The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-03-25
MARSE JAKE AND
RUNAWAY CAGE.
(Continued from Page One.)

eench. There they talked earnestly
nd long. What they said tc each
t6ther will perhaps never be known.
! He told her the melancholy news OF
his departure on tomorrow and
urged her to be true to HIM. Some
say it was here their troth was
plighted. Others said not, for the
oversesr's daughter often declared
she would never marry into family
that thought her inferior to them.
To the loving couple time flew so
fast and imperceptibly that they did
not realize the time they had been
talking but they were brought to
that knowledge by the voice Of Mrs.
Purdee: /"
"You Caroline, what are you do
ing so long?@
looming, mother,' came back
from the girl.
Jake took her hand to bid her
good bye and printed, for the first
time, kiss upon her blushing face.
That night Cage went up to Marse
.Jake's room to have a Last CONVEX
sation and to map out the future. He
received many instructions about the
care of his traps, his dogs, his canoe,
etc. Unfortunately, that unerrlng
edist Of fate decreed otherwise. Ear
~ next morning Jake started away
in the old family barouche driven
by Wagner Mingo, for that far
away seat Of learning the "Mount
Zion Institute,'' - at Winnsboro.
As they started away, Jake looked
out of the window Of the carriage,
and he spied his faithful slave peep
ing from behind the house, waving
his ragged cap, but Jake saw. the
great tears coursing down his black
Rface, his whole frame shaking frcm
lthe emotions he felt at parting with
his young master. As they travelled
along, Jake could think Of nothing
but his home leaving and the bitter
moaning of the wind which, at
dimes, seemed ine1prassibly wierd
and dismal, sounded like the death
Aneu Of all his hopes and happiness.
To say that young Baldwin Was
success at the Institute would be
misstatement Of the facts, Tor
student he never was. He delighted
his companions by his negro dane
ing, his good nature and happy dis
position, and was a favorite with the
Students. He managed to keep up
with his class, Notwithstanding his
idleness. But Jake was greatly dis
trassed at the news coming from
home. The first jar to his nerves
came with the intelligence that
Caroline's father had sent her away
to neighboring State to a boarding
school, and he recognized at once
the danger to her young heart, that
some other, more in accord with her
ideas Of proprieties and equality,
might carry off the the prize he 50
much coveted. Then came the al
most unbelievable intelligence that
kCage was Runaway" that he had
left soon after Jake's departure, and
had not BEEN heard Of since, that
they had hunted everywhere, with
negro dogs, for him, but no trace or
rail could be found. AL, too, 1t
eemed, on account Of the overseer's
Pehreat to take MIN in hands, and ex-
change his life Of vagabondage for
that Of work in the cotton fields. Jake
understood we'll the meaning Of the
word "runaway." He wab an out
cast, a pariah, even among his own
race, Stunned and despised by the
old and terror to the young: Chill
dren were whipped into good beha-
zior by saying, "Mind, runaway
nigger viii catch YOU" When Jake
realized the import Of these dlsas-
tiers, that his companion had become
the much despiked and hunted "run-
away and his loved one had gone
afar of, his heart welled up with
sorrowing emotions. At times he
thought "was life worth the strug-
gle," for, try as he would, his dear
est hopes were ever doomed to an
guAsh and disappointment.
On the first night Of Jake's re-
turn from school he had restless sleep
and troubled dreams, for ever and
anon, Cage would appear to him IN
his dreams, standing in the ragged
garb and sunken cheeks Of the odlous
RUNAWAY" Near day he thought ne
heard a voice saying, "Marse jake.
Marse Jake,' and he sprang from
his troubled sleep and could family
see the outlines Of the "runaway,'
-