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A GOOD INVESTMENT.
A ST6EY OF THE GREAT REBELLION.
CHAPTER XXIV.
"The world Is full of fools;
And he who nono would view
Must shut himself within a c;wo,
And break his mirror too."
Ab tho train in which, two days af
terward, Mr. Richardson and Rohert
were traveling on their way south
ward approached Louisville, Robert's
sombre reveries were interrupted by
the consciousness that he was being
closely scrutinized by a person who
sat near him, and whose prominent
gray eyes he felt sure he had seen be
fore, though unable to recall when or
where It was he and their owner had
met. While trying to do so the per
son In question rose, came to where
he Bat, and shaking hands as warmly
as if they had been old friends, ad
dressed him as "Robert," and inquir
ed if his "good father and mother"
were well. Then it beoame easy to
recognize Mr. Gassaway, the propos
ed purchaser of tho valuable property
commonly known as Flaming Rock,
and the holder of tho elder Hagan's
covenant to oonvey.
"Why, really, this is very fortun
ate," said Mr. Gaesaway. "I am now
on my way to Smoky Creek to close
up that little affair. We'll travel to
together. You are going home, I sup
pose?" 'No," said the other, whose serious
expression the speculator closely ob
served, though he misconstrued its
meaning; "I expect to go southward
when I leave Louisville."
"But eurely you will not be away
from home when this business is to
bo transacted. You know the old
gentleman will do nothing without
your presence."
Robert, who could not imagine any
thing more important was to be done
than drafting another whisky and to
bacco contract, replied that ho could
not poBsiblj' turn aside from tho jour
ney he had undertaken.
"When will you return?"
"In two or three weeks, perhaps,"
was tho careless reply.
"Two or three weeks!" exclaimed
Mr. Gassaway, whilo a suspicion of
bad faith on the part of the Hagans,
aenlor and junior, overclouded his
mind. "Why, the refusal expires in
four days!"
"What refusal?"
"The refusal of the Flaming Rock
property, to be sure." Robert stared
at the speculator in a way the latter
by no means liked. "You can't ex
pect mo to let the time go by without
making tender of tho money," he
said gravely.
VVJ.of mnnov?" nelrorl "RnViorf
again at a loss.
"The purchase-money tho sixty
thousand dollars," was the reply, in
alow whisper. "Wo aro fully pre
pared to pay it and take tho deeds,
and, of course, you aro ready to make
the conveyance. There'll be no diffi
culty on either point, I'm sure."
This astounding announcement al
most flung Robert off his guard. For
tunately it took away his breath un
til ho could reflect on what he should
say. "Will you allow mo to go and
consult with my friend?" at length he
said, and rose and went to where Mr.
Richardson Bat, to whom he related
the facts of tho case, and asked his
advice. That gentleman, after vell
considering tho matter, and casting
several searching glances toward the
uneasy speculator, who grew each in
stant more snspicious of treachery
against his rights, advised Robert to
go with him if ho could ascertain that
ho actually had the money.
"I have known cases like this be
fore," he concluded. "Ho lookR like
a fool of the kind that abounds in
these daj'sof speculation, and Ishould
not wonder if he were in earnest; but
bo careful to let as few persons as pos
sible into tho business until it is clos
ed, and tako nothing but money in
payment."
As Robert slowly returned to his
seat, tho thought of giving up his
journey to where he would have seen
Bella, and witnessed her happinss on
receiving news of her wonderful good
fortune, cast a shado of disappoint
ment over his face, notwithstanding
ho was going to actually secure for
his parents a good fortune equally
wonderful. And seeing the cloud,
Gassawaj', who read in it only baflled
intrigue, grew more greedy than ever
to get rid of his sixty thousand dol
lars and receive a conveyance of the
oil-bearing bluff, while tho idea he
had entertained of trj'ing to obtain it
for a less sum than the price specified
in the contract was abandoned as
likely to afford a pretext to chicanery
aud fraud to rob him of the fruit of
his vigilance.
"You've got the whole sixty thous
and with you?" said Bobert, resum
ing his seat.
