Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-03-11

mOuI-
There, Sally, that will do. You're
not going to be punished nor soOlded,
unless 1 find you've told a story"
IN dat des what / gwine ter fine
out" cried Aunt Sukey. 'Pse gwine
straigt ter de quarters n disvestergate
Massa Simpsons legs n toes, n come
back n tole yer de trufe bout 'em,
Miss Nan"
NO, don't do that, Aunt Sukey.
Recollect your rheumatism. II you get
caught in the rain your legs and toes
will be worse of than No Simpsons.
Just see If he's really ick, and, if not
ask him TO come ND and sleep at the
house tonight. I'm not afraid, but it's
lonesome with no one for company but
baby and Sally"
With an emphatic sniff and a HUH
better off 'dout her comp'ny.' Aunt
Sukey departed.
Minute after minute passed and she
did not return. Night and the storm
drew rapidly nearer, but neither Aunt
Sukey nor the overseer appeared.
At last | gave them up, concluding
she had found Mr. Simpson really sick,
and had not chosen TO run the risk of
getting wet just to say 80.
/ fastened the doors and windows,
and when all was made secure | d.
rected Sally TO spread her pallet on the
floor of my room, and sat down to while
away the lonely hours as best | could.
My boy slept soundly, undisturbed by
the now continual thunder and light
ming, and his nurse seemed soon to fol
low his example.
As for me, i felt less like sleep
ing in my life. Whether it was the
effect Of the electricity in the atmos-
phere l ali not scientist enough to say,
but every nerve in me seemed unpleas-
antly alive, quivering to the Iightest
touch OF sound. / was not afraid. l
had no sense of danger, but an eere
feeling Of utter and helpless isolation
possessed me.
However, | was the last person TO
give way to such fancies, and taking
up a little frock / was embruidering
for my boy seated myself by the lamp,
determined to find in steady employ
ment a sedative for my excited nerves
Everything in the house was pro-
fouDdly still. Outside the thunder had
gradually died away, and only the
steady pour Of the rain broke the
silence Of night. Suddenly another
sound caught my ear-very slight,
scarcely perceptible, but / heard it
Something inside the room had moved.
Without looking round or otherwise
stirring | raised my eyes to an opposite
mirror and watched the girl Sally.
When making her bed for the night
she had spread it close to the back door
of my room. That door / had myself
locked when securing the house for the
night, yet | now saw it slowly and
cautiously open and the girl slip quiet
ly through.
This door did not open on the yard.
bat into a sort Of inclosed gallery that
ran back of my and the dining
room. What could she want in therel
| was on the point of calling to ask
her when Aunt Sukey's warning flashed
across my mind.
Could it be possible that her hus-
band, the negro desperate she had 50
determined 10 marry. lay hidden therel
The place was seldom entered at night,
being used as a linen and china closet.
She could easily have slipped him in
there az dusk and concealed him in one
of the numerous presses.
And with what obiectl That ques-
ton was easily answered. There were
quantities Of silver plate stored there,
much oft handed down by distant for
bears from colonial times, and not yet
become the spoil of war. This was in
deed a tempting prize. If they could
escape with it TO the Yankee lines riches
and freedom would reward their sue
cessful robbery and Evasion.
But would robbery be alll Would
not murder be sure to follow
There was no outdoor to the gallery,
no window, nothing but solid walls
lined with presses. The door leading
into the dining was locked within.
Their only egress was through my room,
and if they intended me no harm would
not they have waited until | was asleep
and tried TO slip of with their plumber
without my knowledgel
Yes, they meant me mischief; / was
sure of il. The man was one of tho
very worst types Of his race; he owed
me a grudge for having opposed his
marriage, and my father bitter hatred
for severe though well merited punish
ment. My life and perhaps my child's
would be taken. Even sudden and
violent death might not be the worst
fate In store for me.
And what could / do7 Alone in the
house, incumbered with an infant, at
the mercy of those two m~isereants, not
even a closed door between me and
theml Well. something / must do. If
I persisted it should not be through my
own cowardice. Ny nerves steadied,
- ---l1 HrIg arfrsf 1900 20 the ornar-