Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-06-09

It |was seldom that the major ever
thre.|tened a servant. Never before in
his life had threat been leveled at
Isaml who was a privileged character
about the house. II was not surprising
ther| fore that just before daybreak next
morIllIg knock was heard at the ma
jor 'slwindow. That individual under
stood it and quietly donning his clothes
weni outside. assured that he would find
Isanj on hand He was not mistaken.
"lts dun struck me, Mass Craffud,
en- ~ 'bliged ter 60, !" said Isam.
kh!i said the major. then we'll
talk ht over first "
IsJ I'm sat upon the steps, the major in
his CID rocker. and talk it over they did,
until pale glimmer trembled in the
east What passed between them no one
ever learned, but finally the major rose,
and preceded by Isam, who bore pack
that EIve him the appearance OF sable
Kris Illringlc, struck out straight across
the nee and the fields, disappearing in
the woods beyond Only the hounds
knew when they left, and these tugged
at ttoir chains with noisy plcadings,
but ib vain When day finally rolled in
with streaming banners. Woodhaven was
with put its master. and the overseer. too
much accustomed to the eccentricities Of
that absent power TO worry over his sud
den departure, rcigned in his stead
Tile path Of the runaways led first di-
rcctlf past growth Of plum bushes, an
acre bn extent, that stood ont III the
opnl field, small forest in itself. This
was lhc burial ground, where without
regaid to order or system the graves of
dopatted negroes, covered with bits of
glaSl broken cups, abandoned cans and
othell treasures Of the trash heap. dotted
the shadowy depths. These glimmered
family in the gray half light, and Isam
shivjred slightly rs he passed. The
movimcnt did not escape the notice of
the ibajor, who smiled grimly as he said:
"1ou don't come this way, Isam.
whe4 you run of by yourself. "
TT Ic sound Of human voice was ne
slNNAJluS, anu tht h'SAV "iAS" Y" 'h'NA
ily
"Jcssir. Ain nuthin go'n ter tech
ole liam. All dem N dere Is dun boun
en- 81 t. "
- nd what the deuce il bound and
so,?1' The majors inquiry betrayed inn
patti, lncc rather than curiosity. He knew
well how sccretive is the negro OF any
class! when intcrrogatcd in connection
with his suporstitions Isam shook his
head
II lor sakes. Mass Craffud, don you
know all 'bou, datf'
70 said the major testify; "if |
did wouldn't b. wasting breath asking
a fo,i Niger. "
We'll, said Isam. willing TO com
pron| |ise in the interest Of peace, wen
or SPIRIT gifts out'n de flesh, dc only
way Init can be bOun en- sot es ter plug
ct trIe" He stepped in front of brok-
en pjne near the path and examined it
critically. 'Dere's er plug round hyah
fur mi " nigh ev'y wun dem graves,
ef ytF knows where ter look. F"
"Ifhat you mean by this nonsense.
IsanI? Doyou expect me to swallow such
stufft"
Hits or fac, Mass Craffud. Dce
now, derc's er plug, sho' nun "
~ lars befoc-Major Worthington re-
mculerpd il then--he had come across
a spit pine from which n half dozen Of
thos.I plugs had fallen and was surprised
by tiE scare il had caused ON the planta
tiun They were made up Of old nails,
bits of glass, rcd pepper and tar and
sprijkled with the blood Of chicken.
Eaci plug contained few hairs from
the lead of the deceased and piece Of