"If you doubt it, I'll count it before
your eyes as soon as we can have o
room to ourselves. I mean to do
what is fair, and expect other people
to do the same," said Mr. Puffing
Gassaway, quite emphatically, and
looking him right in tho eye.
"Oho!" thought the prudent Rob
ert, who for tho first time suspected
tho meaningof theother'ssuspicions;
"perhaps the best thing I can do Is to
keep silent and let him do all the
talking."
Three days later there wero collect
ed about the rough table of Hagan's
cabin four persons intent on business.
On a long bench that was at one side
of the table sat the proprietor and his
son; on tho opposite bench sat Mr.
Gassaway; while Squire Slowsure,
retired lawyer and acting justice of
the peace, who had been brought
from Portsmouth to draw up the pa
pers and take the acknowledgments,
occupied a stool at the head, holding
a position midway between both par
ties, as his custom was, and siding
with neither. On a block stool by
the fire-place, and back ofHagan and
Robert, Betsey sat apart smoking her
pipe, with dilated nostrils, at though
she scented something more than to
bacco vapors. When Mr. Gassaway
had announced to the old couple that
he had come to count down tho mon
ey and take his deed, the news did
not, as Bobert feared it would, startle
either of them into Bhowing signs of
satisfaction which might have encour
aged the proposed purchaser to at
tempt making a fresh bargain on bet
ter terms for himself. Hagan heard
without stirring from his seat on the
stump outside the door, or moving a
faoial muscle from its stoical repose ;
while Betsey only scowled, which
rather helped on the affair.
First, Gassaway exhibited the pack
age of money he had brought, which
Robert, being called on, declared he
had found to contain the proper sum,
by actual count.
Secondly, thesquire wroto a receipt,
affixed to it a stamp, duly cancled,
presented It to Hagan, who affixed
his mark, and then placed it on the
table, whero it was held firmly be
neath his elbow.
Thirdly, a deed was written, which
was twice carefully read over and
compared, as to the description of the
premises, with the original govern
ment patent in parchment, and then
executed by Mr. nagan.
'And now, Mistress Hagan," said
Squire Slowsure, with deliberate em
phasis, "your signature, I believe,
comes next in order. Please draw up
to tho table and set your mark in
form of a cross, or in any other form
you prefer, right where I now put4my
finger, after the word 'Betsey," before
the word 'Hagan," under the word
her,' and above the word 'mark.' "
"And here's the calico dres3," said
Mr. Gassaway. nervously smiling.
Betsey smoked her pipe.
The Squire and Gassaway repeated
what they had said.
Betsey continued to smoke.
Hagan for the first time betrayed a
sign of uneasiness by chewing a very
little more rapidly his quid.
"You are to sign now."
"Am I?" said sho.
"Mother," whispered Robert in her
ear, "why don't you sign It? It will
make you rich. The money will buy
you a hundred farms better than this
one."
His mother flung him from her in
that kind of rage a person feels who
knows ho understunds his own busi
ness best, and Is interfered with by a
meddler flung him from her in a
manner that was definitive aud con
clusive, but without removing her
pipe or uttering a word. A pause en
sued. "Do I understand Mistress Hagan
to refuse to execute the deed?" in
quired the methodical squire. "In
caso she does," he added, addressing
Gassaway, "we may as well return as
we camo, unlese you aro satisfied to
aocept the conveyance without any
release of dower."
But tho speculator's arrangement
with the capitalists who wero at bis
back stipulated for a perfect title, so
that release of dower could not by
any means be dispensed with, and be
rather imprudently declared that the
deed would be of no use to him with
out it.
"But I don't understand Mrs. Ha
gan as absolutely refusing her signa
ture," he said. "There's a calico
dress stipulated for in the instrument
which she wishes to see produced,
perhaps; and unfolding the dress so
as to show all Its splendor, he went
end held it up before her eyes as one
would tempt a child with a toy.
Betsey looked at it gravely for a
minute or two, as if sho would like
to remember its pattern and colors
another time, then seized and flung it
into the fire, where it was quickly
burned up. The astonished Gassa
way, as soon as be could collect his
senses and consider the legal bearings
of the act, exclaimed, with an effort
to be calm, "I call on Squire Slow
sure to take notice of this. I request
that he make a minute of it. Sbeao
cept the tender, and I am entitled to
a decree for specifio performance of
the contraot beforo any court in
Christendom."
