Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-10-03

L SAID was Rene.
"Gladi WhyT
Because it seems it Is Eloise they
must first find to serve their papers
on. They dare not take away the
slaves until this is DONE AS for me,
1 am nothing-nothing but a slave my
self; is that not true?"
To look into her eyes, her face, and
answer was a hard task, yet one saw
no way to evade.
'Yes; am afraid it is true.''
"And-and then Della, the house
keeper, is actually my mother?"
"That is the story as it reached me-"
She held tightly to the table for
support, all the fresh color deserting
her face, but the lips were firmly set
and her head remained as proudly
poised as ever above the round throat.
Whatever might be the stain of alien
blood in her veins, she was still a
Beaucaire. Her eyes, filed with pain
as they were, met mine unflinchingly.
"And-and knowing all this, con-
vinced of its truth-that-tha I am
colored," she faltered, doubtfully, ''you
came here to help me?"
81 did; that can make no difference
now"
mo difference! Why do you say
that? Are you from the North, an
abolitionistT'
"No; at least 1 have never been
called one or so thought myself. !
have never believed in slavery, yet !
was born in a southern state. In this
case / merely look upon you as a
woman-as one of my own class. It
it does not seem as Though 1 could
ever consider you in any other way.
You must believe this"
Believe it! Why, you and 1 are
caught in the same net. l am slave
to be sold to the highest bidder, and
you-you have killed a man to save
me. Even if l was willing to remain
and face my fate l could not now, fOr
that would mean you must suffer
And-and you have done this for me-
My eyes dropped to the upturned
face of Kirby, on which the rays OF
light rested. The flesh was no longer
black and horrid, yet remained CHASTITY
enough to increase my belief that the
man was actually dead-had perished
under my hand. He was not pleas
ant sight to contemplate. flung as he
had been in a shapeless heap, and the
sight brought home to me anew the
necessity of escape before those others
of his party could learn what had oc
Cured.
From whatever reason the deco
was done," 1 said, steadying my voice
1--WE must now face the consequences
As you say, it is true we both alike
have reason to fear the law if caught
Flight is our only recourse. Will yoI
go with me? Will you trust mel"
"Go-go with you? Where"
"First across the river into Illinois
there is no possible safety here. In ,
way your danger is even more seri
Gus than mine. / have not been seen
even Kirby had no glimpse of m,
face-and might never be identifiet
with the death of this man. But yol
will become fugitive slave and coult
be hunted down anywhere this sid
of Canada"
"Then being with me would add t.
your danger"
whether it will or not counts moth
ing; 1 shall never let you go alone"
She pressed the palms of both he
hands against her forehead as thougl
in a motion of utter bewilderment.
"Oh, cannot seem to ealize," sh
exclaimed. Everything is like
dream to me-impossible in its horror
This situation is so terrible; it ha
come upon me so suddenly l canno
decide; I cannot even comprehen
what my duty is. You urge me to g
away with you-alone%
IL do; there is no other way lef
You cannot remain here in the hand
of these men; the result of such a ste
is too terrible to even contemplat,
There are no means of determinin
where the others are-Delia and Mis-
Eloise. Perhaps they have had war;
ing and fed already" urged despel
ately.
Her eyes were staring down 6
Kirby's body.
Look, he-he is not Dead" sh
sobbed excitedly. did you see then
one Of his limbs moved, and-and-
why, he is beginning to gasp fc
BREATH"
"Au the more reason why we shoul
decide at once. If the fellow regain
consciousness and lives, our dang.
will be all the greater"
"Yes, he would be merciless." hs
lips parted, her eyes eloquent of di
gust and horror as she suddenly Iifte
them to my face. IL must not 70
get that II belong to him; am h
slave; he-he, that hideous thir
there, can do anything he wishes wit
me-the law says he can" The indi
nant color mounted into her face. "E
can sell me, or use me, or rent me
. am his chattel. Good God think
It'll Why, am as white as he is. be
ter educated, accustomed to evel
care brought up to believe myse
, rich and happy-and now 1 belong
him; he owns me, body and SOUL" 81
paused suddenly, assailed by q ne
! thought, a fresh consideration. as
so, is it the law that these men c;
! take possession of nothing here un
p after ElOise has been found and the
: papers served upon herT
n "Yes, believe it is" / said. as
is the legal heiress of Judge Bea
caire; the estate is hers by inhe
4 tance, as am told there was no wi
- All this property, including the slav,
g would legally remain in her possessi
e until proper steps had been taken
l. others. Serving of the papers wou
l. be necessary. There is no doubt
q to that"
e She drew a deep breath and stepp
e toward me, gazing straight into l
e face.
d 81 believe in you," she said firm
e. "And trust you. You look like a r.