The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-11-27


done smut me up In de capln. An oun
know much whut did happen afte,
dat, til bout de time de steamboat
done hit us; an bout de next thing
All was yanked up yere on deck"
But there was another woman or
oner also. Surely you must have seer
her." ] insisted.
"Ah saw her-yas." eagerly. "Rvt
All don't know who she wus. sab, nor
whar she ever cum frum.''
Then she is not there with your"
"No, sab Abs yere all lone. All
reckon, tho, she sure mus be on board
sumwhar, All what All does know Is,
dat de gal called Rene Beaucaire sure
amt on board fer she, an her nah,
am at Beardstown long fore dis, an a
headin' right smart for Canady while
Abs headin' fer down soufe. Abs just
told yer all dis, Mister White Man,
cause you's a frieB' OBJ de Beaucaires
yer wus, wusn't yer?"
"Yes.' | said soberly, II am and, II
can find any chance to help you, ]
am going 10 do il, Elsie. Don't talk
any more-the captain is just coming
out of the pilot house."
As greatly as this brief. hastily
whispered conversation had served to
clear up certain puzzling matters in
my mind, the total result Of the infor-
nation thus impaired by Elsie Clark
only rendered the situation more com
pick and pulling. Evidently the other
prisoner had not been confined on the
upper deck, bur had been more secure
ly hidden away below, where her pres.
ence on board would better escape de.
lection. For what purpose? A SIMS.
ter one, beyond all dOubt-the express
sion of a vague fear in Kirby's heart
that, through some accident, her
identity might be discovered, and his
plans diSarranged. | COmprehended
the part he intended ElOise Beaucaire
to play in his future, and realized that
he cared more to gain possession Of
her, to get her into his power, than he
did 10 obtain control of the slave. This
knowledge helped me to understand
the predicament which this revelation
put him into, and how desperately he
would strive TO retain the upper hand.
If, in very truth, she was Judge Beau,
CARES white daughter, and could gain
communication with others of her
class, bringing TO them proof of her
identity, there would be real men
enough on board the Adventurer 10
rally to her support. We were already
sailing through free territory, and even
now he held on to his slaves rather
through courtesy than law. Once 1t
was whispered that one of these slaves
was white, the daughter Of a wealthy
planter, stolen by force, the game
would be up.
But would she ever proclaim her
right TO freedom? II she was indeed
Eloise Beaucaire-and even as to this
| was not as yet wholly convinced
she had deliberately assumed to be
Rene, doing so for n specific purpose
that object being to afford the other
an opportunity for escape. Why. she
had not so much as trusted me. From
the very beginning she had encouraged
me in the belief that she was a ne
gress, never once a~rousing the ~faintest
suspicion in my mind. Nothing, then,
| was convinced, short of death or dis
grace, could ever compel her to con-
fess the truth yet. Kirby might sus-
pect, might fear, but he had surely
learned who she was from her
lips-that she was Eloise Beaucaire.
The conviction that this young wom-
an was white, educated, refined, the
daughter of good blood-no fleeing ne
gress, cursed with the black strain Of
an alien race, a nameless slave
brought to me a sudden JOY in discov-
cry | made no attempt 10 conceal.
"Eloise Reaucaire. Eloise Beaucaire"
the name repeated itself on my lips,
as though it were a refrain. | knew
instantly what 1. all meant-that some
divine. mysterious hand had led from
the very hour of my leaving Fort Arm
strong, and would continue to lead un-
til the win OF God was done. 1t was
not In the stars Of Fate that such vii
lainy should succeed such sacrifice as
hers fail Of its reward.
Nevertheless, in spite of this re-
solve, and the fresh courage which had
been awakened within me by the faith
that from now on l battled for the love
of Eloise Beaucaire, no immediate op-
portunity for service came. | could
only wait patiently. and observe.
/ was convinced that Kirby, what
ever might be his ultimate purpose
regarding the girl, had no present in
tention of doing her further injury. He
contemplated no immediate attempt at
forcibie possession, and would be well
satisfied If he could only continue to
hold her In strict ~seclusion. The thing
he was guarding against now, and
while they remained on board, was eS
cape or discovery.
CTO BE CONTINIEDl