The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-08-14

lie followed his men, while talk;ny
and ordered them to make haste. tn,
grass was crisp with frost, and the nigh,
ar bit fiercely. Bells were ringing II
the distant town. Gumbo tried to pleof
for his life. Ns'
70 Cord, gen'l'men! don't hang .
po' niggah TO- stickin' ter his po' Ole
marsea-"
The Tightening rope choked off his
ntterance. The other end was over !
limb, withta dozen willing hands ready
to pull. Meanwhile the squire was
thinking rapidly. He was a miser
Money was his god, yet how base an
luol 1T now seemed in the light of poor
Gumbo's fidelity! The squire was at
| heart also gentleman. A great re-
solve swept over his soul, rousing his
nobler self from it's long slumber.
All! Gumbo was in the air now. He
was struggling, while merciless hands
1ugged at the rope. The squire IeapeI
at the cord, cut it with his knife and
stood over his PROSTATE slave. his ewes
blazing like Goals.
oil' you HedrtleSS dOTS!" he
cried. You shall not murder the bow
1t you will have money, come with me.
and may God curse the last one of wont"
lie loosed the rope, raised Gumbo up
ana led him toward the kitchen, while
the astonished bushwhackers followed.
talking among themselves. The squire,
still grasping his slaves arm, entered
ana STROBE to the hearth-stone. where
ne again faced the guerrillas.
confused noise was now audible
down the public road. Two men entered
and whispered hurriedly with the cap
tain. The noise increased to a clatter-
ing roar.
Git outen here, men!" shouted the
leader. "Wheeler's men are COMM"
Then to the squire: "We'I be back
ag'in, fust yer know AS fer thet
blamed nigger--here's fer him!"
A pistol shot beloved through the
room. Gumbo screamed, and the
guerrillasrushed out pell-mell, mounted
and were gone in trice. Other troops
surrounded the house. A mulatto
woman ran in and fell on Gumbo's neck
as he sat disconsolate.
Il hearn 'em!" she cried. "We hearn
EN- ct mothers. / knowed de soiers
WIZ in town a-furragin', so up an
run an let 'em know. One on 'em took
me up benin him, an year I is-bless
Cord! What's de matter wild yer. Gum
boz"
Gumbo rose TO the emergency again.
for his injuries, though painful, were
not serious.
why, howdy, Em'line," he re-
'ponded. EYER all come ies' in de nick
ID time--sho'."
Gray-coated cavalrymen now
in, and shots were fired about
he place. Several bushwhackers were
'aptured, and guard was left, at the
quire's request, lest the scoundrels
we're to suddenly return. Meanwhile
tmeline made Gumbo some corn coffee.
soldier gave him a"drink of sorghum
UNI, and he began to feel quite clipper
gain. His master watched him with
indy eyes.
II didn't tell, marse," said Gumbo
PRESENTLY.
NO. you did not, but you have placed
our old master under a deeper debt
han mere money can repay, Gumbo.
he New Year is pretty near here, and
M going to set you free-you rascal.
'ou might have run away. to the
ankees, but instead you have stood
our masters best friend through thick
nd thin. If that doesn't deserve free
ON. hardly know what does"
Den yer won't make me leab yer
'en rs free. marse?" Gumbo looked {
? anxiously. scarcely thinking enough |
the boon, apparently, to say "thank 8
ou."
Not if you want to stay-and hope
,u do"
"H-how bout Em'line? Me an sh. {
ants ter marry pow'ful don't we, EN- t
1e?"
"G' way. niggah! I hain't talkin' Y
wv And yet Emeline looked pleased. n
"W-e-e-ll." The squire hesitated. t
was easier to give Gumbo freedom :
an geld. The negroes would probably S
be free before long, anyhow. "Times o
mighty tight, but you can have the h
mare, Gumbo, and-yes-hang me b
l don't! Emeline can have $50 for tt
use fixings.' e
'Fed'rit money, marse 2" asked Gum Sc
. anxiously. II
shouted "Meechin' Mu-
e." desperately, though he gulped II
newhat emotiorally afterward. "It's al
travagant - it's wasteful; but = al
1--WE earned it, boy-that's ALI" C;
The squire hurried off to bed to ca
ape thanks and to reconcile himself
his own liberality. Gumbo threw his
MS round Emeline. We
Fifty COLE dollahs an de ole blin' hs
ri" he shouted, ecstatically. "Em. th
richi"-New Boz 10