I'd summonsed the sher'f and two constables to go 'long.
Farm-house was a underground railway station all right, and the
farmer showed fight. We was too much fer him, and we taken 'em out
at last, but one of the constables got shot--some one fired right
through the winder at us. This Lily gal was the wust of the lot,
and I don't put it a-past her to 'a' done some of the shootin'
herself. But we brung 'em all along.
"Now, Jedge," he continued, "of co'se, I think I can do something
for these two bucks Bill and Jim--this gal only persuaded 'em to
run away with her. But if I was you, I shore would sell that Lily
gal South, right away. She's bound fer to make trouble, and
nothin' but trouble, fer you as long as you keep her round the
place."
The speaker, coarse and ignorant, presented a contrast to the tall,
dignified and quiet gentleman whom he accosted, and who now stood,
with hands in pockets, looking on with genuine concern on his face.
"Lily," said he at length, "what makes you act this way? Haven't
you always been treated well down there at home?"
"Yas, sir, I reckon so," replied the girl sullenly; "well as
anybody's niggahs is!"
"Then why do you want to run off? This is the third time in the
last year.
Pages:
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118