"You dry up 1" screeched the lady,
taking the pipe from her mouth and
standing up. "A calico dress for me,
and sixty thousand dollars for him;
that's the odds, is It, between a wo
man and a man in this dod durned
world? Them's woman's rights, is
they? For a dress pattern you want
me to sell myself; out o house and
home to be turced Ioobq
with no
where to tie tobent adrift with jest
one blue and yallor gownd to my
back, whilo he lays round and gets
drunk sixty thousand dollars' worth.
More'n forty years I've worked for
that man. I've brought him ten
children, and raised half of 'em on
pretty much nothing, what's about as
good as most women on the creek kin
do: and if Lincoln did take four of
'em and get 'em shot for me,
that
year
and
ain't
I've
my fault,
taken his
More'n forty
knock-downB,
kept his dog-oned disagreeable com
pany, and I ain't a-going to sign
away all the rights I've got in God's
creation for nothing. I'll see him an'
you in a tar kettle first."
She came to a full stop and sat
down again, replaced her pipe, and
preseing down the ashes in tho bowl
with her thumb, sucked strongly,
with drawn-in cheeks and smacking
lips, till she rekindled its fires ; then
puffing away In resolute silence,
which astonished her husband and
son, who had neverbefore known her
to use so few words to express her
ideas, or wind up so soon an oration
so well begun. For several moments
all remained silent as she. Squire
Slowsure spoke first.
"Perhaps Mr. Hagan." he said,
"tbo lady would be satisfied to sign
the deed in consideration of a moder
ate proportion of the purchase-money
being guranteed to her sole and sep
arate us."
Hagan, though not understanding
very well the squire's language, and
though he had been thinking out the
problem in very different words, had
drifted toward tho samo solu
tion, and turning round to the fuming
virago with morj kindnesB of man
ner than he had shown since the last
time they buried one of their boys,
said, "Bets, what tbo devil do you
want?"
But Betsey's time for telling what
sho wanted had not yet come, and
6he held her peace, whilo one after
another many different arrangements
for her advantage were suggested by
the voluble Gassaway or the deliber
ate Slowsure, all of them, of course,
subject to the approval of her husband.
Each proposal was better than the
last, but she let them go on until sho
knew by their eager words and Ha
gan's silence her power was felt and
acknowledged, and then she 6poke.
Taking the pipe from her lips, and
pointing its stem toward her husband
she said to the others.
"What are you jawing about? Why
can't you hold your tongues like
him?"
Noneof them took her meaning
but Hagan. With that delicate per
ception of fiTs'soliseSlhoughts, feel
ings, meanings, and her ways of con
cealing or revealing them, which
comes only of long tribulation in the
holy state of matrimony, he knew
just what she meant.
"Bets," he said, "if you don't like
my way of drawing up writings, sup
pose you take hold and try yourself."
"I ain't no sech durned fool as you
be to conceit I'm a justice of peace,"
she said; "but if that one there will
do the writiu' I'll tell him what I
want, in short order."
Slowsure took tho pen and made
ready.
"You put into writn's the sense of
thi3 yer," said Betsey. Nary one of
us two old fools ain't fit to be trusted
with no big pile of money; but we've
got a boy that's got laming, and only
one on 'em, and he must take tho
money and keep it for us to use on so
long as we live, and have It all for
himself after we'in gone."
"All right," said her husband, ap
parently or really satisfied. "Why
tho devil didn't you Bay so before?
You don't suppose I'm fool enough to
trouble myself with money business
in my old age when I've raised and
educated a boy to do it for me ?"
So the squire drew up sundry docu
ments, which wero then executed,
and whose effect was as follows:
First, two thousand dollars was to
be deposited in a bank, subject to Ha
gan's own control, to meet current ex
penses during tho ten months yet to
elapse before Robert would bo of age.
(The squire was too rusty to decide, in
the absence of hiB books, if by the
laws of Ohio a minor could act as
trustee.)
