Year: 1859

nant at seeing such timid young creature So
roughly handled but he dare not give utter
ance to his emotions, for fear of increasing the
persecution to which she was subjected AT.
terward, when his host and hostess were alb
sent from the room, and Louisa was clearing
the table, impelIed by feeling OF pity he could
not repress he laid his hand gently upon her
head, and said, Poor child !"


1t was simple phrase, but his kindly tones
produced mighty effect on that suffering lit.
tie soul. Her pent-up affections rushed forth


like flood when the gates are opened She
threw herself into his arms, nestled her head
upon his breast, and sobbed out, "Oh, have
nobody to love me now |" This outburst Of
feeling was SO unexpected, that the young man
felt embarrassed, aud knew not what to do
His aversion to diSagreeable scenes amounted
to weakness 4; and he knew, moreover, that
if his hostess should become aware of his svn-
pathy, her victim would fare all the worse for
it. Still it was not in his nature to repcl the
affection that yearned towards him with so
overwhelming an impulse Ii placed his hand
tenderly on her head, and said, in a soothing
voice, Be quiet now, my little girl / hear
somebody coming, and You know your mistress
expects you to clear the table"


MIS-. JdChSoH was III TACT approaching, ana
Louisa hastily resumed her duties. Had Mr.
Noble been guilty of some culpablc action, he
could not have felt more desirous TO escape the
observation of his hostess AS soon as she en-,
tered, be took up his hat hastily, and went out
to ascertain whether his horse had been duly
cared for.


lie saw Louisa no more that night. But as
he lay awake, looking at q star that peeped in
upon him through an opening in the log wall.
he thought Of her beautiful eyes, when the sun
Shone npon them, as she emerged from the
shadows He wished that his mother and sis
ter were living that they might adopt the at
tractive child. Then he remembered she was
slave reserved for the New Orleans market.
and that it was not likely his good mother
could obtain her. if she were alive and willing
to undertake the charge. Signing, as he had
often done, to think how painful there were
which he had no power to remedy he fell asleep
and saw very small girl dancing with pail
of water, while flock of white doves were
wheeling around her The two pictures had
mingled on the floating cloud canvas of dream
land.


He had paid for his entertainment before
going to bed, and had signified his intention to
resume his journey as soon as light dawned-
All was silent in the house when he went forth;
and out of doors nothing was stirring but cog
that reused himself to bark after him. and
chanticIeer perched on stump to crow lie
was, therefore, surprised to find Louisa at the
crib where his horse was feeding Sprnging
toward him she eXclaimed:-


"Oh you have come Do buy me, sir
will be SO good will do everything you tell
me! Oh, am so unhappy Do buy me,
Sirw


He patted her on the head, and looked
down compassonatcly into the swimming eyes
that were fixed SO mploringly upon his.


/" Buy you my poor child p he replied Il
have no house,--I have nothing for you to
do"


MY mother showed me how to sew some,
and how to do some embroidery" she said
coaxingly. 81 will learn to do better, and |
earn enough to buy something to eat. Oh, do
bay me, sir Do take me with you ~


E" cannot do that" he replied, for must
go another days journey before return to
Mobile"


"Do you live in Mobile?" she exclaimed,
eagerly. My father lived in Mobile. Once
| tried to ran away there, but they set the
dogs after me. Oh, do carry me back to Mo
bile !"


"What is vour name p he said "and in
what part of the city did you liver


MY name is Louisa Duncan and my father
lived at Pine Grove. 1t was such beautiful
place and | was 50 happy there VIII you
take me back to Mobile? WI you?"


Evading the question, he said


Your name is Louisa, but your father
called You Loo Loo, didn't he p


That pet name brought forth a passionate
outburSt of tears. Her voice choked, and
choked again. as she sobbed out


Nobody has ever called Inc Loo Loo since
my father died.


He soothed her with gentle words, and she,
looking up earnestly, as if stirred 10y u sudden
thought exclaimed


How did you kno,o my father called me
Loo Loo ?"


He smiled as he answered. " Then you don't
remember young man who ran after one day,
when you were playing with little white dog
at Pine Grove and how your father called
to you, :" Come here, Loo Loo, and see the
gentleman" "


" don't remember it," she replied "but
remember how my father used to laugh at me
about it. long afterward He said was very
young to have gentlemen running after me-"


am that gentleman" he said. "Wheu
| first looked at you, thought had seen you
before and now | see plainly that you are
Loo Loo"


That name was associated with so many ten
der memories, that she seemed to hear her IA
theirs voice once more. She nestled close to
her new friend, and repeated, in most persua-
Sive tones, You 0iA buy me? Won't you ?"


" And your mother ? What has become of
her p he asked.


She died of yellow fever, two days before
my father. I am all alone. Nobody cares for
me- You ,0A buy me-wou't you ?"