted or whether his mind was affected by the suffering he experienced l know not, but have always felt that fate threw him in my way for some purpose, and will always keep him with me.
 Such was the story of Sam as told me by his master II was now quite late, and showing me 10 my room, Mir Delon bade me good night. For some