Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-03-31


ing with the parent stem, pealing thun-
der and the impetuous rush OF countless
rivulets dashing headlong down the
cliff to pay tribute to the black pond at
its base. But that human cry was most
unexpectedly answered in human fash
ion. At her very feet, apparently,
question was asked in wondering,
sympathizing voice:
Cord nifty! Wat you dom here?
Is you los, little mistis?"
ooh, Abram, lost and frightened to
death'
Then she recoiled in greater terror
than any that had gone before, but
only f1eeting distrust seized upon her
and it left her full of remorse.
"You ketch your def Nv col settin On
dem wet roots. gwine git you out er
here, little mistis, in hurry, even ct
dey bags me fur it,"
From hollow in the trunk OF an
immense tree, leaf strewn and ca
pacious cave, the tattered shoulders
were first thrust, then the agile limbs,
and French Abe, already a degree less
wolfish about tho eyes, stood fully re-
vealed
You amt skeered to follow Abe, is
you, little mistis!'
The negative he waited for SO anx-
iously did not come readily. Liza's dry
tongue refused to shape it.
"You ben good to Abe, an Abe don't
never forgit. Mars Ran good to Abe,
too, and Abe ain never run way tell
Mars Ran go way and lef' him. He
gentleman body sarvint. That wat
this niger is. Igwine git you outer
here Of you'll follow me. Abe knows
desc woods tolluble we'll by dis time"
Liza rose with trust in her eyes and
in her voice. After all, why should he
not be Us good as his promise? Was she
not getting back the bread-Strong's
bread-which she had cast upon the
waters with unexpected promptness?
Now she could speak that word of COM
fort:
"Abram, you need not be afraid to
pilot me out Of these woods. Mr.. Ran
dial has come back. You can go to Lau-
rel Dell this morning, if you want to,
without fear of punishment.
MARS Ran come back? Den dis Mig
ger gwine quit his foolishness. done
tole myself gwine stay in de cane tell
Mars Ran sen me word to come back.
He didn't b'leeve me, dat good fur
nothin po' wife trash Nv overseer,
wen say couldn' pick cotton. He
ain with niger, nary Niger Nv his
own. I don teached him less'n"
This in monologue as he rapidly
wound his way unwaveringly through
the wet green maze about them, closely
followed by Liza. So, even this poor
starveling, this tattered fugitive slave,
could afford to despise her father-an
overseer! The very abject of the earth
could fearlessly snit upon the name of
Martin! And thcre was no man among
them all ready to wipe out the smirch!
II gwine TEX you to Unc' Scip's
house. Unc Scip live right on top the
cliff. Is you tired, little mistis? Hits
the fus' house we come to-"
"No, go on-straight on. am not
tired. will pay you for guiding me
out of this"
She was conscious of lifting of the
clouds-"of a Frightening In the skies. "
The thunderstorm was passing rs it
had come, with magical suddenhess.
They were winning their upward way
rapidly. The trees were thinner, but
the underbrush more dense as they
gained the uplands. The briers caught
her soft serge skirts and held them with
thorny, devastating fingers; cold, wet
limbs sprinkled her with their surplus
moisture. Abrams bare feet bore him
over the rough ground much more rap
idly than she could possibly follow him.
But she was not taking note of any one
of her many physical discomforts. The
social degradation of the Martins had
never been presented to her SO clearly.
Abram had pressed upon sore spot.
Overseers had none so poor as to do
them reverence.
"Thar, now. l tole you was gwine
to fetch you bang up to Unc' Scip's
front do Dare he, maxim baskits on de
back gallery. Gord-a nifty! Look a-yan-
derP'
ADram nau deserted ner ana was TAX
ing a succession Of kangaroo leaps in
the direction of two men who were
standing on Scipio's gallery indolently
watching the old mans rapid basket
weaving. Even before they had turned
at sound of Abe's excited voice Liza
had grasped the meaning of their pres
ence 1t was Strong andRandal Cham
bliss, who had taken shelter in old
Scipio's cabin, evidently i'll pursuit Of
Abram. 1t was his master he was greet
ing unanimously:
TO BE CONTINUED. II