Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1912-09-20
The Redemptioner
A Story OF American Colo
NAL Times.
By r. A. mitchell

\ won't marry him. and that's oil
there Is about It."
The words were spoken $50 years age
By a lass to her stepmOther In a sea
port town In England The family u
which she belonged was large and
its Income small. A rich man strick.
On IN years had taken a fancy to the
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 n
hot cheek and a flashing eye sod nc the
same time dung herself out Of the
house and down the street
Nov, don't you go and do anything
foolish" her stepmother called after
her. but she paid no attention to the
warning, moving on rnpidly. as n her
only hope to get awny from the hated
connection vas TO put space between
her snd her home.
Abe town vas built on a side hin
and overlooked the harbor. A brisk
wind was blowing. and below ships al
anchor we're rocking. the sails OF one
pointing to windwurd Mapping ready to
make sail.
"Whlther away. my lass7" came q
voice. and the hand OF a woman was
laid upon her arm.
I'm running away" cried Anne pas.
%slonateiy. They're going to make me
mnrry an ugly old man that | hate.
and | won't"
And where are you gOing7" asked
the woman
How do ! know whore I'm going
since hnve no place to goT"
The woman soOthed her. won her
confidence and finally said to her:
There's a 8ne opportunity for such
. maid as you to go 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 aiming the sturdy young men
Of jamestown you will end a husband
worthy Of you. Why. not long ago n
Shlpload OF young women were sent
over there. and all we're married at
once aud each 10 the man OF her choice
Do you see that ship down in the har
bor3 She sails this afternoon for the
new country, and II o IKE you can
20 on her."
"Aias. l hav no money to pay the
passage"
Il can arrange that for you. You
can go as a redemptioner."
whats thatT" asked the girl.
"YOu contract to work out your pas
sage money after you get to Virginia
1 viii pay the amount to the captain
OF the ship. who will see that you get n
good mistress when you reach james
town. After you have earned the
money that has been spent for your
taking over you will be free to do as
you like"
And is the work hard?'
mot at all. In summer you will
have to work but eve days and a half
and for two months. when the sun T.
In the highest pitch OF his heat. you
will be permitted to repOse yourself
three hours In the day. In winter
there is little for the ome 10 do but
build dres."
The woman. dominating the girl. was
meanwhile leading her on, directing
her steps toward u dock. Anne suffer
ing herself to be led without resist
ance. When they reached the verge
the woman waved to the ship In the
citing. and a boat was sent ashore.
i've a redemptioner for you" said
the woman Here are 20 guineas for
the passage money. and see that the
captain returns them with a goodly
profit"
Whereupon the men in the boat beck
oned Anne to get In with them, and
when she drew back two OF them got
out. and. taking her by each arm
they forced her into the boat. she not
being decided whether to so with them
willingly. But Il was now too late. for
che had fallen into the hands OF those
who we're looking out for persons to
take to the American colony TO sell
into bondage.
So Anne was rowed TO the ship and
placed below deck With others. some
OF whom had been kidnapped for the
same purpose as she There were also
persons who had been sentenced for
crime. the penalty having been chang
ed TO transportation to Virginia. One
or these vas a woman who had been
sentenced TO death for stealing 3a. Cd
For forty days the little craft which
bore this human cargo destined for
somislavery breasted the Atlantic's
huge pillows. finally. turning her prov
into Chesapeake bay. passing the spot
on which now stands Fort Monroe.
through Hampton Roads. two centuries
later destined to be the scene Of the
famous dght between the Monitor and
Asuimac. which changed the battle
ships Of the world from wood to steel.
then moving on up the yellow waters
u the James river. she cast anchor
opposite the settlement Of jamestown
A crowd OF hungry looking men and
women stood on the shore gaping At
the newly arrived ship They looked
solitary and the place looked solitary.
There were houses making up some
thing that reaembied a town. but these
booked solitary toe. A church had been
hnilt. the tower OF which Il standing
today. q lone landmark OF the town.