Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-03-11

HDEIdItlN"aAl MOuAa AG GNEA NEah ~
placed work, scissors and thimble in
my sewing basket, yawning aloud as |
did 80, set back the basket against the
wall, and with another yawn sauntered
leisurely across the to the bureau
and commenced taking down my hair.
The bureau was OF the same side of
the room as the back door, and not
two yards from it. With every sense
on the alert, | distinguished a low,
shutting noise in the gallery. not, as it
seemed to me, very nea the door, but
coming from the middle of the floor.
Nv treacherous maid had released her
husband from his hiding place, and
they were stealthily approaching my
room-
With one bound | was at the door.
II was slammed, locked and bolted in
a breath. Not a moment too soon. As
the bolt shot a heavy weight dashed
against it, and a volley of curses
poured out in the u~nmistakable lingo
Of a plantation darky.
/ had not a second TO lose. How
long the door would resist their attack
wa a question of minutes. Even now
il was quivering and creaking under
Sans powerful blows. / snatehed up
my baby. wrapped him hurriedly In a
blanket from the bed, and dashed out
into the wet, dark night.
Oh, IL ! could only reach the over
seers house before that door gave way!
But the quarters were half a mhe of,
the night as black as pitch, the road a
slough Of mud and water. On | houn-
dered, straining my babe desperately to
my bosom, sinking ankle deep at every
step, my slippers dropping of, my
clothes saturated with wet. clinging
tight TO my limbs and impeding every
motion.
All at once | stumbled over some
thing lying in the path, and Eearly fell
forward on my face. In the pitchy
darkness | could see nothing, but |
heard a moan. and STOPPING down |
passed my hand over a PROSTATE form
that by the turbaned head and hand
kerchief crossed on the breast / knew
10 be a negroes.
Aunt Sukey." l exclaimed at a
venture.
dat you, Miss Nam Bress de
LAwdl fraught yer Aunt Sukey's
time done come, deed did |, child.
Dat owdacious runaway Niger, Sam
Halter, come 'crost me des when /
gwine after de oberseer, n he des top
pied me Ober wild he fist n knock my
po' old haid gin er stump n mex me
seed stars! / ben layin' yere cher senee
'spectin' blessed Marster call me eb'ry
minute"
Are you hurt very bad, Aunt Sukeyi
Can't you get up and go with ms to the
quarterl Sam Halter is up at the
house with Sally. I've got them locked
up, but they'll break out and kill Us
all, l know they will! Oh, do get up
and come alongl Make hasteP'
CANT chile; deed CANT /, honey.
70 my gracious marster, l bleeves bofe
my leigs done bruk of clus up ter de
knees, dey hut so. You go long, Miss
Nan. YeTgotter TEX keer er dat blessed
baby. S'pose Sam Halter knock ole
oman en- de haid, wat diffunce it gwine
Next You run long n git out'n de
way, chile"
"Oh, / can't leave you here like this
The wet and cold will kill you, if Sam
Halter doesn't. Oh, listen they're
breaking down the door! They will be
here in a minute
Hush. honey. don yer mex no fuss.
Gimme dc precious lam. Now tex holt
er my arms n hep me in de fence cor
ner. Oars bushes dar ter hide ahint.
Yer cudn't git ter de oberseers now TO
dey cotch yer, but mebby de good
Lawd won't let 'em fine US"
With my help Aunt Sukey dragged
herself painfully behind the screen Of
bushes, where | quickly joined her.
We kept as still as mice. and il wa i'm
possible We could be seen. but, Oh,
heavensl if the baby should wake up
and cry! His sleep had been miracu-
lousy sound hitherto-surely his guard
ian angel was hushing him in dreams!
But if he should wakel Never in my
life have l prayed for anything as /
prayed then that my boy might sleep
on undisturbed.
The noise of the crashing door had
been distinctly audible, and now we
heard footsteps racing down the road.
As they got near our hiding place we
heard Sam say;
Her ent done gotter de quarter
a'rady, ! knows. Run fas' n we'll
cotch her 70 she git dar. IF Ides had
nv hippers on her froat!'
They rushed on while We remained
crouched in our narrow refuge, shiyer-
ing with cold and shuddering with fear
lest some untoward accident should be
tray us. We dared not even whisper
when we heard the wretches returning,
more slowly this time, and disputing a.
they came.
Il done tOle yer" cried Sally, tent
er bit er use sarchin' fur her en- de
AL GIo ont Har, tor do ouartar ieasa