Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-09-13
CHAPTER X

ralc of our dark MASTER
60 CHAPTER TX.
For some moments after this the twain
SAT- there locked in each others arms.
AT length the young man spoke:
MARY" he said. I'VE have a strange
man on board our vessel. He knows
where we used to live in America"
The maiden started up and 'ooked her
companion almost wildly in the face; but
the extreme emotion soon passed away,
and she was more calm.
He told ME some things" continued
Paul, (which / remembered Do you
remember t~e name of Humphrey"
g Mary repeated the name several times,
and sort of intelligent CLEAN rested up
on her countenance.
Surely. Paul. there is something ia
miliar in the sound of that name, but /
cannot call it to mind
Il should not suppose you could. for
you were not over three years old when
we both came with Laroon. But this
man OF whom l speak has seen us both,
IN years gone by-when we were both
very small-at Col. Stephen Humphreys
and l remember of calling some one
Uncle Stephen I remember it we'll
Oh, Mary, we must escape from here,
i know that Mari Laroon has no right
TO US. and | cannot divest myself of the
idea that he did a great sin when he
took us away from our home" said Paul.
Then he is not your father" uttered
the maiden, with some energy.
'No" answered Paul, quickly and en-
ergetically. II know he is not my faith
er. Not only does every feeling of my
soul assure me that such is not the case,
but Mari Laroon's own manner proves
1t. And then this man-Buffo Burning
ton, he calls himself-assures me that
he is not. Thank heaven, l owe no spark
of being to that dark-souled man.
There was another silence of some mo-
ments. at the end of which Paul re-
sumed:
Mari Laroon was here last night. OF
course, you saw him? What did he say -
II could not tell you. he talked very
strangely at times, and-you may laugh
at me, and think me very foolish-but
certainly he did talk more like lover
than a guardian"
Paul started and turned pale
Mari Laroon does love you-all he
Is capable OF loving. II we remain here
ySu are lost. Now, l know what his
strange words to me have meant. He
means that you shall be his wife,
The fair girl gaEed into her compan-
ions face for some moments without
speaking, and the fixed, vacant look of
the eyes showed that she was thinking
of something past.
Heaven have mercy on me-" she at
length uttered, clasping her hands to-
gether. 1T is for that perhaps that he
has called the minerR-four OF them-to
the castle. and bade them remain here
1t is for that he has given directions for
the nightwatch doubled, au.I for ha wing
no soul pass out from here save the crew
OF the brig, and the fishermen and hunt
ers"
= And how has it been with you since
he was here LAST? Have you been
strictly watchedT
II have been but a prisoner. Paul
but a mere prisoner. l have not been
allowed 10 20 outside of these walls with
out two attendants, and one of those
must be from Laroon's blind followers.
His negroes have kept an eye upon me
all the time. and l do not think that
during the past year could have esccap-
ed, even had / bent my whole energies
to the purpose all the time But do YOU
-oh, do you think that he means to-
sG F =. = .,..,. ;. ,
wife"
The maiden bowed her head. and her
frame shook with strong emotion. 1t
was now growing dusk, for the sun had
set some time since, and the shades
4 !. = ,,~hf
the things Of earth. Mary turned to the
window and looked out. Paul arose
and walked several times across the
room. and when he stopped it was close
by the door which opened TO the corri-
dor by which he had entered. just as
he stopped he was sure he heard some
. one at the door. Without waiting to
reflect. he opened il and saw a black
woman Just hurrying from the spot. His
first impulse was TO spring out into the
corridor and catch her. and he obeyed il
on the instant.
What are you doing here?" was his
6rst question. as he seized the negress
by the arm. She was one OF Bareon' :
slaves. some fifty or sixty years OF age.
with a face upon which were marked
cunning and cruelty. What are you do
Ahk AeHrs repSdISu L aul, IN NO very
gentle terms.
"Nofen, was the short reply.
Then why are you herer'
Cause l have to be here-all ober
the house jus what I'm mind TO-"
As the woman gave this answer she
freed herself by a jerk from the youth
grasp. aud then FASTENED away. Paul
returned TO the room where he had left
Mary. AID found her Just coming toward
him.
Paul" she said. Il thought you told
me that Mari Lsroon would remain on
board the brig until you returned"
80 did" said the young man. with
some surprise.
But he is here now"
impossible"
Il am sire / saw him in the garden
but a moment ago, and he was gazing
most closely up az my window
Paul started to tie window and look ed
out but be could see nothing The win
doS overlooked a small garden which
was enclosed within the wall. and Mary
pointed TO a clump OF orange shrubs