Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-03-03

Capn took a rancy Tor. an bought
from your marster."
'1And what do you think he means to
do with meg"
"Lor. chile, what de use O akin me?
How can tell: But 'spects how he's
gwinc ither to keep you for hissclf, or
else to sell you to SOME rich gemman
down ut New Orleans"
Then you must think I am a.
slave!" gaspca Astrea, flushing fiery
rcd at the word.
''Sartain. honey. dough you is berry
purity, an berry purty-srcken, too; else
why here?"
''rhen you are mistaken, Venus. l
am by position a young lady. l was
seized last night in my own bed room
and brought here by Il band of RUTH
ans"
'Lors-a-messy on top o my poor old
black soul! Is it trufe you's a-tellin'
me. honey?" exclaimed the negress, in
diSmay. =,
THE truth. as the Lord of Heaven
knows" replied Astrea, solemnly.
But what was you a-doin' of all dc
time. chile? Why'n't you holler muir
der an 'larum de house,?
lHGS WHY tOo ullCN loI lllS. viz
o. them stole upon me from behind.
and clapped sponge full of chloro-
form over my mouth and nose. and
have been that they took me here"
in all my born days! Dough knows
what dat cholera-form is. too! | took
it when lie dentis' took out dis we're
sN1N AM foil
what. it SOnt me so near de gates oh
hebben dat heard de angels singin'
all trough my head! l did. indeed,
chile! 1t de trufe I'm a-tcllin' oh you.
An when l come back to this yeth.
my toof was out an know muffin tail
bout it. An eff it had O. been my
head. it would o. been dc same ting"
1T was so with me. When I sue
cumbc(t to the influence of chloroform
and lost myself, was in my bedcham-
ber When | recovered from it's Of
fects and came to myself. was in
this cabin. And l know no more of
the transportation than you did of the
extraction of your tooth.'
Il bliebs yo, honey! l bliebs cherry
word you Says!"
Then hope YOU will be my friend?"
eyes, chile. I'll fend you! Dough to
do dat. shall have to be as secretly an
'ceittul as Marse Cap'n hisself. shall
have to tend to hate an 'spise you on
de face of de yeth. Den he'll let me
tend to yOu!'
Astrea sighed deeply. Deception was
abhorrent to her very soul. and
els there no other way?' she asked.
Hi. honey! what oder way? How
we--den gwine to get along wild 4
'ceitiul villain. less we 'ceives him?
If he t'ink your frien'. he make me
stay away from you, an pint OBJ de
he-debbils to wait on you! ease. you
see. l knows Marse Cap'n! l done
cotch his bref.''
"And now, then. what do you sup
pose he intends to do with me?'
We'll, l said furst, honey, ither to
keep you for hisse'f, or else to 'spose o.
you to some rich gemman in New Or
leans! Leastways, l t'ink so! else why
steal you away from your friends?
But you tell me more bout it. Honey;
den maybe glib better 1udbment.'
AStrea complied with this reuueft.
and told her new-found humble friend
as much of her story as she deemed
Isoper to be made known; in effect.
that she was the adopted daughter of
Captain Fuljoy, of the isle. and the
wife Of Colonel Fulkc Grevillc, of the
army.
AN so dcy stole you away. outn
your own bedroom! Well! if ebber l
heerd tell O. SIGH ting in all de days
O my life! Tell you what, honey! you
stoop down here an listen: 1 has my
misgibbens as Marse Cap'n is no bet
ter IAN a smuggler! An tends to run
away dc furst chance l gets! An
now mustn't linger here much longer,
fear oh 'spicion," said the woman, in
low voice, as she took up the waiter
and left the cabin.
(TO b. COntinued.)