Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-26

anu tuty nOptu 70 DC VI HVip' Ah"e So
everything I know. They were to re-
turn two hours ago, for was here all
alone, except for the negroes In their
quarters. I 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 Gamer
"The only one / saw at first did. He
came In all alone and claimed 10 be
n deputy sheriff. was terribly fright
ened at first, and did not at all I'M
drrsygnd; but I questioned him and
the man liked 10 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 led
me TO half suspect the truth before.
II wouldn't believe II then, hut-but
I made him repeat everything he had
heard. Horrible as 1t was II wanted
to know ALL"
sand you acknowledged 70 him that
you were Rene Beaucsire?"
Her dark eyes flashed up into my
race QueSUOnlnSly.
"Why-why, OF course. II could
not deny that, could II"
perhaps not vet II none Of them
knew you, and you had claimed to be
Eloise, they would never have dared
to hold you prisoner
y never once thought Of that; the
only Thing which occurred To me was
how 7 could best protect the others.
NV plan was 10 send them warning in
some way. Still now am very glad
said was Rene"
"GIad, Why?"
because it seems II 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,
! am nothing-nothing but slave my
self: Is that not truef'
To look into her eyes, her face, and
answer was hard task, yet one l saw
no way 70 evade.
Yes: am afraid IT is true"
"ALd-and then Della, the house
keeper, is actually my motherT
That is the story as IL reached me-"
She held tightly to the table for
support, all the fresh color deserving
her face, but the lips were firmly set
and her head remained as proudly
poised as ever above the round throat.
Whatever mi ght be the stain OF alien
blood in her veins, she was still
Haaucaire. Her eyes, filed with pain
IS they were, met mine untinchingly
/ "And-and knowing all this, con-
/ WINGED of its truth-that-that l am
colored," she faltered, doubtfully, you
came here 10 help me?"
u did; that can make no difference
now"
NO difference, Why do you say
/ that? Are you from the North, an
( abolitioniStT'
( NO: ar least I have never been
called one or so thought myself.
have mover believed in slavery. yet I
was born in 8 southern state. In this
. Co,n I merely look upon you as a
wouan-as one of my own class. It
il does not seem as though 1 could
. ever consider you in any other way.
You must believe this"
believe it, Why, you and I are
caught in the same net. l am slave
to he sold 70 the highest bidder, and
/ you-you have killed a man 70 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, get remained CHASTITY
enough to increase my belief that the
man was actually dead-had persisted
under my hand. He was not pleas
ant sight 10 contemplate, flung as he
had been in q shapeless heap, and the
sight brought home to me anew the
necessity Of escape before those others
Of his party could learn what had &C.
| Cured.
From whatever reason the deed
was done" l said, steadyng my voice,
''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 you
60 with me? Will you trust me:"
"Go-go with you? Where"
"First across the river into Illinois !;
there is no possible safety here. In a
way your danger is even more seri-
| Gus than mine. have not been seen
even Kirby had no glimpse OF my
fQce-and might never be identified
with the death of this man. But you
| will become a fugitive slave and could
be hunted down anywhere this side
Of Canada"
Then being with me would add to
your danger"
"Whether it will or not counts moth
ing; 1 shall never let you 60 alone"
She pressed the palms OF both her
hands against her forehead as though
in q motion of utter bewilderment.
"Oh, I cannot seem to realize" she
exclaimed. "Eyerything is like a
dream 10 me-impossible In its horror.
This situation is so terrible; it has
come upon me so suddenly / cannot
decide: I cannot even comprehend
what my duty is. You urge me to 90
away with you-alone"
II do; there is no other way left.
You cannot remain here In the hands
Of these men the result Of such step
! is too terrible to even contemplate.
There are no means Of determining
where the others are-Delia and Miss
Eloise. Perhaps they have had warn
ing and fed already" I urged desper.