Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-09-29


would ever suspicion you then"
''How should anyone ever have sus,
picion of me?"
"Why, you know how wimmen folks
are. They never believe that their own
| brothers or husbands could commit a
crime, and they are always looking fo1
some one else to saddle it on, and as
you was the only man in the house al
that time, besides Angus, you should
be the one that they would suspicion
I'm bound they don't believe Angus
did it,"
Everyone else does, Mag"
Eyes, all but us two"
Don't say that again, Mag! They
surely can't doubt that Angus is a
pirate, with 100000 offered for his
head"
IF Icould go down there once, marster
I'd soon find out what they thought
1 only want the man that is goin' to
bring some of my children to me be-
fore die, to protect himself"
Thanks, Mag; 1 know you're al
right, and will think of that scheme
but it's not the pirates sister that will
we'd"
who then, marster?"
you said, Mag, that there were but
two young ladies here"
Eyes, marster. but you couldn't-no
you wouldn't-marry ole marster's
daughter?''
Couldn't! Why couldn't I?''
Because - because, marster - how
could you?"
But you forget the other lady, Mag
THE other lady? What? That would
have. been ole marster's bride, Miss
Clara Hill? No. no, marster; not
that. Ole marster'd haunt you"
why, Mag! Mag! what ails you?''
I'm skeered for you, marster, that's
ALL"
Yes, Mag, it's Clara Hill that viii;
be your mistress; just the same as
though your old master had lived
Surely you don't object to her?"
No, marster. It's for you to say if
her bein' about don't mind you too
much of ole marster, that's ALL
Herbert had drunk his hot Scotch.
Goodnight, Aunt Mag!" and he arose
from his chair, and went upstairs, with
mind anything but undisturbed, and
little sleep visited his eyes that night.
What could Mas have meant" he
thought, "by that expression about my
marrying Jennie Bruce? Did she,
could she, imagine that / sought the
sister of Black Beard for a wife? Or is
she mcditating treachery against me ?
Scarcely that; she relies on my hunt
ing up some of her children. So will!
So l will! Mag must be kept satisfied!
She says that the women think that
their brothers and husbands can COM
NIT no crimes-why, then, Clara hope
will think so of me. Should Mag go to
Smithville, she might ascertain that
the family of Bruce are thinking of
this matter. hut what matters it to me
what they think? If Bruce stopped there
going out, which evidently he did, and
left the cook, he certainly told his
mother and sister that he was not guilty
of the murder, and that | was-if so,
why have they not been heard from be-
fore?
''He doubtless told them that all of
the circumstances pointed to him, and
that to remain would be to hang for
the murder-still, can't understand
their silence-it is unnatural.
''Ther. if Bruce heard Mag scream, he
must have told them that, but he also
told them. if he did. that 4 negro's oath
would not save him-even if Mag could
save him, she would not do it, if in doing
it she had to condemn me; perhaps il
would be best to send her down, and
find the drift of their sentiments.
Il can trust her. That was master
stroke, thinking about hunting up her
children-at least 1 will think of it,
When Mag heard her master ascend
the stairs and close his door, she sunk
ON her knees before the fire.
"Marster! ole marster! do you think
Mag is forget-no, honey, Mag amt for.
get, but Mag can't z'actly see her way
Clear. You can rest easy, though, mars
ter, for the woman thatwould have been
my misses if you had lived. will never be
my misses now. Since Angus Bruce
turned pirate. marster. I don't know
how I'll bring Herbert Lathrop to iestis
but I'll do it. marster, I'll do tiff z
nigger's oath won't count, niger car
cut. and shoot and kill. Herbert LathroT
thinks his soft talk bout huntin' my
chillen bought Mag over. Don't you be
lieve it, marster! don't you believe it!
don't want my chillen to belong to ;
murderer. I'll member, marster: II
member! and Herbert Lathrop shall bc
brought to jestis."