The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-07-02

| the way. He ordered Tom to fog q
| woman-slave who was guiltless of the
shortening attributed to her, and for
the first time in his career Legree was
denied. Tom refused. Legree's an
| swer was a blow upon Toms cheek.
"What?" he roared in his rage. "Ye
dare tell me We won't, We blasted black
beast?"
'Tn die first" Tom replied, simply.
swell, here's a piOus dOg-a saint
gentleman" sneered Legree.
Didn't We ever read in your Bible,
Servants obey your Masters? And amt
your Master? Didn't 1 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 yours! 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 a 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, a
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
garrett of the old mansion. Pretending
to escape through the swanRs, 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.
"WeIl, We black beast" he roared,
in a paroxysm of baffied rage, 1--we
made up my mind to kill ye."
every 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 1 can't tell anything. l can die"
clark We. Tom" roared Legree, in
a terrible voice "This time 1 mean
what l say. I'll conquer We, or I'll
kill ye! I'll count every drop Of blood
in your body till you give up"
"Marse," said Tom, ''if you was
sick, or in trouble, or dyin', and 1t
would save We, I'd give We my hearts
| b1oo5 op5 if foIyiD, ovorv drOD 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, def1ed, 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.
I've come to take you home" said
George, tears falling from his eyes as
he bent over his old friend.
"Bless the Lord-it's Marse
Georger' cried Tom, as he opened his
eyes, bewildered. "They haven't for
got mel 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 q comfort to
think the Devil will pay him for this
some of these days"
Flush, Marse GeorgeI" 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 a conqueror.
"Who-who shall separate US from
the love of Christi" he Whispered in a
voice that contended with mortal