Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-06-06

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Pyssstno her hand and carrying q 10 NJ,
lips, Mark passed 0ut
Souri determined to attempt to gel
service with the jailer's wife. She
hoped that she might be received with
less suspicion while the prisoner wa
away. Besides she must communicate
with her brother ss soon a. possible.
She went into the Jail and found q
woman. whose hair was streaked with
gray. sweltering over cooking stove.
"Y' amt got no wsshen ner muffin fur
me. hab yT said Souri,, suddenly appear
ing before her.
"Noi git out o hyar."
"Any cookenY
"Cookeni Can yer cooki I don't want
no nigger to cook TO me, but there's nix.
gers In the black hole wish I had
some un ter cook fur"
"I'll cook To- EN-"
"Who owns yT'
"I'zs free Niger"
"Wssl. I amt got no money ter pay 70
. cook. and reckon Ill hev to sweat II
out. Git long"
II don't want muffin but sumpn fer
at. I can sleep at my aunt's. ober do
,ill."
"waal, take hold hyar fur spell; I'm
ooilen." And she drew away from the
stove and mopped her face.
Souri, took hold and showed o pleas
ing aptitude at baking corn bread and
boiling some coarse meat which sim
mered In o pot on the stove.
Presently the jailer came In, and tax.
ing some Of the food lifted trap door
and lowered meal to those below In
the black hole.
"Hyar's GAL" said his wife, "ez
bankers ter do some cooken TO me-"
"Ain't got nothen ter pay with"
Don't want no pay" said Souri,. "rze
,tarven. Want sump'n ter eat"
"waal, y won't git much hyar," said
the jailer, "but I reckon it's good nuff
TO niggers."
So Souri, was allowed to help, but
there was no understanding that her
services should extend beyond the pres
ent moment.
She was leaning over the stove when
Mark was brought back. He had just
been sentenced, and there was hag-
gard, hopeless look on his face a. he
passed the girl without noticing her.
He was put In his room, and 1t was hard
for Souri, to keep from following to tell
him Of her coming. Jakey came In with
the party and went with Mark into his
room.
In the afternoon Souri, saw that she
must make work for herself or there
would be no excuse for her to stay about
the place. 10, without saying word.
she took pail Of water and scrubbing
brush and began to scrub the floor.
Then she suggested to Mrs. Triggs that
she sweep her bedroom. The woman
concluded that, as 1t had not been swept
for more than month, Souri, thoughts
well" do 1t, especially rs the girl seemed
to be willing to do all this work for
little boiled meat and corn bread.
aye dom look right smart, Miss
Triggs," said Souri,, after cooking the
supper and eating her share, en- dom
know whar I gwine Z git amy breakfast
less come N cook fur y"
Mrs. Triggs succeeded in getting her
husbands consent to Souri, coming back
In tho morning, and the man went out
to the gate with her and told her II the
guard did not pass her In to send for him.
She was at the Jail bright and early
and got in on telling the sentinel that
she was Mrs. Triggs' servant. She
cooked the breakfast, and when she saw
Triggs about to carry Marks meat and
corn bread into him she offered to do 1t,
but Triggs paid no attention to the offer
and carried It In himself.
Then she asked Mrs. Triggs when she
lid her washing. and rs the old woman
mad no regular time and not many
clothes Souri, offered to do what there
was. When she went out to hang mp
the clothes to dry Jakey was In the yard.
She called him to her and In whisper
made herself known. Jakey, who was
wondering what had become Of the mes
sage he had sent. was both overjoyed
and astonished. He turned two or three
somersaults ON the ground and other
wise demonstrated his childishness to
Mrs. Triggs, who ut that moment ap-
peared at window, but not before
Souri had told Jakey to inform Mark Of
her presence, and that she would try to
get into his room a. soon rs she could
DO intrusted with q meal for him.
Again ut noon she offered to take In
his dinner, but without success. She
was at her wits end for IN excuse TO
stay about till supper time, but think.
ing that Mrs. Triggs' wardrobe might
need mending she offered to undertake
the task, and spent the afternoon over
the old woman's threadbare garments.
All this while Souri, was thinking Of
plan for Marks escape. She learned
that he was to be hanged In few days
and knew there was little time. The
most natural plan under the circum-
stances occurred to her-a plan by
which more prisoners have made their
escape than any other one method
walking out before the guard In woinens
clothes. Souri, determined. II she could
secure IN entrance into Marks room at
any time after dark. she would give him
her dress aud sunbonnet and leave him
TO make an attempt Then she began to
think over . plan to gain an entrance st
specified time. r o. tIf
In the evening her patience was re-
warded. Msrkssupper wa asstanding on
the stove. Tnggs was not In the jail,
and Ms. Tdggs weat down the stairs
outside TO get something she wanted In
the yard.
Souri caught up the supper and walked
straight past the guard into Marks room
with It. Mark, who had BEEN informed
Of her coming by Jaksy, was expecting
her. When be saw the mulatto girl hs
graspsd her hand.
"Soudi 0od blsss youi- hs said IN .
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