Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1920-01-02

Iney must have SAID much 10 ue-
.ceive you," and bent forward to touch
her hand. "See, am very much alive.
Let me tell yOu-that will be the quick
est way TO understand. In the first |
place I did not drown when the boat |
was smashed, but was repdered help |
less and borne away on the water. The
Adventurer rescued me about daylight |
the next morning, and 1 was no sooner
on board than l was told how the keel
boat had been run down below on the
river during the night and that your
party had all been saycd-two white
men and two negress slaves. Of course,
I knew you must be one Of them"
"Then-then we We're actually to-
igether, on the same boat, all the way
up here"
Eyes; tried hard to find where you
were concealed on board but failed.
Kirby guarded you with great care
from all observation. Do you know
why?"
yes" she answered, as though fore
ing herself to speak. 81 do know now.
/ thought I knew then, but was mis-
taken. I supposed It might be because
I looked so little like a negress, but
now | realize it was his own con
science. He knew l was q white wom-
an; he had become convinced that l
was Eloise Beaueaire. Did you know
that, also?"
81 LEANED the truth on the boat,
from the same source where Kirby OBJ
tanned his information. Elsie Clark
told me-"
'Elsie Clark! Who is she? How
did she known
"A free negress, who had been en-
ployed by Amos Shrunk. She was the
other prisoner on the keelboat when
you were captured, kept locked below
in the cabin
"How could she know who I was|
"She did not Only she was positive
that you could not be Rene Beaucairc,
because she knew that Rene, in com
pany with her mother, had departed
from Shrunk's cabin before those raid
ers came. The two had already started
for Beardstown."
She sat upright, all lassitude gone
from her body leaning eagerly toward
me, her eyes alight with interest,
"Gone! Rene escaped them!" she
exclaimed, her voice choking. "Oh, tell
me that again. Was the girl sureY
"Ouite sure. She saw and spoke
with both the women before they left
in a wagon. They were on the Under
ground, bound for Canada, and safety
81 am so glad-so glad" she SAID
simply. "Now am strong enough tc
hear the rest Lieutenant Knox. YOU
must tell me-"
"There is not so much to tell, that
am cock-sure about" l began slowly
"Kirby had you securely hidden away
somewhere on the second deck, while
this Clark girl had been locked into 6
stateroom above. I possessed such {
growth of beard and was altogether Sc
disreputable looking as to be mistaken
for roustabout by the boats officers
who set me ut work to earn my pass
age. In this way l managed to tall
with Elsie, but failed to locate you
quarters. The only glimpse ] gatne'
Of You was when you were being takes
ashore. Then 1 followed, and it'll
later succeeded in getting you out 0
Tirby's hands. That is about ALL"
"Oh, no, it is not-you-you cam
too late"
"Too latel Perhaps I may know
what you mean"
DO your Surely not to blame me
II wish to tell you, Lieutenant Knoz
but-but I scarcely know how. Y
adj so dim, indistinct IN my own min
and yet 1 remember. Have I bee
drugged?"
"Without question. We have bee
riding all night and you were strappe
to your horse, Probably you have Il
recollection of Ghis?'
She shook her head IN 1eWildermen
"No; the last remember was wit
Kirby and another man. He-he wa
dressed like a minister, but-but b
was half drunk, and once he sw0re
me. The place where we wefe was
little shack In ci5e side of q hfil, wit
stone walls Kk'uy took me thei
from the steamer together with a ma
he caYied Rale-Jacll Raie. The
locked me IN and left me alone aftt
DARK. Then this other man, wi
dressed live minister, came bae
with Kirby. THEY had food and SON
thing to drink with them, and lit
lamp so that we could see. 1t w;
awfully dismal and dark In There
She pressed her hands to her hes
despairingly. II can remember 9
this, but later It IS not SO clear;
fades out, like a dream"
"Try to ten me all you cam" l urge
o. ''They fed your"
"Yes / managed to eat a little, b
would not drink. They both BEGAN
angry then and frightened me, b
they did compel me TO swallow sor
Of the stuff. Then I became daa
and partially helpless. ! had no W
of my own, no power Of resistance"
"you were married to Kirby"