An Original Belle

by Edward Payson Roe

  The colored woman again took up the thread of the story which wouldexplain her presence and her possession of a note from CaptainLane, recommending her and her son to Mr. Vosburgh's protection.

  "Yes, missy," she said, "Cap'n Lane am a fren' ter be proud ob. Itinks he mus' be like Mass'r Linkum hisself, fer dere nebber was aman more braver and more kinder. Now I'se gwine ter tell yer whathappen all that drefful night, an' Zeb will put in his word 'boutwhat he knows. While de cap'n was a-speakin' to de young ladies,de missus jes' lay in my arms as ef she was dead. Missy Roberta,as she listen, stand straight and haughty, an' give no sign shehear, but Missy S'wanee, she bow and say, 'Tank you, sir!' Zebcalled some ob de house-servants, an' we carry de missus to herroom, an' de young ladies help me bring her to. Den I stayed widher, a-fannin' her an' a-cheerin' an' a-tellin' her dat I knewCap'n Lane wouldn't let no harm come ter dem. Now, Zeb, you seedwhat happen downstars."

  "Yes, mass'r an' ladies, I kep' my eyes out, fer I tinks my chanceis come now, if eber. Cap'n Lane soon come back an' said to deossifer in charge ob de pris'ners,--an' dere was more pris'nersbein' brought in all de time,--sez Cap'n Lane, 'De en'my won'tstand agin. I'se sent Cap'n Walling in pursuit, an' now we mus'make prep'rations fer de night.' Den a man dey call a sergeant,who'd been a spyin' roun' de kitchen, an' lookin' in de dinin'-roomwinders, come up an' say something to Cap'n Lane; an' he come upto de doah an' say he like ter see one ob de ladies. I call MissyS'wanee, an' she come, cool an' lady-like, an' not a bit afeard,an' he take off his hat to her, an' say:--

  "'Madam, I'se sorry all dis yer happen 'bout yer house, but I'secould not help it. Dere's a good many woun'ed, an' our surgeon isgwine ter treat all alike. I'se tole dat yer had coffee a-bilin'an' supper was ready. Now all I ask is, dat de woun'ed on bofesides shall have 'freshments fust, an' den ef dere's anyting lef',I'd like my ossifers to have some supper.' Den he kinder smile ashe say, 'I know you 'spected oder company dis ebenin', an' when dewoun'ed is provided fer, de ossifers on your side can hab suppertoo. I hab ordered de hospital made in de out-buildin's, an' depriv'cy ob your home shall not be 'truded on.'

  "'Cunnel,' say Missy S'wanee. 'Plain Cap'n,' he say, interrupting--'Cap'nLane.'

  "'Cap'n Lane, she goes on, 'I tanks you fer your courtesy,an 'sideration. I did not 'spect it. Your wishes shall be carriedout.' Den she says, 'I'se'll hab more supper pervided, an' we'll'spect you wid your ossifers;' for she wanted ter make fren's widhim, seein' we was all in his po'er. He says, 'No, madam, I'setake my supper wid my men. I could not be an unwelcome gues' in anyhouse, What I asks for my ossifers, I asks as a favor; I doesn'tdeman' it.' Den he bows an' goes away. Missy S'wanee, she larf--shewas allus a-larfin' no matter what happen--an' she says, 'I'se'llget eben wid him.' Well, de cap'n goes an' speaks to de cunnel,an' de oder captured ossifers ob our sogers, an' dey bow to him,an' den dey comes up an' sits on de verandy, an' Missy Roberta goesout, and dey talk in low tones, an' I couldn't hear what dey say.I was a-helpin' Missy S'wanee, an' she say to me, 'Zeb, could youeber tink dat a Yankee cap'n could be such a gemlin?' I didn't saynuffin', fer I didn't want anybody ter'spect what was in my min',but eb'ry chance I git I keep my eye on Cap'n Lane, fer I believedhe could gib us our liberty. He was aroun' 'mong de woun'ed, an'seein' ter buryin' de dead, an' postin' an' arrangin' his men;deed, an' was all ober eberywhar.

