Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-06-18

ouently drifted into the merchant serv-
ice. 1t is a story quickly told"
"Yet not so quickly lived"
mo, 1t meant many hard years. on
all the oceans of the world. This is
the first message reaching me from
the old home"
81 have seen that home" she said
quietly, land shall never forget the
impression it made on me. A beauti-
full place. 1 was there on coaching
party. the first summer l was In Eng
land. was a mere girl then, and
everything seemed wonderful. l have
been away from Maryland now for
three years. Nothing else would sat
isfy father. Maryland Is only colony,
you know"
"Your home Is at Saint Mary'sF'
"Lower down the Potomac. Have
you ever been there|
"Twice; once as mate, and the last
time as master Of ship. My latest
voyage in these waters was made
nearly two years ago."
ut is not so strange then, Is 1t, that
I should have felt interested IN your
she asked suddenly, as though JUSTIFY
ing herself. "When Uncle Roger hrst
told me who you were, and then ex-
planned what had occurred at your
trial. naturally you became to me
something entirely different from the
others. Were you actually with Mon
mouth"
"In sympathy, yes; but 1 had no
hand in the actual fighting. I was not
even ashore until 1t was all over with.
Still shall pay my share Of the BILL"
"And you know what that means
We We E Feach ho VslrgiSniaaaH' VIII Happen "A
Perfectly; l have no illusions.
have seen just such ships as this come
in. We are to be advertised, and sold
to the highest bidder. A week from
now l shall probably be out in the
tobacco fields, under the whip Of an
overseer, who will call me JEFF. All
can hope for is kind-hearted master.
and an early opportunity to escape"
"Oh, moi" and in her eagerness her
hands actually clasped mine. ut is
not going to be quite so bad as that.
That Is what l wanted to tell you.
That Is what gave me boldness to
come across here to you tonight. 1t
has all been arranged. You are not
going to be sold on the block with
those others. Uncle Roger has already
contracted with the captain for your
services. You are going north with us
to Maryland"
drew a deep breath, and In the
sudden impulse Of relief which swept
over me my own fingers closed tightly
about her hands.
II owe this to you; I am sure l
must owe this to you-tell me?"
Her eyes dropped, and in the dim
light I could mark the heaving Of her
bosom as she caught her breath.
"Only-only the suggestion" she
managed to say in whisper. "He-
he was glad Of that. You see II
knew he needed someone to take
charge Of his sloop, and-and so I
brought you to his mind. So please
don't thank. me-"
81 shall never cease to thank you,"
I returned warmly, conscious suddenly
that was holding her hands, and as
instantly releasing them. 1T will save
me the degradation which I dreaded
most of all-the toiling in the fields
beside negro slaves, and the sting Of
the lash. Ay, 1t means even more"
I hesitated, instantly realizing that
must not utter those impetuous
words leaping to my lips.
"Morew she exclaimed. What
more?"
"This," l went on, my thought shift
ing into a new channel. "A longer SER
vitude. Up to this moment my one
dream has been to escape, but must
give that up now. You have placed
me under obligations to serve. Be-
tween us this has become a debt of
honor"
"But watt" she said earnestly. "for
I had even thought Of that. was
sure you would feel that way--any
gentleman would. Still there Is a way
out. You were sentenced as an in
dentured servant. / saw the entry my
self. 1t read: 'Geoffry Carlyle, Master
Mariner, indentured to the Colonies
for the term of twenty years, unless
sooner released; crime, high treason
Any indentured man, under our Mary
land laws, can buy his freedom, after
serving a certain proportion Of his
sentence Did you not know that?"
I did know it, yet somehow lad
never connected the fact before d.