Bad Hugh

Alice obeyed, and Sam came hobbling in, listening in amazement to Hugh's

question.

"Would you like to be free, my boy?"

There was a sudden flush on the old man's cheek, and then he answered,

meekly: "Thanky', Mas'r Hugh. It comed a'most too late. Years ago, when Sam was

young and peart, de berry smell of freedom make de sap bump through de

veins like trip-hammer. Den, world all before, now world all behind.

Nothing but t'other side of Jordan before. 'Bleeged to you, berry much,

but when mas'r bought ole Sam for pity, ole Sam feel in his bones that

some time he pay Mas'r Hugh; he don't know how, but it be's comin'. Sam

knows it. I'm best off here."

"But suppose I died, when I was so sick, what then?" Hugh asked, and Sam

replied: "I thinks that all over on dem days mas'r so rarin'. I prays many times

that God would spar' young mas'r, and He hears ole Sam. He gives us back

our mas'r."

There were tears in Hugh's eyes, but he again urged upon him his

freedom, offering to give him either to Adah or Alice, just which he

preferred.

"I likes 'em both," Sam said, "but I likes Mas'r Hugh de best, 'case,

scuse me, mas'r, he ain't in de way, I feared, and Sam hope to help him

find it. Sam long's to Mas'r Hugh till dat day comes he sees ahead, when

he pays off de debt."

With another blessing on Mas'r Hugh Sam left the room.

"What can he mean about a coming day when he can pay his debt?" Hugh

asked, but Alice could not enlighten him.

Adah, however, after hesitating a moment, replied: "During your illness you have lost the newspaper gossip to the effect

that if Lincoln is elected to the presidential chair, civil war is sure

to be the result. Now, what Sam means is this, that in case of a

rebellion or insurrection, which he fully expects, he will in some way

save your life, he don't know how, but he is sure."

To Alice the word rebellion or insurrection had a dreadful sound, and

her cheek paled with fear, but the feeling quickly passed away, as, like

many other deluded ones she thought how impossible it was that our fair

republic should be compelled to lay her dishonored head low in the dust.

It was settled finally that Adah should go as soon as the necessary

additions could be made to her own and Willie's wardrobe, and then Alice

adroitly led the conversation to Colonel Tiffton and his embarrassments.

What did Hugh think Mosside worth, and who would probably be most

anxious to secure it? There were livid spots on Hugh's face now, and a

strange gleam in his dark eyes as he answered between his teeth,

"Harney," groaning aloud as he remembered Rocket, and saw him in fancy

the property of his enemy.