New Ulm review., 1903-07-29

He rode on through the woods,
humming the snatch of a patriotic
song, but when the moments exhil-
saration had passed his brow was
overcast, for his errand had not been
accomplished, and it i'll suited his
pride to leave his commission unper-
formed. Furthermore, on the road
he had learned that James father
and mother were from home, and
that she was alone save for the black
servants and the white overseer and
his family, whose house was fully a
quarter of mile from the mansion.
@ Under other circumstances this
would have caused him no uneasi-
ness, for he well knew the devotion
of the slaves to Jane, but the pres
ence of Bessemer and his soldiers
perturbed him much. His distrust of
the British colonel was great, and
vastly did he dislike the thought of
Jane being alone in her fathers
house with only servants to protect
her against possible British inso-
lence.
If he could only have word with
Aunt Rachel or James black mann
my, two faithful souls,> and warn
them to keep careful watch over
their mistress's welfare until he
could bring force to oust the
interlopers, his mind would be easier.
1t would well suit his mood to ride
back to the Ellery mansion, dash
through the opposing redcoats again,
snatch a word with Jane or some of
her devoted dependents, and gallop
away.
"By the Gods, it could be done too,''
,, he told himself, his blood quicken
ing at the notion.
Back at the Ellery place the officers
had eaten their fill. rested their men
and horses, and had really no excuse
for lingering, yet not one of them,
from the Colonel down, but was loath
to go.
! At length they began their prepa-
ations for departure, but ere they
were ready to set forth the colonel
turned to Jane with real concern. ''Is
it possible, dear lady, he asked,
"that you are left alone in this great
house with only these blacks? Surely,
! 'tNere a perilous situation, and ]
must crave the privilege of leaving
with you guard of some of my
faithful fellows until your father and
mother return .E
! Jane threw back her head and
smiled at him in a bewitching de-
rision. what harsh mistress Col
: marked, that I should needs be
afraid to be left alone with these,
my people. Know you, sir, that every
| negro upon this plantation has be-
/ longed all his life to either my
fathers family or that of my own
| mother or my stepmother. Each of
them is bound to us by ties that have
been weaving through generations.
Every one of them is as dear to me
i as though he were my kinsman, and
I dare to believe that I am equally
dear to each of them. Nay, colonel,
you are not half so safe at the head
| of your legion as am here surround
, ed by my black servants"
She spoke with spirit, the rich color
mantling her cheeks, for it was a
matter of pride with the Ellerys that
no family in all the colonies could
more confidently claim or better
| merit the devotion of their depend
ents. Strict disciplinarians they
were, knowing well that laxity was
mistaken kindness, but liberal and
just always. ~3 ...
1"Ah, madam" Bessemer answered,
'it is not necessary to tell me that
your people love you. No one could
| be associated with you an hour with
out doing that, much less years."
She swept him mock courtesy,
and then, in true southern fashion,
! accompanied him to the front door;
tits fashion that even yet southern
hostesses find it hard to wean them
selves from. Stepping out upon the
portico, she saw that the sky, SO
smiling when they arrived, was over
cast, while banks of ominous black
clouds had gathered in the east.
''Methinks, colonel" she said, ''there
| is storm brewing. / beg that you
tarry until we see how much of a
| one it is to be, for our South Carolina
tempests are not often mild, even at
this mild season of the year."
(To be continued
M xy0Yr @-T Yyr> sEs.. ~