Secondly, the remainder was con
vei'ed to Robert in trust to invest it bo
as to produce an income, except so
much as might be needed to purchase
a farm for the couple to occupy.
Thirdly, of the net income the hus
band was to receive one-third, the
wife one-third, and the sou, for his
own use, the remaining third. He
was also to have to himself such por
tion of tho shares of his parents as
they might in any one year omit to
call for, and on the death of eitherone
the entire share of such one was to be
his. On the death of both parents the
whole was to be held by him absolute
ly, and the trust discharged.
Then Betsey signed the deed, and
the money was counted and delivered
simultaneously with the deed. After
which Robert returned with Gassa
way and the squire to Portsmouth,
where banks those real blessings to
the weary and heavy-laden with mon
ey abound, among threeof the surest
of which he distributed his load, stip
ulating in each case for six per cent,
interest.
Soon after this another farm was
bought for the old couple lying a little
further up the creek than the other.
It contained fifty acre3, and after be
ing newly fenced, abundantly stock
ed, and provided with a new house
andout-buildingsof hewn logs, afford
ed as comfortable a home as creeker's
heart could wish. Creeker's heart are
easily contented. The philosophy of
their tribe teaches moderation in
wants, to the end that leisure may be
obtained for enjoying life, and in tlm
philosophy the habits of Bill and
Betsey were fixed. As a consequence
Robert was called on for only a small
portion yearly of the income from the
trust funds, and he thus became to all
intense and purposes a rich man.
Both parents grew very fond of their
boy, though a good while passed be
fore their intercourse with each other
was confidential enough to permit
them to mutually confess it. But
time, prosperity, and the frequent vis
its of Robert gradually softened, and
to somo degree improved, both of
them ; and before the close of their
lives they will get to bo on tolerably
cozy terms.
After having deposited his money,
as has been mentioned, Robert went
on board the Big Sandy packet, from
whioh he was put on shoro at Damar
in's landing at half past seven o'clock
of a disagreeable evening bo disa
greeable that tho brightness which
beamed from the windows of the par
lor of Stono HouBe, and whioh he
knew came moro from hickory that
blazed on the hearth than from the
kerosene lamp that etood on the ta
ble, kindled a glow in his breast that
warmed him to invoke a blessing on
all who were within that house. The
whole weight and blessing fell upon
Polly's head, for it so happened that
she was the only inhabitant at the
time, and therefore it waB that she
waited within, cautiously avoiding to
unlock the door until Robert's step
got near enough for her to know it
was his; and then, with a bumping,
thumping, but wildly happy bosom,
she hastened to let him in, and, as he
entered, received him with both hands
extended, which caused the arms to
extend also ; and so it fell out or fell
in that instead of taking the hands
in both of his and shaking them cor
dially, ho pressed both his lips against
both of hers, while the arms went
round his neck.
"Oh, Polly !" ho exclaimed ; "ain't
I glad to seo you. though?"
"Why , Rob Mr. Hagan !" said sho.
"You never did this before."
"I know I never did," he said,
a little confused, and slightly at a loss
for words.
"The more's tho pity," thought
Polly, who was not confused at all.
Now return we to the sea-shore and
to Bella, leaving Robert and Polly to
keep houao together, as they will
have toortw6 orftn'recPweeks, all
alone by themselves, with none to rao
lest or-makathem afraid. "
But Is not that dangerous?
Yes, in one sense, though in no evil
one, there is certainly danger to one
of them. No doubt but the soft-eyed
charmer with whom Robertis seclud
ed will tako pitiless advantage of his
unprotected condition to kindle his
love with hers as fire kindles fire. Be
sure sho will bring against him the
whole array of her fascinations, and
launch at him all their power. From
morning till evening, at the board or
by the hearth, she will hold him at
disadvantage. Sho will spread the
meal, fill his cup. and serve his plate,
mingling and mixing the while, even
as a sorceress would concoct a philter,
a sweet yet maidenly coquetry in ev
ery cup and dish. As often as they
shall meet duriug the day time he will
come off ihe worse or the better for
the encounter with thesoftening pow
er a lovely and lovable being whose
every feeling, thought, and action are
inBtiuct with emotiom toward him
must needs exert. And when even
ing shall come, and in a parlor ar
ranged by her own hands for ono spe
cial effect, herself dressed and adorn
ed for the samo effect, will contrive
that tho many hours shall pass so
comfortably and pleasantly that com
fort and pleasure shall in his mind as
sociate themselves with her. With so
many subjects of mutual interest
growing out of late events, tho con
versation need never flag, though it
will be very like to break into pauses
by no means unpropitious to the end
in view. In the stillness of such
pauses, all disturbing causes barred
out, each wave of influence emana
ting from personality will go directly
to its destination, and beat upon the
shores of his being as vibrations from
one star upon tho surface of another.
