Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-10-17
plete charge Of the house"
sGYou mot herr"

plete charge VI the uOuSc.
'You met herr"
"She was pointed out to me-a gray
hatred, dignified woman, so nearly
white as scarcely to be suspected Of
negro blood"
'Yet still a slave?
II cannot answer that. Haines him.
self did not know. If manumission
papers had ever been executed it was
done early, before he took charge of
Beaucaire's legal affairs. The matter
never came to his attention"
But, captain" exclaimed, 'do you
realize what this might mean? If
Judge Beaucaire has not issued papers
of freedom this woman Della is still
a slave"
Certainly
"And under the law her child was
born into slavery?"
''NO doubt of that"
"But the unspeakable horror of it
this young woman brought UP as free,
educated and refined, suddenly to dis
cover herself to be negro under the
law, and slave. Why, suppose Beau
caire should die, or lose his property
suddenly; she could be sold to the
cotton fields, into bondage to anyone
who would pay the price for her."
"There is nothing on record. Haines
assured himself as to that some years
ago."
"What are the two girls named?"
Irene and Eloise."
(Which one is the daughter?"
"Really, lieutenant, do not know.
You see / was never introduced, but
merely gained a glimpse of them in
the garden. / doubt if would recog-
nize the one from the other now. You
see all this story was told me later"
I sat there a long while, after he
had gone below, the taciturn mate at
the Wheel Totally unknown to me as
these two mysterious girls were, their
strange story fascinated my magma
ton. What possible tragedy lay be-
fore them in the years? What horrible
revelation to wrench them asunder--
to change in a single instant the quiet
current of their lives? In spite Of
every effort, every lurking hope, some
way I could not rid myself of the
thought that Beaucaire - either
through sheer neglect, or some instinct
of bitter hatred-had failed to meet
the requirements of his duty. Even
as sat there, struggling vainly against
this suspicion, the judge himself came
forth upon the lower deck and began
pacing back and forth restlessly be-
side the rail. 1t was struggle for
me not to join him; the impetuosity
of youth urging me even to brave his
anger in my eagerness to ascertain the
whole truth. Yet I possessed sense
enough, or discretion, to refrain, real
izing dimly that, not even in the re-
hottest degree, had I any excuse for
such action. This was no affair Of
mine. Nor, indeed, would have found
much opportunity for private CONVEX
sation, for only a moment or two
later Kirby joined him, and the two
remained together, talking earnestly,
until the gong called us all to supper.
Across the long table, bare of cloth,
the coarse food served in pewter
dishes, / was struck by the drawn,
CHASTITY look in Beaucaires face. He
had aged perceptibly in the last few
hours, and during the meal scarcely
exchanged word with anyone, eating
silently, his eyes downcast. Kirby,
however, was the life of the company,
and the miners roared at his humor-
Gus stories and anecdotes of adven-
ture-while outside it grew dark, and
the little Warrior struggled cautiously
through the waters, seeking the cham
mel in the gloom.
CHAPTER III