Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-04-16

and husbands on their favorite steeds accom-
panied them. As tho old Adder and his assist-
anfs entered, smiling and scraping. what a
mum OF expectancy ran through the assem-
hiagei The youths and the maidens gathered
IN Knots, the children came trooping in from
tae kitchen from the taffy pull and even the
oid folks twisted around In their seats, tho
better 10 enjoy the music Swiftly ran the
nours away amid such scenesl The whiri OF
.ne dance, the animated conversation, ths
oabble OF the little ones filed the house with
pleasing confusion.
In the long dining room the women were
"orking with will, placing everything In
Readiness for the supper The Kitchen was
dlled with the female slaves. ali ON tiptoc of
excitement and anticipation for the feast
they would surely receive after the guests
had been served. Out In the yard the serv-
Ing men had built q huge boufirc, around
watch they gathered and smoked, Willing
away the time until they should be called
INTO the house 10 eat and drink with the wo-
men. The fire, flashing and twisting, lighted
up their faces until they shone like polished
ebony, aud the ftful flames ever and anon
sinking down, casting heavy shadows, threw
into ohscurity the figures seated in the outer
circle. In one OF these moments of semi
darkness, Rafe got up quietly and vanished
IN the gloom. nor was his absence noticed for
long time after. The dArkies, free from
the presence OF the overseer, were enjoying
the infrequent treat TO the utmost
Just as the old clock in the hallway was
striking 10 a hooded girl sprang from her
lookout by the door aud intercepted Anita,
the rosy maiden who had but quit the waltz
and started In quest Of her mother The new
conner was a little negro girl, one of the
slaves children living far out In the most
distant cabin OF the quarters" She had
been sent hither tonight by old Sallie. she
said, and the bed ridden negress had asked
that Miss 'Nita come TO her quickly. Her
rheumatics were much worse and there was
no one around. II missy could but look In on
her in her beautiful new ball dress, the very
sight Of her would chase a way the pain Such
was the message the child brought, and with
out hesitating an instant Anita picked up a
light shawl and following the girl stepped out
into the darkness. A long lane led TO the
quarters" and from 1t opened a byway lead
ing through the woods TO the Lynchburg road,
q mile distant
The little colored girl FASTENED ahead OF
Anita, and, although the maiden was a stran-
ger to fear, she began TO regret having start
ed ON the journey alone. It was too late to
turn back now, and she hurried along, anx-
ious TO pass the clump Of trees where the road
lsft the lane The heavy dew wet her satin
slippers and her ankles, and the cool air made
her shiver. As she gained the thicket she
fancied she saw man standing by the fence
corner, and her courage almost forsook her
though but for an instant. Who would dare
20 molest her ON her fathers plantationt And
20, with trembling, yet quiet bosom, she
continued her way.
ll.a, al Al.
man standing in the shadow, and she imme-
diately judged it to be Sharp. Far from be-
ing reassured, she felt almost on the point OF
screaming for help, but the thoughts OF the
ridiculous position In which she would be
placed should her fears be unfounded deferred
her. She spoke pleasantly to hiEa, but in
stead OF answering he sprang 70 her side,
threw an arm around her and, roughly
placing his other hand over her mouth, lifted
the maiden Off the ground and started with
her into the dark woods. Fear loaned strength
10 the slight form of the girl, and suddenly
wrenching her face loose from the ruffians
grasp, scream after scream burst from her
lips With a curse the overseer struck her
with his fist, and again he lifted his hand to
deal blow which did not reach it's mark A
giant form bounded from the shadow and
with an unearthly yell pounced upon the alb
ductor. One blow the stranger struck the
villain, who, dazed and blinded, released the
maiden and tottered almost to falling. Quickly
recovering, Sharp turned to face his foe, and
his heart stood still as he saw before him
Rafe, the slave, who had threatened his life
for a previous wrong, now confronting him
in the very act Of second deed Of villainy.
For n moment only he stood still, tien re-
alizing IL must be 4 fight 70 the death, he un-
sheathed knife and threw himself upon the
negro, who, with no other weapon than a
club, as eagerly met him. Only for an instant
were they together, but in that instant the
slave had brought down his arm with killing
force upon his enemy's head, while Sharp had
plunged his blade TO the hilt In the others
heart. Not word was spoken, not groan
was heard, but when the throng hurrying
from the mansion, bareheaded. breathless
from tho dancing, aud horror stricken at the
cries OF Anita, reached the spot, they found
the combatants lying in the shadows--dead.
The feeble torch, which some one had caught
from the bonfire IN the tumult, lit up the
scsne; the ladies In ball room attire, the men
flushed and excited, a few venturesome slaves
with protruding eyes, the dark green boughs,
the wet grass and thoss fearful objects lying
In the road What climax TO the festivities
of the night
The next morning the slaves found horse
and buggy hid in tho lhicket near by and the
overseers scheme was made apparent Poor
Rafe was buried IN the family lot of the Fair
dolphs, and to this day stone extols the
merits OF the negro who perished to save the
daughter Of his master. Philadelphia Times