When she speaks, her voice, emotion
al and soft, will invade his ear and
play upon his 6ensorium with a ca
dence of love, while her eyes emit
rays that shall pierce to the inner
chambers of hia own to illuminate
unon its mirrors her own beautiful
image. But more potent still than
sound of voice or light of eye, all pas
sively to herself, her very presence
and proximity will cause to circle
about him that strange, nameless,
electric sphere that subdues intellect,
enchains, senss", and bathes both in
tellect and sense in a soft attraction
which it is pain to resist and delight
to obey, and which i3 the etherial
matrix wherein human love has its
bpjrinninir.
All lying In the way of Robert's
being completely subjdgated by such
influences, and easily within the time
limited, is, of course, his love for Bel
la. But his sentiment for his idol is
a kind of adoration that continually
lifts her up toward the skies, where
dwell the unimpassioned angels, and
still tends, by virtue of its very
strength, to lift her higher and high
er and higher. Even as the Roman
ists, through the excess of their ador
ation for the Judean vircin. have at
last exalted her quite out of reach of
their comprehension and intimate
love, so Robert Hagan's Bella-worship
labors to exalt his Carolinian maid to
realms far beyong reasonable hug -
ging and kissing distance, whilo at
the same time the warm-hearted and
lovable Polly remains conveniently
aud temptingly near, ready to fill the
the void that may very well exist In
tho breast of a man whose love for a
woman, however intense and exclu
sive it may have been, hn9 become
etherealized beyond tho reason of
dear, voluptuous tangibility.
CHAPTER XXV.
In tho sea-shoro bouse Bella and
Vesta, with the help of Hector, were
assorting, counting, and tying up
bundles convenient for shipment
their first" venture" of baskots tnat3,
aud hats, destined to test the Charles
ton market. All being arranged for
an early start on tbo following morn
ing, the old man was dismissed, and
the two women sat down to spend
tho remainder of the evening in con
versation. Bella read over'the Invoice she had
made out, and which gave the quan
tity, quality, aorta and Bize3 of the
important'shipment, and indulged in
as many estimates and anticipations
as the milkmaid of the fable, though
Vesta gavo her credit for keeping
within reasonable bounds regarding
the return she expected to realize.
"If I can only get fifty dollars for
the lot," said Bella, "I shall feel Bure
wo cau realize as much as eight or
nine hundred dollars before another
year is gone, and then we'll begin- rice
planting. Wont that be glorious!
There's one thing I mean to do: I'll
put a fence round that old field that
has lain fallow so long, and on it I'll
raise all the corn wo need, even if we
work a dozen hands. I know all
about corn raising."
And sho ran on to detail all the
plans sho had lately been maturing
for gradually extending the area to bo
cultivated in rice, "until, little by lit
tle, and at the end of ten years, per
haps, though maybe not in twenty
but sooner or later, at all events the
whole of her ancestral estate would
be reclaimed and made productive.
Sho went on to tell how sho would se
lect at first only the most capable and
well-disposed hands; how she would
contrive to feed and clothe them
while the crop was being made, and
finally pay them for their labor In
shares of the net avails, etc., etc.,
showing that during the short time
sinco her coming to tho Bea shore
house her swelling brain, that so
rounded herbeautlful head above the
ibrows, Had'bedn'as"' busy as her poor,
Houtscarred, andUJrowned fingers had
Sa&
BuTVesfa was only respectfully at
jvt
tentive, and though not neglecting to
give the expected assent at the proper
times, seemed waiting for the excited
talker to get tired or run out of words.
