Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-05-06


you? Shall l go always wanting?" A
fierce and unhappy passion was writ !
ten in his face.
She turned from him colby. 81 beg |
you will net rccur to that, captain" !
she said. My answer was my an
swcr. can never give you more"
lie touched bis breast, drawing his |
hand across the gold slashings of his |
coat. rs it this? DO YOU frown upon
his majcstys uniform? | swear |
would | were Il Whig!'
"a Tory before a turncoat," she an
swercd him.
Jarrat shut his teeth like n trap.
Then without reply he bowed to her
and strobe toward the ship. Betsy,
turning her horse, saw only his van
ishing dgure, Annc's face flush red
gust Of anger and her eyes cleaning
like blue ice.
why" exclaimed she in surprise,
twas Captain Jarrat"
81 wish" said Anne, with temper,
giving Bctsy's horse slap that made
him dance and called forth a curding
scream from its ridcr-"I wish Captain
Jarrat was in Guinea"
AS Jarrat stepped on to the deck the
gangway was thrown down for the
herdcd human cattle that had thronged
the lower deck Sixty odd, they came
trooping out to where the factors were
gathered, and the ships agent at once
began the bidding by offering convict
smith bound for seven years and al
lowed only diet and lodging, who, he
declared, made great diversion by sing
ing and whistling, besides being rare
at iron work.
The sale proceeded rapidly, for bond
servants were in demand and the lot
was above an average one. They stood
for Inspection eagerly or stoidly, as
their faces promised, some sullen eyed,
some Sinking. The women were Of
fered last. But few remained when
the agent beckoned to the swarthy
skinned woman whose babe had died
during the voyage, and she came for
ward timidly, turning her sloe-black
Italian eyes upon the crowd in misun-
Outstanding and covering dread. Her
hair and the red olive of her skin made
a curious contrast to the light complex
ions Of the other women.
Burnaby Rolph, who had purchased
two laborers, looked her over with sat
isfaction.
"a likely wench," he gulped Given
ty pounds is enough, l doubt not, since
she is foreign. l take her. Put that
down to my reckoning, Master Clark
SON"
Poor thing" said Anne. 81 would
were a man. That brute should never
have her" She looked up and felt the
young Frenchman's eyes full upon her
He had clearly overheard.
You belong to him now" said the
agent to the woman, pointing to Rolph.
"D'ye understands"
She gazed into Rolph's face and
| shrinkingly about the circle. Then,
with a sudden cry, doubling like an
animal, she lodged between the knots
of spectators and threw herself at Ar
mand's feet.
Rolph's curse was lost in q great
laugh which rose from the factors, and
Anne's face stung red at a coarse re-
mark from one of them.
NJ. Armand did not seem nonplused.
He stopped and lifted the crnging wo-
man to her feet as Rolph approached,
his lean eyes winking.
My wench seems to have an uncom-
mon fancy" the latter sneered. Gall
me, why did you not buy herr"
Twill you sell her to meY"
The latter looked at the secretary j
dress and glowered at the merriment
of the onlookers.
mo-" he blurted.
Armand smiled with suavity. per
haps it would pleasure you to game
with me for her? In my country, gen
tlemen," he remarked TO those around,
I'VE are overload of the dice table. As
for me, l could never resist to WOO the
hazard of fortune. Mayhap, however
here you are less adventurous, more
cautious, monsieur, or, as those who
having little, hesitate to risk"
Rolph grunted at this airy thrust and
gnawed his lip. His estate of Bentclitf
this. it was said, he had won in the
palace in Williamsburg fifteen years
before in a wild night of play with
Governor Fauquier's gambling crew.
- will lay against her" added Ar
mand, double the amount she cost
you. And a toss of Il coin shall de
eide"
The factors gasped and stood looking
the speaker over. Rolph stared an in
slant, then: Done! Leave the linden
ture open, Master Clarkson, and bring
it here"
\ wager in Virginia never failed tc
provoke interest, whether it was fol
pair of spurs or pipe Of canary, and
now all We're listening eagerly. The
two girls, from their positions, coulc
see without difficulty over the inter
vening heads.
LET us go farther away" said Anne
I,,@ a mir nj