Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-01-28

"Do you want to go. Hessar' asked
the colonel quietly.
I'VE gotta 60, ole marse" she wall
ed. ives free, an we gotta go. Dey's
all goin' tomorrer mohnln'."
VERY well. Hessa. Walt a minute,
please
Colonel Partridge opened drawer
in the mahogany desk and drew out
canvas bag. He emptied Its contents
on the table, and Hessa's eyes snap
ped Mt the pile Of gold pieces.
The colonel carefully counted the
gold into two piles and. gathering one
into a heap. tossed 1t into the canvas
bag and knotted the string around It
"Hessa, here is sum Of money for
you and Noah. 1t is half Of what
have got. Take good care Of 1t, be-
cause you will meet many dishonest
people who will try to take 1t away
from you. You have both been faith
full servants. Nay, you have beeS
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, II there is anything you
want to make you comfortable, let us
know. Come and bid us goodby be-
| fore you 60" The colonels 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 to go on.
"I's mighty sorry, but we's gotta
60. rs cooked up sight Of vittels,
Miss Catherine. Dey's col ham an
TO pies an big fruit cake, an Noah
he's toted all de wood inter de cellar
an filled all de wood boxes AMER
Hpssa suddenly vanished, and pres
emily they heard the outer door close
loudly.
They did not look at each other after
that. The blow had fallen.
The great clock In the hall chimed
s and 0 and 10 and II. The colonel
sat with his eyes fixed on book, but
not once during the hours did the
turning Of leaf break the silence.
Mrs. Partridge knitted increasingly.
only pausing 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. 1t
was undoubtedly the freed negroes OH
their way north, and they were going
to stop for Hessa and Noah. There
must have been several box wagons,
for there was a din OF confusion out
side the Partridge gates. Then there
came loud talk from the negro quar-
ters, and the colonel and his wife
heard Hessu's commanding tones rails
ed above the tumult.
After awhile the wagons went away.
and all sound ceased. Even the neg
iected fire had dwindled into sound
less breaking embers. and the candles
were burning low. It seemed as
though an end had come to everything.
"Catheriuew said the colonel kindly.
"Richardw Her voice trembed as
their eyes met. Her hands few up to
her face, and her tears fell unrestralred.
The colonel knelt beside her, his one
arni around her slender shoulders.
"They were all we had left that made
1t seem like old times" she sobbed.
II know, know" he soOthed gently
1t 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
goodby?" said the colonel, lifting his
frail wife to her feet and leading her
to the emancipated slaves.
mo, no, Marse Kunnel: we come ter
say Howdy' all over agin! Huccome
dem niggers stopped heah. but Noah
an me we couldn't go away an leabc
yoh an Miss Catherine!'
"Dis am all de home we got in de
worl. Dere won't any place eher look
jes lax dis yere one" sobbed Noah.
sinking to his knees beside Hessa and
laying the bag Of gold ut the colonels
feet.
"I 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 a
blaze In de bedchamber while I gifts
moh candles an makes milk punch
I declare ef 1t amt tomorrer mornin
already" Hessa scolded everybody
back into smiles once more.
AS they went to their cabin after be
loved master and mistress were abed
and sleeping Noah pinched his wife's
Tat arm.
"Ole woman. yoh's free! Does yoh
feel any diffe'nt:' he demanded doubt
fully. His own face beamed content
ment.
Hessa shook her arm free. "Oh. go
| erlong. do. Noah. Whut time got to
be t'inkin' erbout foolishness when
dunno ef dere's any eggs 70 waflles In
de mohnin p