At length tho latter perceived this,
and paused. But Vesta continued to
look silently in the fire, and only tho
unceasing chorus of tho sea and the
noise of the east wind, its occasional
playmate, filled the pause. The surf
was loud that evening, for almost a
galo was blowing, which whistled
about the house and then swept over
to the main land, where it made tho
tops of the pines answer with a per
fect echo and mimicry of the surf, and
occasionally with the crash of a riven
branch'.
After a while Bellaasked, "Didyou
hear what I was say lug, Vesta?"
"Yea, I hear," she replied ; "but I
I don't see it."
"Don't see what?"
"Rico fields ; but I can see great
plains of corn, and something else I
never saw before, that isn't rice,
though. I see trees, but no moss is
hanging on their branches. I seo a
river aud creeks, but tho water isclear
aud runs swiftly. The sky fa higher
and bluer, and the air clearer, than in
this country, and the west wind that
bends the wide dark green corn blades
feels cool on my forehead, aud not
hot like the summer west wind here.
I see a house, but it is not this one,
nor the one that's burned ; it's a pret
ty littlo low white one. And now
you appear; you aro standing in the
porch of the house, looking toward
sunset; you look happy and bright
very happy and bright ; and so does
he who stands beside you and holds
your hand in his."
Then quickly waving her hand be
fore her eyes, as if to close the scene,
she turned eagerly toward Bella and
demanded,
"Promise me that if you go away
from here to live any whero else, I
may go with you. Promise me now.
Wherever you may be you will need
Vesta, though noc more than she will
you. Oh, my mistress, swear it to
me!"
Bella shuddered. Tho words of the
woman, wild and visionary a3 they
were, gave her real distress. She had
of late so exerted her self-control and
self-direction a3 to have, for .the time
being, at least, absolutely and with
out reserve, devoted her whole soul to
money getting to basket work in the
present and rice planting in the fu
ture. And however the reality of
love, a home, and happiness might
have been received and eveu such a
reality would have required for its ac
ceptance a relinquishment of cher
ished hopes and the enthusiasm of a
great enterprise, that would have had
its pangs the misty imaginings of
the black woman terved only to pain
fully distract her intensely concen
trated mind from tho new purpose in
which she had found refuge. They
brought anguish and not healing to
wounds she had covered, not closed.
"Vesta,' she Baid, impetuously, "I
forbid you ever to
speak of such
1 things in my presence. If crazy fan
cies troublo you, making you to im
agine you see tho future (a thing pos
sible to God alone), never do you dare
mention them to me."
"Ha! ha! haP' laughed Vesta, in
a way that turned Bella's emotion to
terror. "Possible to God alone! to
your God, you mean. You don't
know that my 'gods tho gods of my
country and my people, have power
and goodnesa to open tho eyes of
those who servo them, and strengthen
their hands to work good and evil to
good or evil men, accordiug to their
deserts."
"Oh, Vesta! Vesta! cease all this;
the days of miracles aro gone, and
prophecy is a miracle that is no lon
ger wrought in this world. Those of
ancient times, recorded in the Bible,
are sufficient for out needs."
"Miracle and prophecy, the power
to bless and to curse, may bo impos
sible to white people and Christians,
and their parsons and ministers," said
Vesta, drawing herself up; "but by
those of our raco who faithfully hold
to tho worship of their fathers, and
call, in their need, upon the gods of
Africa, and havo been accepted, as I
have, into tho inner oircle of tho
priesthood, the future can be searched
and spells be made to work as easi
ly in these days as in ancient times."
"But this is paganism and idolatry,
which the Biblo forbida and God pun
ishes." " Your Biblo again, and your God
how do you know them? How is
your religion proved?'
"By miracles miracles wrought
by tho founders of it."
"Ever so long ago,' said Vesta,
scornfully; "but mine proves itself.
It is proved by miracles I myself am
able to work miracles of yesterday,
to-day, and every day."
"If bo, they como of tho evil one!"
"And how do you know that yours
do not?"
