"Never came? Do you think him dead?"
"No, no! oh, no! He's--Oh, Miss Johnson, I'll tell you some time. Nobody
here knows but Hugh how I was deceived, but I'll tell you. I can trust
you," and Adah involuntarily laid her head in Alice's lap, sobbing
bitterly.
In the hall without there was a shuffling step which Adah knew was
Sam's, and remembering the conversation once held with him concerning
that golden locket, whose original Sam was positive he had seen, Alice
waited curious for his entrance. With hobbling steps the old man came
in, scarcely noticing either of them, so intent was he upon the figure
lying so still and helpless before him.
"Massah Hugh, my poor, dear Massah Hugh," he cried, bending over his
young master. "I wish 'twas Sam had all de pain an' all de aches you
feels. I'd b'ar it willingly, massah, I would. Dear massah, kin you hear
Sam talkin' to you?"
Sam had turned away from Hugh, and with his usual politeness was about
making his obeisance to Alice, when the words, "Your servant, miss,"
were changed into a howl of joy, and falling upon his knees, he clutched
at Alice's dress, exclaiming: "Now de Lord be praised, I'se found her again. I'se found Miss Ellis, I
has, an' I feels like singin' 'Glory Hallelujah.' Does ye know me, lady?
Does you 'member shaky ole darky, way down in Virginny? You teached him
de way, an' he's tried to walk dar ever sence. Say, does you know ole
Sam?" and the dim eyes looked eagerly into Alice's face.
She did remember him, and for a moment seemed speechless with surprise,
then, stooping beside him, she took his shriveled hand and pressed it
between her own, asking how he came there, and if Hugh had always been
his master.
"You 'splain, Miss Adah. You speaks de dictionary better than Sam," the
old man said, and thus appealed to, Adah told what she knew of Sam's
coming into Hugh's possession.
"He buy me just for kindness, nothing else, for Sam ain't wo'th a dime,
but Massah Hugh so good. I prays for him every night, and I asks God to
bring you and him together. Miss Ellis will like Massah Hugh much, so
much, and Massah Hugh like Miss Ellis. Oh, I'se happy chile to-night. I
prays wid a big heart, 'case I sees Miss Ellis again," and in his great
joy Sam kissed the hem of Alice's dress, crouching at her feet and
regarding her with a look almost idolatrous.
They watched together that night, attending Hugh so carefully that when
the morning broke and the physician came, he pronounced the symptoms so
much better that there was much hope, he said, if the faithful nursing
were continued.