The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-07-01

SnOrtcOmlHS dLtIlUuIeu 10 Her, anu LOT
the first time in his career Legree was
denied. Tom refused. Legree's an
swer was blow upon Toms cheek.
"What?" he roared in his rage. "Ye
dare tell me We won't, We blasted black
beast?"
"Pll die first" Tom replied, simply.
swell, here's pious dog-a saint
a gentleman sneered Legree.
Didn't we ever. read In your Bible,
Servants obey your Masters? And amt
your Master? Didn't pay twelve
hundred dollars cash for We, and
amt We mine, body and soul?"
mo, Marse Legree," replied Tom,
through the tears and blood that
coursed down his. cheeks. my soul
amt yoursl It's been bought and
paid for by one that is able to keep
it. Ye may kill my body, but We can't
harm my soul"
Now, according to the nature of his
kind Legree was superstitious, and
while his hatred increased, he began
to fear in the presence of his fearless
possession. In Toms presence what
passed for conscience was aroused
within him. Some of the unspeakable
crimes of which in his lustful gratifi-
cations, and through his murderous
instincts, he had been guilty began
to prey upon him. Dark things had
happened in the decayed old mansion
in which Legree dwelt, and in COM
mon with the ignorant blacks by whom
he was surrounded Legree began to
have fears, accentuated by the deliri-
| um of drink, of impending visitationS
by ghosts. Taking advantage of these
fears, his one-time mistress, Cassie,
woman of subtle powers, herself a
slave, conspired with Emmaline, an
attractive mulatto whom Legree was
endeavoring to install in her place, to
destroy his peace of mind. and ulti-
mately himself by means of wraithful
appearances and weird sounds in the
garnet of the old mansion. Pretending
to escape through the swamps, eluding
their pursuers, they returned to the
house, and lay hid there for days,
working their soul-stirring stratagem
| upon the worried Legree. Legree at
the head of pursuing party made up
of negroes and blood hounds sought
the missing women in the swamps and
forests by which his isolated planta
ton was surrounded, but in vain; and
| in the rage of failure, believing him
to have been party to the escape, he
| turned upon Tom.
swell, We black beast" he roared,
| in paroxysm of bafled rage "Pve
made up my mind to kill We"
'Very likely, Marse Legree," replied
Tom, calmly.
| UNLESS We tell me what We know
about these yer gals" said Legree.
81 hain't got nothin' to tell, Marse,"
said Tom.
"Don't We dare tell me that We don't
know, We old black Christian" cried
Legree in angry contempt striking
him furiously.
'Yes-I know, Marse," said Tom,
''but I can't tell anything. / can die"
clark We, Tom" reared Legree, in
a terrible voice. "This time l mean
what I say. I'll conquer We, or I'll
kill We! I'll count every drop of blood
in your body till you give up"
| "Marse," said Tom eff you was
sick, or in trouble, or dyin', and it
would save We, I'd give We my hearts
blood, and if takin' every drop Of
blood in this poor old body of mine
would save your precious soul, I'd
| give 'em freely as the Lord gave his
for me. Do the worst We can. My
| troubles will soon be over, but if We
! don't repent, yours won't never end ~
| For a moment Legree stood aghaSt
| awed into silence by Toms absolutely
/ fearless reliance upon his faith, but
| only for a moment. There was one
hesitating pause, and the spirit of
evil within him, defied, rose with sew
| en-fold vehemence. Foaming with
rage he struck his victim to the
| ground and gave him over to be fog
| ged to ribbons.
Two days later George Shelby, Toms
boy-friend from Kentucky, now grown
to manhood, appeared to fulfill his
promise Of redemption, but he came
too late. Tom lay dying Of his
| wounds.
"Pve come to take you home" said
George, tears falling from his eyes as
he bent over his old friend.
"Bless the Lord-its Marse
Georgei'' cried Tom, as he opened his
eyes, bewildered. "They haven't for
got me! They haven't forgot me-!
Now shall die content"
At this moment Legree sauntered
in, and looked on carelessly.
"The old Satan!" cried George in
his indignation. "It's a comfort to
think the Devil will pay him for this
some Of these days."
flush, Marse Georger' said Uncle
Tom ''Don't feel so. He amt done
me no real harm-only opened the
gates of heaven for me-that's ALL"
The sudden flush of strength died
away. A sense of sinking came over
| him, and he closed his eyes. His
] broad chest rose and fell heavily.
The expression of his face was that
of conqueror.
"Who-who shall separate us from
the love of Christi" he whispered in a
voice that contended with mortal
| weakness, and with a smile on his lips
he fell asleep.
witness, Eternal Cod" said George
Shelby, as he knelt beside the body
of his departed friend, 80, witness
from this hour, will do what one