Bella was too much shocked to
make any reply, and seeing this, Ves
ta held her peace, but had to rock in
her chair back and fourth for a good
while before she could calm herself.
At length sho resumed, in a natural
manner:
"Forgive me, honey ; I won't talk
any more of such things. Only if
what I have to-night predicted con
cerning yourself come3 true, you will
remember the prediction, won't you?
And will you promise in that case to
take me with you wherever you go?
Pray do."
Bella promised.
That night she could get no sleep
until after sho had said her prayers
thrice and Bung several hymns. In
the morning her two guardians, at
tended by two others who carried the
bundles of merchandise, escorted her
over the river, whero sho was to take
tiie boat to Charleston. When she
went on board, Fortunatus, son of
Ben, received as strict a charge from
Hector and Vestn that he should
"mind" (that is, protect and serve)
Miss Bella as if she were an infant or
a priucess. Among other instruc
tions he was directed to conduct her
as soon as her business should be ac
complished, to the house of Ann Gin
gercako, with request that she bo en
tertained there until the next day,
when tho boat would leavo on its re
turn trip.
"Say to Ann," added Vesta, "that
if sho has a patient in tho house, I
beg she will look up lodgings for
Miss Bella in that of some one of her
friends. Ask her to do all this for the
lady's mother's sake and for mine,
and I'm sure she will not fail."
Bella's courage and perseverance
were sorely tried, after she arrived in
Charleston, with going from place to
place in search of a purchaser. How
much more would they havo been
tried if, Instead of being a beautiful
woman, she had been an ugly one, or
worso still, a man! At length she
found a business concern, a branch of
a New York house, willing to buy and
sell anything money could bo made
of, that bought her whole consign
ment. When she left the store, to the
door of which the admiring clerk
conducted her, there was a sum of
sixty dollars in her pocket, with a
large order for more werk. Mak ing a
discount of ten dollars for the effect of
youth and beauty, her expectations
were realized, and fortune was within
her grasp ! Poorly dressed as she was,
she walked the street after that with
tho air of a queen, as, under guidance
of tho attentive Fortunatus, she took
the way toward Archdale Street and
the residence of Ann Gingercake,
most skillful, kind, attentive, and no
table of all the free mulatto nurses of
Charleston.
CHAPTER XXVI.
The house of Mre. Ann Gingercake
which Bella reached lato in the after
noon, was a small one, of brick, two
stories high, situated far back from
the street. It wa3 well whitewashed,
as were also the fence of the front
yard, the trunks of the prlde-of-India
trees that shaded tho yard, the enges
of the doorsteps, and the brick curb
ings of the one flower bed, and the
little walk that led up from the gate
in short, everything that would
take whitewash and hold it. The
house was the property of its occu
pant. Ann "wa3 born free. Her mother,
once a slave of tho Johnston family,
who permitted her to "hire her own
time," had availed herself of the quasi
freedom so obtained to go to Charles
ton and set up a stand in the uncov
ered space that used to be at the cor
ner of Market and Meeting streets,
where she long carried on a very pro
fitable business, being widely cels-
brated for her very superior glnger-t
cakes, after which she finally got ta
be named.
From the profits of her businesa
transactions and maybe of her trans-.
gression9 too nho was enabled in
time to purchaseherab3olute freedom'.
This happening just beforo Ann hap
pened, tho child was free by birth
right. As regards complexion, it took
rather after the ginger-cake than af
ter the black-faced mother. Now
whatever might bo thought of tho
prettinessof the name of Gingercake,
nobody could say that tho color of
ginger-cake, as worn by Ann of that
name, was not a beautiful ono. Ana
was straight as an- arrow, well formed
aud graceful as a Venus ; In manners
lady-liko and refined ; her perfeotly
Caucasian features, brilliant teeth,
large, meaning eyes, black as coals
and as capable of fire, and hair that,
compromised handsomely between
straightness and kinkineea by form-,
ing itself Into luxuriant ringlets.
