Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1919-10-31
By RANDALL PARRISH
"Yes-I-I suppose l must

CHANGED l was a passenger on the BOAT
when Judge Beaucaire lost his life. l
witnessed the game Of cards this man
won, and afterward, when I protest
ed, was attacked and flung overheard
into the river by Kirby here and that
fellow who Is outside guarding the
door. They believe me to be dead;
but I managed to reach shore and
was taken care of by a negro-'Free
Pete he calls himself; do you know |
himW
"Yes-oh, yes; he was one Of the /
Carlton slaves" Her face frightened I
slightly in its bewilderment.
"Well, I knew enough of what was
bound to occur to feel an interest, and
tonight he brought me here for the
purpose of warning you-you, your
mother and Eloise Beaucaire. He has
his cart and mule out yonder; we in
tended to transport you across the
river and thus start you safely on the
way to Canada"
"Then," she said slowly, seeming to
catch at her breath her voice trem-
bling, then it must be really true
what these men say-Delia is my
mother2 Ii am a slaveY
"You did not really know? You were
not warned by anyone before their
ARRIVAL"
NO there was no warning. Did
anyone in this neighborhood under
stand?'
"Haines the lawyer did. He fur
nished me with much of the informa-
ton I possess. But I am the one
puzzled now. If the truth was not
known to any of you how does it hap
pen the others are gomez"
$50 fal as I am aware that is mere
" an accident. They walked over to
the old Carlton place early this eve
ming; there is sickness in the family,
and they hoped to be of help, That is
everything I know, They were to re-
turn two hours ago for was here all
alone except for the negroes in their
quarters. l cannot conceive what has
occurred-unless they have learned in
some way Of the trouble here"
"That must be the explanation
they have hidden themselves, And
these men told you why they cameT
1.-THE only one I saw at first did He
came in all alone and claimed to be
: a deputy sheriff. was terribly fright.
ened at first, and did not at all un
derstand; but I questioned him and
the man liked to talk So he told me
all he knew. Perhaps I should have
thought he was crazy, only-only some
: things had occurred Of late which lee
> me to half suspect the truth before
II wouldn't believe it then, but-hut
! I made him repeat everything he hoC
heard. Horrible as 1t was II wanted
: to know ALL"
"And you acknowledged to him that
you were Rene BeaucaireP
y Her dark eyes flashed up into my
: face questioningly,
y "Why-why, of course. II couIC
: not deny that, could II"
= perhaps not; yet if none Of then
- knew you and you had claimed to b.
;, Elose they would never have dare
:, to hold you prisoner
. az never once thought of that, th
only thing which occurred to me wa
how could best protect the Others
u My plan was to send them warning il
some way. Still now l am very gIa'
y said I was Rene"
"Glad Why?
l Because it seems it Is Eloise the
l must first find to serve their paper
!. on. They dare not take away tn
slaves until this is done. As for mt
I am nothing-nothing but slave my
self; is that not true?'
To look into her eyes, her face, an
answer was a hard task, yet one l sa'
no way TO evade.
eyes; 1 am afraid it is true"
"And-and then Della, the holst
keeper, is actually my mother|
"That is the story as 1t reached me,
She held tightly to the table fC
support all the fresh color desertin
her face but the lips were firmly Sc
and her head remained as proud
poised as ever above the round throa
Whatever might be the stain of allie
blood in her veins, she was still
Beaucaire. Her eyes, filled with pal
MS they were, met mine unfllnchingl
Il "And-and knowing all this, CO.
Z WINGED of It's truth-that-that l a
colored," she faltered, doubtfuIly "yC
= came here to help me?'
81 did; that can make no Different
now"
"No differencel Why do YOU ST
A. that? Are you from the North, {
abolitlonist?'
os NO: at least I have never bee
>" called one or so thought myself.
70 have never believed in slavery, yet
eY was born in a southern state. In IN
re case | merely look upon you as
woman--as one of my own class. It
as it does not seem as though l cou
mr. ever consider you in any other wa
he You must believe this
nv believe it! Why, you and a
he caught in the same net, | am sla
Ter to be sold TO the highest bidder, Al
you-you have killed a man to sa
lin me. Even if l was willing to rema
,pt and face my fate l could not now I
that would mean you G3st sun