Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-18

door Intel and rolled her dark eyes az
Colonel Partridge.
'Scuse ME. Marse Eunnel." she
said hurriedly. but tomorrow am de
day when Marse Linkum pernounces
all niggerS free and ekwill-and-Noah
and me am goin' norfr' She hid her
face in her apron. and there was
convulSive movement of her fat Shout
, ders.
do you want to so, HessaY' asked
the colonel quietly.
I'VE gotta go, ole marser' she vail
ed Yves free. an we gotta go. Deys
all goin' tomorrer mohnin'."
Very well, Hessa. Wait a minute,
please
Colonel Partridge opened a drawer
in the mahogany desk and drew out
canvas bag. He emptied fits contents
on the table. and Hessa's eyes snap
ped at the pile of gold pieces.
The colonel carefully counted the
gold into two piles and, gathering one
into n heap. tossed it into the canvas
bag and knotted the string around it.
"HeSSa, here is a sum of money for
you and Noah. 1t is half of what I
have got. Take good care of IL, be-
cause you will meet many dishonest
people who will try to take it away
from you. You have both been faith
full servants. Nay. you have been
friends to ME and my family. Nay,
even more than that, Hessa-you have
been one OF US. II there is anything
we can do. If there is anything you
= IL la
know. Come and bid us goodby be-
fore you GO" The colOners voice
broke Queerly.
Hessa was standing there staring
from master TO mistress. The bag OF
gold pieces hung Imply from her hand.
She looked frightened. but some pur-
pose within impelled her 70 go on.
''Is mighty sorry, but ives gotta
20. rs cooked up a sight of vittels,
Miss Catherine. Dey's a cor ham an
TO pies an a big fruit cake. an Noah
he's toted all de wood inter de cellar
an filed all de wood boxes amer
Hessa suddenly VANISHED, and pres
emily they heard the outer door close
loudly.
They did not look at each other after
that Inc dow mad FALLEN.
The great clock in the hall chlmed
and . and 10 and II. The colonel
sat with his eyes fixed on a book, but
/ not once during the hours did the
turning of leaf break the silence.
Mrs. Partridge knitted increasingly.
only pausng to unravel her work and
reknit the skipped stitches
Just after midnight there was the
! noisy rattle of wagon wheels on the
highway, accompanied by negro voices
lifted in song and excited chatter It
| was undoubtedly the freed negroes on
/ their way north. and they were going
| to stop for Hessa and Noah. There
| must have been several box wagons,
| for there was n din of confusion out
| side the Partridge gates. Then there
| came loud talk from the negro quar-
/ tiers. and the colonel and his wife
| heard Hessa's commanding tones rails
l ed above the tumut.
After awhile the wagons went away,
| and all sound ceased. Even the neg
/ lected fire had dwindIed into sound
less breaking embers. and the candles
were burning low. 1t seemed as
| though an end had come TO everything.
"Catheriner' said the colonel kindly.
"Richardn' Her voice trembled as
/ their eyes met. Her hands few up to
her face. and her tears fell unrestrained.
The colonel l7nelt beside her, his one
arm around her slender shoulders.
They were all we had left that made
1t seem like old times" she sobbed.
81 know, know" he soothed gently.
It was some time before they looked
up to see in the dying candlelight Hes
sa's great bulk in the doorway. Over
her shoulder peered Noah's rolling eyes.
"Ah. Hessa. you have come to say
goodbye" said the colonel. lifting his
frail wife 70 her feet and leading her
TO the emancipated slaves.
"No, no, Marse Kunncl we come ter
say 'Howdy' all over agin. Huccome
dem niggers stopped heah. but Noah
an me we couldn't go away an leabe
yon an Miss Catherine
Dis am all de home we got in de
worr. Dere won't any place cher look
jeS' lax dis yere one" sobbed Noah,
sinking to his knees beside Hessa and
laying the bag Of gold at the colonel's
feet.
81 guess dat Marse Abe Linkum didn't
mean us nigGers to break our hearts
goin' norf, so l guess he won't care
SOS we's happy. Noah, yoh lazy ole
Niger. yoh mend de fab an make
blaze in de bedchamber while / gifts
mob candles an makes a milk punch.
/ declare ef It amt tomorrer ncurnin'
already" Hessa scOlded ever body
back into smiles once more
As they went to their cabin after be-
loved master and mistress were abed
and sleeping Noah plnched his wife's
fat arm.
"Ole woman. yoh's free, Does yoh
feel any diffe'nr:" he demanded doubt
fully. His own face beamed content
ment
Hessa shook Ter arm free. "Oh. 90
erlonG. do. Noah! Whut time ] got to
be tinkin' erbout foolishness when I
dunno eff dere's any eggs 70 wames in
de mohnin'T
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