The Mena weekly star., 1919-05-01


 party, the first summer I was in Eng land. was a mere girl then, and everything seemed wonderful. I 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's7"
 "Lower down the Potomac. Have you ever been there7"
 "Twice; once as mate, and the last time as master of a ship. My latest voyage in these waters was made nearly two years ago."
 Tt is not so strange then is 1t, that should have felt interested in yonf' she asked suddenly, as though justify ing herself. "When Uncle Roger first told me who you were, and then ex- plained what had occurred at your trial, naturally you became to me something entirely different from the others. Were you actually with Mon mouth2"
 "In sympathy, yes: but I had no hand in the actual fighting. I was not even ashore until it was all over with. Still I shall pay my share of the Dill"
 And you know what that means, do you notf What will happen when we reach virglnia?"
 Perfectly; l have no Illusions. I have seen just such ships as this come in. We are to be advertised, and sold to the highest bidder. 4 week from now I shall probably be out in the tobacco fields, under the whip of an oVerseer. who will call me Jeff. All I can hope for is a kind-hearted master, and an early opportunity to escape"
 "Oh. no" and in her eagerness her hands actually clasped mine. "It is not going to be quite so bad as that. That is what I wanted to tell you. That is what gave me boldness to come across here to you tonight. It 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 ol relief which swept over me my own fingers closed tightly about her hands.
 q owe this to you; I am sure must owe this to you--tell mel"
 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 I-l knew he needed someone to taKe charge of his sloop, and-and so l brought you to his mind. So please don't thank me-"
 'I shall never cease to thank you" l returned warmly, conscious suddenly that l was holding her hands. and as instantly releasing them. Tt will save me the degradation which dreaded most of all-the toiling in the fields beside negro slaves and the sting Of the lash. Ay, it means even more
 l hesitated, instantly realizing that l must not utter those Impetuous words leaping to my lips.
 "Morel" she exclaimed. "What moref"
 "This," went on, my thought shift ing into 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 debt of honor"
 But wait" she said earnestly. flor had even thought of that. l was sure you would feel that way-any gentleman would. still there is way out You were sentenced as an in- dentured servant. l saw the entry my self. 1t read 'Geoffry Carlyle, Master Mariner. indentured to the Colonies Tor the term of twenty years, unless sooner released; crime. high treason Any indentured man. under our Mary land laws, can buy his freedom, after serT 2 a certain proportion Of his sentence. Did yon not know tnatf
 did know if, yet somehow had never connected the fact before di- sectiy with my own case God what