Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-09-16

dlI lIOuk JuG iAtSAC -
weep. I will trust In God,"' answered
Astrea."
But I must part wild you. and neb-
Der see you again!. nebber!' blubDered
| the affectionate creature, who, In the
isolated companionship of her long
voyage, had become deeply attached 10
the captive.
"Poor Venus! constant partings from
those to whom you have become at
tached seems to be your only earthly
destiny"
"Yes, honey! Lord knows its de
trufe! I'm jes' like a tree; always be-
in pulled up and planted some'eres
else, and nebber lowed to stay long
enough to take root
Poor woman! You must look for
ward, then, to that better land In
! which, once planted, you will grow and
flourish forever: that land where part
ings shall be no more.' said Astrea,
gently drawing the poor black head
down upon her bosom.
Now, chile, / must fix your hair,
and range your dress, and take you
up, nice and pretty, else dere'n be de
berry debbil to pay wild Marse Capn
and me arter you're gone said We
nus, lifting her head.
Astrea took off her net and let her
long hair fall.
Venus carefully combed and dressed
it. and replaced the net, and then took
| from a drawer a pretty dress OF white
brilliantine, which she begged the lacy
to put on.
How could a woman's dress have
! possibly got here? They brought none
with me, that Is certain said Astrea,
curiosity making itself felt in the midst
of her dreadful strait, wen as the
lighter emotions sometimes pass ever
the surface of the deepest passions.
Hi, chile! how l know? All sorts
o things is in dis ship. All | know.
Cap'n told me to look in dis drawer,
and take out dis dress and put on you.'
replied Venus, carefully fastening the
bodice.
Are you going TO be all day making
up your minds to come on deck. you
girls down there?" called the voice Of
the captain from the head of the stairs.
Come on. chile! come up don't
yoke dem debbils; cause ii you do it
will be all de wus for your" exclaimed
Venus, in a nervo Is tremor.
They welt on deck and walked on
toward the stern, where the captain
ana the purchaser stood in CONVERSE
ton. The purchaser was a large. stout,
old man, dressed in a suit of light
gray cloth. and n broad brimmed, light
gray felt hat. His hair and whiskers
were gray. his features were infiamed
and bloated, his eyes ~blood-shot and
watery, as IL from the effects of habit
ual dissipation. The expression Of his
face was ~good-natured rather than 9th
erwise.
Astrea had taken all this in ut one
frightened glance. and then stood be-
fore her would-be master with bowed
head, dOwncast eyes and blushing
cheeks. that only added grace and
brilliancy to her beauty. Venus stood
behind, with her apron at her eyes.
The seller and buyer did not hesitate
TO comment freely on the human COM
modify before her own face.
This is the girl. Now what do you
think of her?' asked the captain.
"Humphr" said the other, who. like
all purchasers, would like to have de-
preciated the goods. in order 70 get IA
lower price, ''humph. n likely wencn
enough. but she looks as sullen as the
deuce! Now | rather dislike sutlen
women: | consider %sullenness about
the worse fault OF temper that | am
acquainted with. And besides, this
moromania of which you speak! The
more | think of Ii the more objection
able ii seemsrl" said the man. who.
however could not conceal his real adj
miration of the beautiful creature be-
tore him. His eyes rovel with greedy
covetOusncss yer her graceful form.
Astrea hung her head and crimsoned
dndeI their scrutiny.
The eyes of the captain followed,
half-laughingly, those Of the purchas-
or, WHO pres ltiy said:
Well. name your price for this
girlr
What will you give meg' inquired
the captain.
II never set a price upon other peo-
pies gCcds." answered the purchaser,
who was clearly afraid OF offering too
much.
Hem! you had better make me an
offer before l take her to New Orleans,
and set her up OF an auction block,
where you would find many competit-
ors. You know very well how sharp
the competition would be for the pos
session Of this girl.' said the captain,
maliciously.
At these dreadful words, threatening
a degradation of which, even In her
most despairing hours. she had never
dreamed, the bushes that dyed AS
treas cheeks faded suddenly away:
she became as pale as death.
Poor Venus. seeing this. and fearing
that she was about to sink to the floor.
put her arms around her waist and
supported her. Astrea's head sunk up-
on the negro woman's friendly bosom.
She had been anxious to be taken to
the city, where she might see people
to whom she could explain her real
social position. and make her appeal
for justice; but Oh! not to the shame
full auction block! not to the degrading
gaze of the public! not to the insulting
competition of the licentious, The
burning stake rather than that!
Don't You see that you're frighten.
ing the poor wench to death with your
talk OF auction blocks? These girls
that are brought from Maryland have
never been used to them as our wencb-
es are, and SO have n foolish horror of
them. Put your price upon your prop