Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-26

at work clearing up the mystery OF her
birth, but for the present he could make
absolutely no move To do so would have
been to call down death upon him. for Of
course his interest would have pointed to
Lucys liberator. 1t would have been sir
gular and opprobrious enough any time.
The farm where Lucy made her home
was owned and occupied by Stephen A.
Walbridge, man scme sixty years of age,
of the common type of New England farm
er. Woodworking, honest, shrewd and keen.
not very well versed in the ways of the
world, a little suspicious and perhaps for
that reason easily deceived by outside ap-
pearances He believed that the govern
ment of the United States could do no
wrong; hated everything British with a
thorough Yankee hatred, for his grand
lOw-ceiled kitchen, on the very same hooks
where the old man put it eighty years be-
fore. hung the old flintlOck he carried at the
Concord fight, still able to throw a charge
of birdshot, though the flint needed a deal
of picking.
Mrs. Walbridge was pattern New Eng
land farmers wife, smart. neat and cap
able. good housekeeper, and in her house
hold she reigned supreme OF their children
one-Mary. "a girl of twenty-was at home.
The rest had gone out into the world to
fight their own battles.
Stephen Walbridge beat his living out of
his sterile farm, and was in fair circum-
stances. His daughter very Intelligent
girl. attending the same school with Lucy,
had her parents consent to invite her home
for the vacation. OF Lucys previous his
tory she was ignorant. except that she was
southern girl received remittances from
the south and had plenty of money.
1t was the Goth of June. a bright, sunny
morning. The young ladies had left the
house and were enjoying horseback ride
over the grassy country roads. Together
they cantered along enjoying the fresh
morning air. The day was beautiful, and
reminded Lucy of far-on and strange to
ntrar p-I
through the vista of trees. were the soft
white clouds floating in the warm blue sky:
the glad green earth and the budding trees
told no tale Of the snow and ice of the past
winter IF" said Lucy, Il could but see Il
buzzard circling over my head. and shut
my eyes to these enormous boulders, 1t
would not be difficult to fancy myself In the
SOUTH Mary Walbridge, who had but lit
tic of the romantic in her composition,
dearly loved riding, and was rather proud
OF her accomplishments in that line. An
active life, passed amid the rugged Berk-
shire hills, had so hardened and strength
ened her muscles that she felt herself equal
to the control of the most spirited horse.
The prairies of Attakapas had been LucyS
riding school. and her early lessons had
been taken on the back of an Indian pony,
guiItless of saddle or bride. Together the
two girls cantered along, laughing and talk
ing by snatches
Lucy said Mary where did you learn
to rider
ON, L uld not nave "a icoiH II CdIG "
me when a child, and have not forgotten.
The prairies where / was raised were we'll
stocked with ponies"
Lucy here turned the conversation. for
she wished to avoid all references to her
former life; her plantation education had
taught her self-reliance and Wesner had
cautioned her to be discreet and silent.
In all Massachusetts lived but one man
who knew her true story and the history
of her romantic escape from slavery-he
was a friend of .WesneT; and to him, luck
lily for Lucy. Wesner had trusted the secret,
not, however, divulginE his own agency in
the affair.
The rough ride had foos<ned its fasten-
ings. and the wealth Of Luey's black wavy
hair, glistening with drops OF dew. brushed
from the overhanging bushes, flowed in its
glossy brightness unconf1ned over her shoul-
ders Framed in this setting, the dark
cheek tinged with the red glow of exercise
and shaded by the long lashes of her soft
dark eyes, she made picture so beautiful
that Mary Walbridge thought-"she is the
most beautiful woman / ever saw and rs
good as beautiful. What Is her lifes his
tory?-I would not ask. As a woman can
love her. Were 1 a man l would risk my
life to win her"
Lucy, unconscious of the admiration she
had excited rode quietly beside her COM
panion. chatting and admiring the scenery
through which the road wound its tortuous
way.
Unluckily, another party was moving
upon the same road, in the opposite direc-
ton. Three young men, students from
Harvard, on pedestrian tour. The woods
resounded with their shouts and laughter.
The road was narrow, and the bushes that