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

Astrea was locked in her cabin and
attended only by Venus. Venus was
always let in by the captain, who care
fully locked the door upon her and re-
tanned the key While she remained, and
let her out again himself and locked
the door after she had left. Thus
passed several days while the ship re-
manned at anchor several miles below
the city.
Astrea found this suspense as terri
BILE as any part Of her voyage. She had
firmly resolved that as soon as she
should be taken on shore. she would
make her real situation known to the
first persons she should meet. and,
through them. claim the protection of
the magistrates. And thus she looked
forward to the hour of her landing as
that of her liberty.
But many more days passed. and
still she remained confined to the cabin
of the ship, and still the ship contin-
ued at anchor far below the city.
She questioned her sable attendant
.Why do we remain so long here,
yenus?''
Eli. chile. what you AK me for?
How I know? Nights as well AK de
main mas. Tell yer de cap'n nebber
tell ME muffin"
but, surely, Venus, you can form
some ideay"
Hi. honey. how I gwine form ideas?
l nebber went to school. l don't know
muffin I all bout it." persisted the girl,
who was evidently in a non-comInittal,
know-nothing humor.
.Astrea had known her long enough
TO understand this occasional caprice,
rs well as how to manage it. She
said:
II know all you say Is the truth,
Venus: but l know. also. that you have
q great deal of shrewdness--"
"Wiat dat. chile?'
Intelligence, sense"
"Yes. honey; ole marse. Lord bless
him. used to say how l was uncommon
sensoricus: but IL / ia. l nebber brags
bout II. amt vain: I scorns to be-
"Woll. then. with all your good sense,
you must nave OWNED the captains
motive for keeping us hereY'
'E'ut hi, honey: de cap'n's. motive
amt divine at all: it's more like deb
lish dere amt untfin I ali divine bout
he: nor ~'ligiOus, nor rev'rent, nor muffin;
so how l find out what amt dere?"
But" said Astrea. changing her
~phrrseology to suit the capacity of her
interlocutor, IF you do not know why
he fingers here. what do you thinky'
well, honey. I tell you; / spectorate
how he Is a-waitin' for de oders," whis-
pered the woman
."The others! what others?"
s.VNnr, vnxx,s Jof I'll. IL oyxrcVs ~
peated Venus. mysteriously.
But who are the othersg" persisted
Astrea.
well. de l. I don't know muffin I all
boat ce,n."
"Eut what do you think, tben?" in
quired Astrca. coayi igiy.
Tell YOU. honey. / don't know nuf-
fin bout 'em. I don't think muffin bout
'em. and | don't spectoratc muffin bout
dem dere. You see, chile. | darn't do
1t; leas' said, scores mended! You
may see 'cm Yourself some day" said
Venus, more mysteriously than before.
And this, in fact. was all that could
be got ont OF the woman
But Astrea's suspense was nearly
over.
The next morning an incident &C.
Cured rhat put her In possession OF
scrre idea MS TO her final destination.
II was about eight o'clock In the
morning when Venus, as usual, came
in her breakfast. She sat 1t down on
the table. and then. going to the side
of Astrea. whispered:
"SOinefne gwine happen. honey:
cap'n gone on shore in de big boat;
mate keepin' de cabin door,"
THE captain gone on shore? Gone
TO the city," asked Astrea, who. in
every incident. hoped that a step was
made toward her release.
mo, honey, La! we long way from de
city: no. honey, he gone on shore. right
straight to de cypress swamp; dat all |
know"
Various c%onjectures were hazarded
by Astrea, as to the captains errand;
but none seemed satisfactory to her.
self or her attendant; and at last, the
slight meal being over. Venus took up
the walter and carried 1t away, whis-
pering as she departed:
Il watch, honey; I watch wild all DC