Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-17
SAVED BY A SLAVE.

take both grandmother and grandfather
away from home one day IN October OF the
year lived with thcm in Burns Hollow
There were two ants in the Kitchen
Hannah Oaks aul the lad Anthony
heard them laughing merrily together, for
though Hannah WAS an old woman, she
vas full Of fun, and in five minutes the door
opened, ard Hannah came in with the tray.
please, miss" said she as she set II
down, may run over 20 Mapietown to
nignti My sisters married daughter had
r. boy last night, they tell me, and want
to see il nat rally It's the first I've even
had Of grandniece or nephew"
you may co." said, but don't stay
late Grandma and grandpa may he away
all night, and J feel nervous To be sure,
there is Anthony, but never rely on him
BE certain not 10 stay late
Early as it was ] dropped the curtains
aud lii the wax candles on the mantel, and
/ sat long over my tea, finding certain
compsnionship in IL, AZ women Of all ages
will. ! sat thus n long while and was
startled from my revcriu 10y Il rap at the
door-a timid sort Of rap-so that knew
at once that II was neither a member Of the
house nor an intimate friend WAITED. ex.
DtClluB 2AullDlAN W olAo"'i WV N"SAt SNN
finding he did not went TO IL myself
1t had grown quite dark, and the moon
rose late that night. At first ! could only
make out crouching figure at tho bottom
OF the porch But when ] spoke 10 ad-
vanced. and by the light from the hall
lamp saw black man. ! had always
had sort Of fear OF negro and instinct
lively shrunG away, but as did so he spoke
In husky whisper.
This is Mr,a Morton's, isn't It, miss"
Yes" replied. But grandfather is
ont" ] reiresteG He advanced.
please, miss" he said, Judge B.
sent me mere He said Marsa Morton nd
help me on. Let me stay here u night,
miss. Ize trabeed five days since ! left
him. Hidin like. Ize awful hungry
pears like I'd drop, an ole marsa is arter
me- For de lub Of hCaben, miss, let me
hide somewheres an glib me ies' crust.
Marsa Judge promise Marsa Morton 'ud
bel me. en- it's KEEP me up Missus will,
know"
Caution and pity struggled within me.
At last said, You have "a note from the
Judge, | suppose
II had some writin on a paper" said the
man, but J lost IL do night IL rained so.
All, miss, I'ze tellin truH-ju1ge sent me,
sure M re a sinner. lze been help along
so far, an pears like muG' git to Candy.
Can't git back nowsys. Wife's dar an de
young uns. Got clar year ego. Miss, I'll
pray for you ebery day oh my life II you'll
ies' be so good TO me. Tank ye miss"
For somehow when be spoke Of wife and
children had stepped back aud let him in.
II was the back hall door at which the
rap had come, and the kitchen was close at
hand. led him thither. When saw how
worn he was how wretched, how his eyes
glistened and how, under his rough blue
shirt, his heart beat so that you could count
the pulses, forgot my caution.
went up stairs, found in the attic sun.
dry pillows and holsters and carried them
kitchenward
Here" said. make yourself a bed on
the settee yonder and be easy for the nj ght.
No one will follow you in this storm, and
no doubt grandpa will assist you when he
returns Good night
Good sht and God bless you, miss
said the negro, speaking still ia the same
husky whisper. And 50 | left him.
But not to 20 up stairs to my y 1rOom
! intended fer that hi hit to remain rc,ssl
and to sit up in graAdpa's : armchair, with
candles and book to keep me company
IutTblOIt lbth'iA ~ oNlA l4lI W IN AlC illOSb
comfortable position possible and opening
volume composed myself to read.
Reading fell asleep How long / slum-
bered cannot tell. was awakened 10y a
low sound, like the prying OF chisel.
At first it mixed with my last dream SO
thoroughly that took no heed of il, but at
last | understood that some one was at
work upon the lock Al a door.
! sat perfectly m lr .8lless, the blood curd-
ling in my veins aud still chip, chip, chip
went the horrible little instrument. until
at last knew whence the sounds came.
Back Of the sitting room was sraudpas
study There, In a great old fashioned
safe were stored the family silver grand
pas jewelry end sundry sums of money and
important papers. The safe itself stood In
a closet in deep recess, and at the closet
the thief was at work.
Tie thief-ah without doubt the negro
had admitted, had fed and sheltered.
crept across the room out into the ball
and to the door. There, softly as could, |
unfastened bars and bolts, but alasl one
was above my reach. waited, listened.
Then moved "A hall chair TO tho spot and
climbed upon it. In doing so struck my
shoulder against the door frame.
II was but a slight noise, but at that mo-
ment the chip of the ch!sel stopped. Iheard
a gliding foot, and-horcor of horrors-a
man came from the study, sprang toward
me and clutched mo with both hands, hold.
ing my arms a. in "A wise while be hlssed in
my ear:
You'd tell, would yer You'd call helpf
You'd better have slept, you had; for, you
see, you've got to pay for waking. I'd
ruther hev let chit like you of, but you
know me now, aud ] cant let ye live"
stared in his face with horror, mingled
with an awful surprise, for now that it was
close TO me | saw not the negro, but our
own hired man, Anthony Anthony, whom
had supposed miles away with Hannah.
plead with him wildly.
Anthony, never did you harm. am
young-I am q girl-don't kill me, An
| thony. Take the money, but don't kill me.
| for poor grandmas sake"
| You'd tell on me" said Anthony dog
gedly. "Likely I'd be caught. No, I've
got to kill YOU"
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