The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-12-25

brand In de eye, but she won't let no
body else scol'. Yo' ought to see dat
gal when Mars'r Bingham-Mars'rB ing-
ham, he de oberseer-Mars'r Bingham
whip de niggers. One day Mars'r Bing-
ham, he whip me. l yelled lax a killed
niger. Missy Jack, she run out wild
her hair a-fyin an her eyes a-shinin, an
she TAX de whip out O. Mars'r Bing-
hams ham. an-golly Moses, how she
lay 1t on dat oberseer"
"Did he take 1t kindlyT
"He couldn't do nuffen. Eff he tech
Missy Jack, Cunnel Rutland shoot him.
Cunnel Rutland, he got de biggest tenn
per, 'cept Missy Jack-aint nobody got
temper lax Missy Jack in
"Any more Rutlands"
"No. sab. Amt dat 'nuff-all dem
mighty fine people?"
'Quite enough. Now you may go,
Ginger"
Ginger departed with frown that
should have called for more such peo-
pie as the Rutlands and somewhat dis
appointed, fancied, at not being able
to impress me with the magnitude Of
the family temper closed the door
behind him and locked it.
"John Branderstane," said, looking
at the dim reflection Of my body in one
of the great mirrors. had 1t not been
for that little girl down stairs your
being would now be no more real than
that Image. Never have you had so
close a call. and you'll never have an
| other SO close without 1t being the last.
but you've no time to waste. Your
situation will be more critical with the
rising sun than 1t Is this minute. Some
thing must be done"
l went to window. 1t was at the
end of the building. My room was on
the second story of the house. at no
great height from the ground. turned
from the window to another facing the
rear. They were all open, for the
second window was something which
| attracted my attention at once-a tree
! growing so near that | could easily
step into its branches and descend to
the ground.
''Thank heaven, here Is an avenue of
escape!'
But my pledge.
| 1t is questionable II those moral
heroes who prefer death to dishonor
would choose the former IL the alterra-
tive were presented as 1t was to me.
Death In the form 1t awaited rIe GER
tainly looked very ugly. If kept my
! word and remained till morning, my
; identity was sure to come out. If for
tune enabled me to conceal it, If the
captain permitted me to go my way. |
| was sure to fall into the hands of my
enemies. BY leaving In the night |
| could give both the slip and by morn
ing be far away or so disguised that
should not be recognized II found. |
might possibly reach the Union lines.
/ had never before broken a pledge.
but had never before seen certain
death staring me in the face. In the
| should have high standard, but in a
| matter Of life or death Besides, who
ever heard of one carrying information
In war stopping at lie or the viola
ton of pledge?
| Placing my foot on the sill. | was
reaching for branch Of the tree with
out when | suddenly stepped back into
the room. sat down In chair and
buried my face In my hands. A vision
of Ethel Stanforth, sweet. gentle. inno-
cent. stood before me. AS fash Of
lightning will clear murky atmos-
phere. my human reasoning vanished
before q divine intuition. | could not
break my pledge.
Then | fell to thinking. How diff
cult 1t is, after all. to look into the fu-
| ture! Who knows but some new out
| let may occur tomorrow? This captain
| Is singular man, ana no one can tel
I what whim may seize him next. To
| day he ordered me out to be shot: to-
morrow he may send me away from
my enemies with an escort to protect
me. Then there Is little Jaquelne.
She has slipped moose about his neck
that he will not easily shake off. She
may find hiding place for me or an
avenue which will eventually lead to
safety. l was so pleased with the prob
abilities conjurei up that l got up
and walked back and forth, rubbing
my hands with satisfaction.
Fool, stupid human fool! The events
fate had In store for me were nothing
as my foresight had painted.
heard the tramp of horses hoofs
coming through the gateway. Going to
front window and looking out, saw
| two figures on horseback. 1t was too
| dark for me to distinguish them.
Though one was very small, the other
! seemed to be woman, for | could see
her garments fluttering. They came
cantering down the roadway to the
gallery and must have dismounted, for
soon heard q knocking. Leaving the
chamber, l went through the hall on
tiptoe and stood at the head Of the
great staircase, listening. There were
voices below, but could not tell whose
they were. waited some time for
more information, but those who were
talking went into another part Of the
! house and | was Obliged to return tc