Evening star., 1900-06-02

tablish a refuge at my wood yard several
miles up the river. At home we divert
suspicion by carrying on a general iner-
chandse business. Wesner makes the first
venture and starts with ten Of Coveriys
slaves. including Lncy. wesner takes them
through successfully. delivers them to the
agents in New York and places Lucy IN
echool in Anlover. In the second venture
we encounter adventures. but finally
succeed in shipping seventythree slaves
north by sea along with cargo OF cotton
The following spring collect another lot
at the rendezvous and Wesner takes them
north Cairo over the old route Lucy Is
recognized by a southerner in Boston and Is
betrayed Meantime Pierce. friend OF
Wesners, hears of tie warrant for Lucy
arrest and he starts of to see her.
Pierce was not the man to give up easily
Back at Brighton he had friend VINO pas
tured horses. and If he had the horse, ne
could easily borrow the harness ana car
riage. On his way toward Brighton, as ne
afterward told me- he turned the whoie
thing over in his mind and decided that go
he must If not with horse. then on foot;
for he knew Coverly and was determined
to beat the old rascal.
Al Brighton he succeeded not only in get
ting a horse but he borrowed harness
and SO in money. With this outfit he
started for Chester. The horse was noi
very speedy. and 1T was late one SATURDAY
evening four days after he left Brighton
when Pierce drove up to the hotel in Ches-
ter.
After eating supper. he sauntered into the
barroom and from there out on the piazza,
but found no one of whom he could ask
questions and in fact, did not know what
to ask or whom to ask for. As he was
growing more cautious. he concluded 10 ask
none but wait and endeavor to ascertain
If Lucy was in the place He was told at
Andover that she was to spend the summer
at Mr.. Lewis in Chester, but dld not
know his Christian name. This was
small place. however, and he had no doubt
he would be able to find the man without
asking. Tired with his long journey ne
went to bed and to sleep. Next day. sun
day he attended church. not exactly from
devotional motives. but because he was
pretty well assured that Lucy would be
there. He purposely went early and waited
on the steps with the rest of the early at
tendants for the coming of the pastor.
Pierce was a stranger. and drew the atten-
ton of the congregation as any stranger
would in small place. He was accosted
by gentleman. who inquired If he would
stop for the service, and receiving MS al
firmative answer. Immediately introduced
him to Deacon Lewis. The last-named gen
tleman was the sexton and usher combined
Now was Pierce's chance, and as he was
by nature quite gossip, ne improved IT,
and in less than five inmates mad the IN
formation that he U4ewis) took summer
boarders, that he had three young ladies
from Andover. also four young gentlemen
from Harvard. and should have had a
fourth lady had she not received an invita-
ton from one of her classmates up in Lee.
and had gone there-he guessed II did not
cost her anything for her board, as Wal
bridges darter wanted her company Al
though the newsy deacon did not know the
young lady's name, he knew the others, ana
gave them 10 Pierce which was as We'll
Services commenced, but what the text
WAS or how eloquent the discourse Pierce
never knew. He stayed until the benedic-
tion; walked slowly out with the congrega-
ton hurried to his hotel, ordered his horse,
ate his dinner and. mounting the wagon
seat drove at rapid gait toward Berk-
shire.
Again 1t was evening, and he drew near
the Walbridge mansion.
on the broad stone step sat the two girls.
In the fading light Pierce could not recog-
nize Lucy. but he knew her voice. and the
words of the hymn they were singing. The
tears started to his eyes, for he lad once
.ard her sing the same hymn IN little
negro cabin in Attakapas-the night before
wheels the voice ceased. Pierce stopped his
horse alighted and walked slowly up the
path toward the door. Lucy recognized
him and the first to speak.
Mr.. Pierce. is there trouble?'
Yes. they are after you
Il felt that it would be So she replied,
land in few words related her encounter
with Gerou.
Pierce then told her how he had obtained
the Information.
Now. Lucy, l am here. and what is to be
dcne must be done quickly. II is five days
since GerOu sent that telegram. and the
marshal is liable to be here at any time.
Mr.. Pierce, L must rely upon You. l
kEow l must leave here. but where shall
GO? Not to Boston, for did not the authOri-
ties return Burns to his master? There is
but one course-that is to hide. Hide from
the sight of man-but where? Oh, where
Foxes have holes and the birds of the air
have nests but what place has the Fugitive
slave. and that fugitive a woman"
Does Mr.. Walbridge know who you arc?''
No
Tell him
II dare not. for he Is heroicaly pa
triotic that ne would return me 20 the mar
ehal and consider IT his duty honorably per-
formed"
Don't believe it," Pierce replied Has
he a horse?
Yes. three good ones"
Then said Pierce, II am going to trade
horses with him; for mine Is about played
out. You have got to leave this place, for
the officers have your location down fine,
and not going around by Boston, but
will come by the Connecticut valley. Tho
sooner on the move the better In
troduce me to Mr.. Walbridge and stay until
! finish with him. Without any formality
he, preceded by Lucy, entered the house
and was made acquainted with the farmer.
II not eloquent. Pierce was a forcible
talker and in a few minutes he gave Mr..
Walbridge view of the fugitive slave law
he had never read or heard of before. After
he had finished his story he turned toward
Lucy.
Now. Mr.. Walbridge, you know this
lady; she has been member OF your house
hold eaten at your table, slept under your
roof and sat in your pew at church. Do
you wish to return her to her master? Do
you wish TO send her back into slavery. to
be lacerated by the LASH to know that,
through your instrumentality and under the
mistaken motive of obeying the laws of
your country. you condemn her TO perpetual
servitude?''
NO yelled the old man, "never-'
Then. said Pierce dropping the heroic
swap horses with me- 1 will trade back
after am through with yours Mine is an
old horse. and is just beat out. We have
got to run for II. Lucy and l."
Take any horse l have-take my best
yoke Of oxen. cried the old man, in his
excitement.
Now don't get excited" said Pierce
Take this easy. Can you show me the
road?
Mr. Walbridge took leaf from his mem
orandum book and made a little plan of
the road leading to the surrounding towns
with neatness and extreme accurateness
that surprised Pierce
Now said the old man, "you had bet
ter leave just soon as 1t is so dark these
peekin neighbors along the road can't tell
it's my horse and drive slow by every
house for five miles or some of 'em will
know her step and speak of 1t the next day
They're an awful curious people here
about"
After II was fairly dark the EXCHANGE of