Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-05-18


the girl was Gertrude King, and l felt fair
~ sure OF it, then she, too, had escaped ar
rest s. far, though it gave me strange feel
ing about the ribs to think that she might
be suffering even As had been. To his ques-
ton | carelessly answered:
Not tonight, at all odds" For at once
considered that if the house had been
searched, it was the safest place could find
in which to abide.
All, by the way" I inquired easily,
know you of party named King!"
''King?' said he, rising and taking up the
candle. No, sab; no King, 'ceptin' the
good King Gawge,"
He held the candle so that for the first
time | had good look at him. saw then
that he was not full-blooded negro, his hair
being silky and waved, his nose straight,
with fine nostrils, and his mouth lacking
the thick lips as his skull lacked the prog.
nathous development Of the true African.
His hide was abnormally black, however,
and his tongue that Of the southern darby
improved by contact with the purer speech
of the north. With all its fine points his
face bore no signs of great intelligence, and
as he looked at me it was almost expression
less. Z. -s.s - {. 49, y.-s'.-
| feared that if it ever had been, the tav-
ern was now no longer a refuge for those OF
nv party, for il seemed clear that Nick
Striker had lost the proprietorship, his
place having been taken by one Burns (of
whom | had never heard), whose very host
Ter was Of rank tory breed. | was glad
had net put myself into the darky's hands,
now even being afraid to ask for Stryker
Tor dread OF arousing suspicious against me.
If yous boun to stay all night, sab, |
soon hab nice room, sab, he continued,
while | was watching him, and taking the
light with him, he went cut with no apology
for leaving me in the dark,
Being alone again, | filed my pipe and
awaited his return with the means to light
it. The difference botwiXt the man | had
been an hour since and was at that moment
was amazing, so great is the power Of nutri-
mcnt to life both body aad spirits. | was
ready for another nights wandering Ii
needs be, though / thanked my stars for lack
ot the necessity Stretching myself along
the bench. / was almost DOING from sheer
comfort when i heard the tramp of horses
in the yard, and the next minute the door
opened and two boisterous voices rang
through the room demanding lights and
service.
The violent rafting Of chair on the floor,
! which one Of the newcomers had used as a
means Of gaining attention, bad hardly
ceased VIXEN the negro returned with the
candle, | could not see the faces OF either
OF the parties from my position (which |
deemed advisable to retain), naught but
| their legs showing. but Tor two they made a
vast noise, The negro, without seeming 70
| notice my apparent absence. placed bottles
and glasses on the table farthest removed
! from mine, and the two, after ordering a
I t,,aal cat ,lo1y-rt and bpvar drinking
And without stint they drank, if one could
/ nudge by the sound OF pouring The single
! candle but broke the gloom Of the apart
laent though it was helped out by the moon
/ light, which strcamed through the south
| windows and over the sauded boards. BY It
/ | made out that one OF the party was a
/ cavalryman. his muddy boots and short
/ clothes proclaiming the fact, as well as the
sabretasche that trailed on the floor by the
side Of his heavy sword. The other, also
! booted and armed, was not OF the ranks, tol
/ his brooches were not embellished or Of
striking color his coat / could not see)
while the hat lie flung under the table wa,
! but a nondescript slouch without a coekade
That they had accidentally met was al
/ once made plain by the first words that
| passed between them after the negro LETT
the room.
An We are from the north.' said the sol
| der 1T were fine chance that brought
us together, Tor l am nigh spent an must
ha' travelled back on an empty belly had we
not crossed.
Have We no news o either o them?'
| asked the civilian, earnestly, ignoring the
| former remark.
Nay, man lis the coolest scent | e'ei
| put nose to. Scammell' 5 an ass to think theS
fled together. an twice an ass, 700. 70 lool