The Mena weekly star., 1919-04-24
CHAPTER |.
Sent Into servitude.

have departed from this world. when 1t will be difficult to convince readers that such times as are herein depicted could ever have been reality, l shall endeavor to narrate each incident in the simplest manner possible. My only purpose is truth, and my only witness history. Yet, even now lately as this all happened, it Is more like the recollections of a dream, dimly re- membered at awakening, and, per chance, might remain so, but for the scars upon my body, and the constant memory of a woman's face. These alone combine to bring back in vivid ness those days that were-days of youth and daring, of desperate, law less war. of wide ocean peril, and the outstretched hands of love. So that here, where I am writing it all down, here amid quletness and peace, and forgetful of the past, I wander again along a deserted shore, and sail among those isles of southern sea, the home for many a century of crime and un- speakable cruelty. I will recall the truth, and can do no more.
 It was still early morning when we were brought out under heavy guard and marched somberly forth through the opened gates of the jail. Ahead we could perceive a forest of masts, and what seemed like vast crowd of waiting people. That we had been sentenced to exile. to prolonged servi- tude in some foreign land, was all that any of us knew.
 The guards prodded the crowd sav- agely with the butts of their mus ketoons, thus making scant room for us to shuffie through, out upon the far end of the wharf, where we were finally halted abreast of Jumping brig. apparently nearly ready for sea- There were more than forty of us. I gained glimpse of the hooker's name Romping Betsy of Plymouth. A mo- ment later a sailor passed along the edge of the dock and instantly whIs- per passed swiftly from man to man. Its Virginia, mate; we're bound for Virginia"
 The eyes of a prisoner met mine virginia, hey7" he grunted. We're a sailorman, ain't ye, mater Well, then, whar Is this yere Virginia?"
 'That's all right. mates" I returned cheerily. "We'n fall into the hands of Englishmen out there. In America, where all the tobacco comes from. I've been there tsvice-and to a land beyond they cali Maryland Iris a country not so unlike England"
 Yer better stow that, my man," growled someone above me, and looked up into the stern eyes of the captain of the guard, "or it may be the eat for ye. So ye've been ter the Virginia plantation, hev ye? Then ye must be Master Carlyle, take it. l heerd tell about ye at the trial, but supposed ye ter be an older man."
 NT am twenty-six."
 "Ye don't look even thet. Ay. they're ready for ye now. Fall in there-all of yer. Step along, yer d---d rebel scum"
 I stared aft at the poop deck. There were a number of persons gathered along the low rail, probably all passen- gers. Then my eyes encountered a strange group foregsthered beside the lee rail.
 There were four in the little party, one of them a negress. Another was clearly enough a colonial proprietor, a heavily built man of middle age, purple faced. I passed these by with a glance, my attention concentrating upon the other two--a middle-aged man and a young woman stand ing side by side. The former was q dashing looking blade, of not more than forty, attired in blue slashed coat, ornamented with gilt buttons and bedecked at collar and cuffs with a profusion of lace. A saffron colored waistcoat failed to conceal his richly berufiled shirt, and the hilt of rapier was rather prominently displayed Such dandies were frequently enough seen, but it was this mans face which made marked contrast with his gay attire. He was dark and hook-nosed, apparently of foreign birth, with black mustache tightly clipped, so as to re- veal the thin firmness of his lips, and even at that distance 1 could perceive the lines of a scar across his chin. Al together there was an audacity to his face, daring, convincing me he was no mere lady's knight but one to whom fighting was trade. He was pointing us out to his companion, apparently joking over our appearance, in an en- deavor to amuse. Seemingly she gave small fieed to his words, for although her eyes followed where he pointed they never once lighted with smile. nor did I see her answer his sallies. She was scarcely more than girl, dressed very simply in some clinging dark stuff, with loose gray cloak draping her shoulders and small, neat bonnet of straw perched upon mass of coiled hair. The face beneath was sweetly piquant, with dark eyes and rounded cheeks flushed with health. She stood, both hands ciasping the rail- watching us intentiy. somehow felt as though her eyes were upon me, and within their depths, even at that distance, I seemed to read message of sympathy and kindness The one lasting impression her face left on my memory was that of inno-