Though barely able to read and write, .
habitual attendance on people of the
best society in her city (and where
will better be found?) bad Imparted to
her what dictionary and grammar
alone often fail to teach the ability to
speak correctly and rather grandilo
quently too. Although no speok of
white glistened in her looks, nor a
single wrinkle appeared In her fore
head, she wa9 good fifty years old, '
aud the combination she presented of "''
tho dignity belonging to that age,
and tho freshness, suppleness, and ''
vigor belonging to thirty years, was '
really charming. So thought many :
a patient of hers, who convalesced
uuder her care more or less enamored
of his nurse, and so thought Bella, as
in responso to the little bell at the
gate which Fortuuatus rung, Ann,,
came from tho house and tripped
down tho walk to admit her visitors.
Bella's attendent presented her to.
Ann, gavo the latter Vesta's message,
and then withdrew.
Ann made no reply to the message
until she had conducted the young
lady into the neat and well-furnished
little parlor, giving her a seat, and .
pressed upon her somo cake and a
glass of wine, in doing which eho
spoke in a subdued voice, and moved'
about quite noiselessly.
"It Is a great honor," she then said,
"to receive the daughter of dear Mrs. '
Johnston, who was so kind to me dur- ,
ing tho year I was in her service at ,
the plantation house. You know,
perhaps, I was employed to teach
Vesta and Psyche dresa making,
which was the occupation I followed .
theu. I do assure you I can never -forget
your mother's unremitting
goodness, Miss Johnston, and am en
tirely and devotedly at your service.
Do you thing you could be comforta- '.;
ble in this-appartment? I could eas
ily put up a cot for you."
"Then you have a elck person fu ,
your house?"
"Yes, miss, most Inopportunely a
very ill gentlemen, delirious this two
weeks with country fever. But I can
not enduro that you should go else- .
where. Allow mo to do for you hero
tho utmost which the painful exigen
cy of my occupation will allow. I do
assure you it would afford mo un
feigned satisfaction."
"I am certain it would," replied
Bella; "but I can not think of re
maining to interrupt you in your ..
duties. Your patient must need your
closest attention. It la giving yoa
more trouble than Ishould, if I ask
you to direct mo to the houso of somo'
one of your friends who can receive
me. I could not very well go to a
hotel, you know."
When Anna found this determina
tion proof against all her polite re
monstrances and assurances, she beg
ged of Bella to remain whileshe went
"just a little way round tho corner'7
to look up suitable lodgings. Before
going on her errand sho pointed up
stairs, and' said, in a wi3per,
"He is sleeping now, so I can very
well be spared. Should you bear him
raving a little in his dreams, it won'C
alarm you, I hope? I shall return In
five minutes.'
But she did not succeed so quickly
as sho had thought, ond remained
away so long that Bella, after looking
casually at the curiosities of the place,
had timo to fall into a reverie of cal
culations respecting her business
prospects bo auspiciously opening;
and in the reverie she soon became bo
completely abstracted as to quite for
get thero was" a crazy man iu the
house. Naturally enough, theD, she
was a good deal startled when, in the
midst of her pleasant reckonings, she
heard coming from the chamber
above the murmurines of a human
voice, low and indistinct though it
was. It continued but a short time,
however, and before it was renewed
she had so far recovered from the
shock as to feel no alarm, and pres
ently got so used to it that she occu
pied herself with intently listening,
in hopes to catch the meaning of
some of the thickly uttered and inco
herent word.
This occupation but poorly prepared
her, though, for a much louder and
more violent outbreak, which seemed
to indicate that the sufferer had
woke; and when it came her impulse
wa3 to run from the house. But her
courage Having controlled the Im
pulse, and the raving somewhat sub
sluing, ehe again found her3elf get
ting used to the situation, and actual
ly endeavoring to derive from the
sounds she heard some sort of idea of
the person from whom they came,
though at the same time nervously
wishing Ann would return to her pa
tient before dusk should deepen into
darkness.
"Bella! Bella! Bella!"
Girl! you are called! Doyouhear?'
Do you know the voice now, that till
now not even the earof love was able
to recognize as ever known beforo?
to eb continued.
This story is published by Messrs. Harper'
Bros.. N. Y-.comDletp. and will be 6ent by
them toanv oartof tho United States, post.-
jago prepaid,, on receipt of fifty ceata.
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