The Dolores star., 1920-02-06
"Yes-I-I suppose l must, -


l tell you the simple truth. l am Ste
ven Knox, an officer In the army. It
CHANGED / was passenger on the boat
when Judge Beaucaire lost his life. l
witnessed the game OF cards this man
won, and afterward. when | protest
ed, was attacked and flung overheard
into the river by Kirby here and that
fellow who Is outside guarding the
door. They believe me to be dead ::
but | managed TO reach shore and
was taken care OF by negro-'Free
Pete he calls himself; do you know
him."
"ies-oh, yes: he was one OF the
Carlton slaves" Her face Frightened
slightly in It's bewilderment.
well. knew enough OF what was
bound to occur to feel an interest. and
| tonight he brought me here for the
purpose of warning you-you, your
mother and Eloise Beaucuire. He has
| his cart and mule out yonder: we in.
tended to transport you across the
river, and thus start you safely on the
way to Canada"
Then" she said slowly, seeming to
catch at her breath. her vuice trem-
bling, then 1t must be really true
what these men say-Delia Is my
motherf II am a slave?"
You did not really know? You were
not warned by anyone before their
arrival?"
NO, there was no warning. Did
anvOne in this neighborhood under
stand?"
"Haines the lawyer did He fur
nished me with much OF the informa-
ton I possess. Put I am the one
puzzled now. II the truth was not
known TO any Of you how does 1t hap
| pen the others are gomez"
80 far as am aware that IS mere
ly an accident. They walked over to
the old Carlton place early this eve
ming: there is sickness IN the family,
and they hoped to he of help That Is
everything | 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 came?"
"The only one saw at first did He
came in all alone and claimed to be
n deputy sheriff was terribly fright
ened at first. and did not at all un.
derstand: but I questioned him and
the man liked TO talk. SO he told me
all he knew. Perhaps l 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 1t then but-but
! made him repeat everything he had
| heard. Horrible as II was II wanted
to know ALL"
And you acknowledged to, him that
you were Rene Beaucaire?"
Her dark eyes flashed up into my
face questloningly.
"Why-why. of course. II could
not deny that could II"
Perhaps not; yet If none Of them
knew you, and you had claimed to be
Eloise. they would never have dared
to hold you prisoner"
only thing which occurred to me was
how I could best protect the others
My plan was to send them warning in
some way. Still now l am very glad
| said I was Rene"
Glad! Why?"
Because 1t seems 1t 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 Notwithstanding but slave my
self; Is that not true?"
To look into her eyes, her face and
answer was hard task. yet one I saw
no way to evade.
"Yes; l am afraid it is true"
"And-and then Della. the house
keeper, is actually my mother?"
THAT Is the story as 1t reached me-"
She held tightly to the table for
support. all the fresh color deserting
her face, but the lips were firmly set
and her head remained as proudly
poised as ever above the round throat.
Whatever might be the stain of alien
blood in her veins, she was still a
Beaucaire. Her eyes. filled with pain
as they were, met mine unf1inchingly.
"And-and knowing all this, con.
vinced Of its truth-that-that am
colored," she fatered. doubtfully, "you
came here to help me2"
"I did; that can make no difference
now"
mo difference! Why do you say
that7 Are you from tho North, an
abolitionist7'
mo; at least I have never been
called one or SO thought myself. l
have never believed in slavery, yet l
was born in southern state. In this
case I merely look upon you as a
woman-as one of my own class. It
1t does not seem as though I could
ever consider you In any other way.
You must believe this"
"Believe 1t! Why, you and I are
caught in the same net. am a slave