Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-05

w AiCu sue DelOBSeU WIS large ana !
its income small. A rich man strlck- !
en- in years had taken a fancy to the I
girl, and in those days children were
not expected TO refuse to marry one
whom their parents provided for them. |
Anne Yeomans spoke the words with a
hot cheek and flashing eye and at the
same time flung herself out of the
house and down the street.
Now. don't you go and do anything
foolish" her stepmother called after
her, but she paid no attention to the
warning, moving on rapidly, as if her
only hope to get away from the hated
connection was TO put space between
her and her home.
The town was built on a side hill
and overlooked the harbor. A brisk
wind was blowing, and below ships at
anchor were rocking, the sails of one
pointing TO windward tapping ready to
make sail.
WHITTIER away, my LASS" came
voice. and the hand of a woman was
laid upon her arm.
I'm running away" cried Anne pas
sionately. They're going to make me
marry an ugly old man that l hate.
and won't"
And where are you soing?" asked
the woman.
How do l know where I'm going
since have no place 10 goT"
The woman soothed her. won her
confidence and finally said to her:
There's a fine opportunity for such
a maid as you to so across the sea TO
the new country they call Virginia.
Once out on the water you will leave
your stepmother and the old man they
| intend to force you to marry, and
doubtless among the sturdy young men
| of jamestown you will find husband
worthy of you. Why, not long ago a
shipload of young women were sent
over there, and all were married at
once and each to the man of her choice.
Do you see that ship down in the har-
Dor? She sails this afternoon for the
new country, and if you like you can
go on her"
ALAS, l have no money to pay the
passage"
L can tldI yOu' ION
can go as a redemptioner."
whats that?" asked the girl.
You contract to work out your pas
sage money after you get to Virginia
l will pay the amount to the captain
of the ship, who will see that you get 6
good mistress when you reach James
town. After. you have earned the
|
taking over you will be free to do a.
you like"
And IS the work hard?"
Not at all. In summer you will
have TO work but five days and half
and for two months. when the sun Il
in the highest pitch of his heat, yol
will be permitted to repOse yourself
three hours in the day. In wintc
there is little for the women to do bu
build fires"
The woman. dominating the girl, wa
meanwhile leading her on, directing
her steps toward n dock, Anne suffer
ing herself to be led without resist
ance When they reached the verg
the woman waved to the ship in tn
olling, and a boat was sent ashore.
I've redemptioner for YOU" sal,
the woman. Here are 20 guineas 70
the passage money, and see that tn
captain returns them with gOodl
profit"
Whereupon the men in the boat becE
, oned Anne to get in with them, an
when she drew back two of them go
out, and, one taking her by each arm
they forced her into the boat, she nc
being decided whether TO go with theI
willingly. But it was now too late, 70
she had fallen into the hands of thos
who We're looking out for persons
take to the American colony 10 Sc
into bondage.
SO Anne was rowed 20 the ship an
' placed below deck with others. som
of whom had been kidnapped for tn
same purpose as she. There were ais
persons who had been sentenced fC
crime, the penalty having been chanl
l. ed to transportation 10 Virginia. On
S of these was a woman who had bee
4 sentenced TO death for stealing 3s. Cd
For forty days the little craft whic
bore this human cargo destined f.
:. semislavery breasted the Atlantic
a huge pillows, finally turning her pro
into Chesapeake bay, passing the spt
on which now stands Fort MOnrO
L through Hampton Roads, two centuriC
:. later destined to be the scene of IL
famous fight between the Monitor an
J MeTrimac. which changed the battl
It ships of the world from wood to steC
then moving on up the yellow watel
of the James river. she cast anchC
u opposite the settlement of Jamestow
4 crowd of hungry looking men an
women stood on the shore gaping
e the newly arrived ship. They locke
p solitary and the place looked solitar
There were houses making up som
thing that resembled town. but the
= looked solitary too. a church had bee
q built. the tower Of which is standir
today. a lone landmark Of the tow
its former Inhabitants and their Suffe
r ings Much of the Atlantic coast
10 and was then beautiful Why the
II 8aoDie chose such an unattractive sp
Oh which 40 MAKE the first America
settlement Is & mystery. AS AM
II ( looked from the ship on the town al