The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-19
CHAPTER VII.

brass handles TO its drawers; the chairs
straight backed; from the center OF the
ceiling hung a chandelier OF glass PEN
dants. All this antique magni1cence was
lighted by the single tallow dip which also
Elistened upon the honest face OF Ginger.
''I hope yo' berry oomfolem, sab" said
Ginger, setting down the candle ana turn
ing 10 depart.
''No doubt OF It. Wait a bit. i want
you TO tell me TO whom this plantation
belongs
"Cunnel Rutland. sab"
"Ben in this family long?"
"A tousand years. sab"
WHAT"
Don't know nothin bout countin.
Spec it's been in de family mighty long
time. Cunnel Rutland. he mighty flne
genl'man. sab; Cunnel Rutland. he own
ten hundred t'ousand acres
'How many?'
"De biggest plantation In all Alabama.
sab Cunnel Rutland be de biggest
''wait a Bit Ginger Who is Miss
Pinkley?"
Missy Pinlkley. she mighty fine lady.
sab. Miss Pinkley, She
What relation is she TO Colonel Rut-
land?"
Missy Pinkley. she war Missy Rut-
lands sistah, sah Missy Pinkley She
Where is Mrs. Rutland?"
missy Rutland. she's daid."
''Nho Is Miss Jaqueline?"
MISSY Jack. she's de fust young lady
IN de souf, sab. When Missy Jack go
TO de planters balls and de city balls In
Huntsville, she take all de young men
away from de udder young ladies an
make 'em all mad 'nuff to eat her up"
"Sbe is Colonel Rutlands daughter. l
supposeT'
mel Rutlands eye. sab. Cunnel Rutland
don care nuffen bout nobody but Missy
Jack
How about you coiored people?'
what dat. sah?"
"Do you like Miss Jaoeuline?
Like Missy Jack! Reckon de culled
people do like Missy Jack. Curled people
lub Missy Jack like de angel OBJ
isn't she Just a bit hot temperedT
Reckon Missy Jack is hot tempered,
sab Missy Jack. she got de hottest tenn
per in de whole souf. Missy Jack She
Hold on, explain why you all love Miss
Jack when she has a hot temper and
speaks 10 you sharply"
Laws a-massy, she dom mean nuf-
fen. Missy Jack, she scol' wild the fire.
brand in de eye, but she won't let no.
body else scoH. Yo' ought 20 see dat
gal when Mars'r Bingham-Mars'r Bing-
ham. he de oberseer-Mars's Bingham
whip de niggerds. One day Marss Bing-
ham, he whip me. yelled LAX killed
Niger. Miss Jack, she run out Wild
her hair a-fyin an her eyes a-shinin. an
she talk de whip out O. Mars'r Bing-
hams han, an-golly Moses. how she lay
ft on dat oberseert'
did he take II kindly
He couldn't do nufren- Ef he tech
Missy Jack Cunnel Rutland shoot hirn
Cunnel Rutland, he got de biggest tenn
per 'cept Missy Jack-ain't nobody got
temper lax Missy Jack in
Amy more RutlandsT
mo sab. Amt dat 'nuff-all dem
mighty fine people?"
"Quite nough. Now you may 60. Gin
GER
Ginger departed with a frown that I
should have called for more such peo-
pie as the Rutlands. and somewhat dis
appointed, i fancied, at not being able
20 impress me with the magnitude or the
family temper. ] closed the door behind
him and locked Il.
John Branderstane," I said, looking
at the dim reflection Of my body In one
of the great mirrors had IL not been
for that little girl down stairs your be-
ing would now be no more real than that
Image. Never have you had so close u
call. and you'll never have another so
close without IL being the last. But you've
no lane TO waste. Your situation will
be more critical with the rising sun than
st Is this minute. Something must be
done"
i went 10 a window. IL was at the end
OF the building. Ny room was on the
second story OF the house at no great
height from the ground. turned from
thew indow 10 another facing ther ear
They were al open. for the weather was
warm and seitry. AT this second window
was something which attracted my atten-
ton al once-a tree growing 30 near that
4 could easily step into its branches and
descend to the ground
THANK heaven. here is an avenue OF
escape"
But my pledge.
II Is Questionable II those moral he
roes who prefer death to dishonor would
CHOOSE the former IL the alternative were
presented as it was TO me. Death In the
form a. awaited me certainly looked very
pg5y. III ! kept my word and remained
fih rnorpfng. my identity was sure Ia
come out II fortune enabled me 90 con-
ceai H. II the captain permitted me "a
20 my way. i was sure 20 fall into the
hands OF my enemies. BY leaving in the
night i could give both the slip and by
morning be far away or 40 disguised thai
i should not be recognized n found.
might possibly reach the Union lines.
j had Deger before broken a pledge
but had never before seen certain
death staring me ia the face. In the or.
binary Affairs OF life. reasoned one
should have a high standard. bat IN a
heard OF one carrying information In wal
stopping at a lie or the violation OF a
pledge
Placing my foot on the snI I was
reaching fos a branch Of the tree without
when / suddenly stepped back into the
room. sat down IN chair and buried ms
face IN my bands. A vision OF Ethe
6tnforth, sweet. gentle, innocent, stood
before me. As q fash Of lightning will
clear n mnr1ry atmosphere. my humar
reasoning vanished before a divine intui.
ton. ] could not break my pledge
Then fell 10 thinking How difficult
81 is. after aii. 20 look into the future
Who knows hat some new outlet may oc.
eur tomorrow This captain is a singu
lar man. and no one can tell what whu
rnay seize him next Today he ordered
me out 20 be- shot. tomorrow he ma,
send r0e away from my enemies with ar
escort 10 protect me. Then there II M.
. ffr Jaqueiino. She has slipped a noos,
about his neck that he vill not easff,
shake or fsho may find hiding plaos
for me or an avenue which VIII eventually
Lad 20 safety. was 50 pleased with th,
a 4