  "By dis time de ebenin' was growin' dark, de woun'ed and been caredfor, an' our ossifers an' de Linkum ossifers sat down to supper;an' dey talk an' larf as if dey was good fren's. Yer'd tink it wasa supper-party, ef dere hadn't been a strappin' big soger walkin'up an' down de verandy whar he could see in de winders. I help waitson de table, an' Missy Roberta, she was rudder still an' glum-like,but Missy S'wanee, she smiles on all alike, an' she say to deLinkum ossifers, 'I 'predate de court'sy ob your cap'n, eben do'he doesn't grace our board. I shall take de liberty, howsemeber,ob sendin' him some supper;' an' she put a san'wich an' some cakean' a cup ob coffee on a waiter an' sen' me out to him whar hewas sittin' by de fire in de edge ob de woods on de lawn. He smilean' say, 'Tell de young lady dat I drink to her health an' happiertimes.' Den I gits up my co'age an' says, 'Cap'n Lane, I wants tersee yer when my work's done in de house.' He say, 'All right, cometer me here.' Den he look at me sharp an' say, 'Can I trus' yer?'An' I say, 'Yes, Mass'r Cap'n; I'se Linkum, troo an' troo.' Den hewhisper in my ear de password, 'White-rose.'"

  Marian remembered that she had given him a white rose when he hadasked for her colors. He had made it his countersign on the eveningof his victory.

  "Arter supper our ossifers were taken down ter de oder pris'ners,an' guards walk aroun dem all night. I help clar up de tings, an'watch my chance ter steal away. At las' de house seem quiet. Itought de ladies had gone ter dere rooms, an' I put out de lightin de pantry, an' was watchin' an' waitin' an' listenin' to be sho'dat no one was 'roun, when I heared a step in de hall. De pantrydoah was on a crack, an' I peeps out, an' my bref was nigh tookaway when I sees a rebel ossifer, de one dat got away in de fight.He give a long, low whistle, an' den dere was a rustle in de hallabove, an' Missy Roberta came flyin' down de starway. I know dendat dere was mischief up, an' I listen wid all my ears. She say tohim, 'How awfully imprudent!' An' she put de light out in de hall,les' somebody see in. Den she say, 'Shell we go in de parlor?' Hesay, 'No, dere's two doahs here, each end de hall, an' a chanceter go out de winders, too. I mus' keep open ebery line ob retreat.Are dere any Yanks in de house?' She say, 'No,'--dat de Union cap'nvery 'sid'rate. 'Curse him!' sed de reb; 'he spoil my ebenin' widMiss S'wanee, but tell her I win her colors yet, an' pay dis Yankeecap'n a bigger interest in blows dan he eber had afo.' Den he'splain how he got his men togedder, an' he foun' anoder 'tachment obrebs, an' how dey would all come in de mawnin', as soon as light,an' ride right ober eberyting, an' 'lease de cunnel an' all deoder pris'ners. Den he says, 'We'se a-comin' on de creek-road. Puta dim light in de winder facin' dat way, an' as long as we see itburnin' we'll know dat all's quiet an' fav'able, an' tell MissyS'wanee to hab her colors ready. Dey tought I was one oh de Yanksin de dark, when I come in, but gettin' away'll be more tick'lish.'Den she say, 'Don't go out ob de doah. Drap from de parlor winderinter de shrub'ry, an' steal away troo de garden.' While dey wasgone ter de parlor, I step out an' up de starway mighty sudden.Den I whip aroun' to de beginnin' ob de garret starway an' listen.Soon Missy Roberta come out de parlor an' look in de pantry an' deoder rooms, an' she sof'ly call me, 'kase she know I was las' up'round de house; but I'se ain't sayin' nuffin'. Den she go in demissus room, whar my moder was, an' soon she and Missy S'wanee cameout an' whisper, an' Missy S'wanee was a-larfin' how as ef she waspleased. Den Missy S'wanee go back to de missus, an' Missy Robertago to her room.

  "Now was my chance, an' I tuck off'n my shoes an' carried dem, an'I tank de Lord I heared it all, fer I says, 'Cap'n Lane'll give memy liberty now sho' 'nuff, when I tells him all.' I'se felt sho'he'd win de fight in de mawnin', fer he seemed ob de winnin' kine.I didn't open any ob de doahs on de fust floah, but stole down inde cellar, 'kase I knowed ob a winder dat I could creep outen. Igot away from de house all right, an' went toward de fire where Ilef Cap'n Lane. Soon a gruff voice said, 'Halt!' I guv de passwordmighty sudden, an' den said, 'I want to see Cap'n Lane.' De man callanoder soger, an' he come an' question me, an' den took me ter decap'n. An' he was a-sleepin' as if his moder had rocked 'im! Buthe was on his feet de moment he spoke to. He 'membered me, an' askef de mawnin' wouldn't answer. I say, 'Mass'r Cap'n, I'se got bignews fer yer.' Den he wide awake sho' 'nuff, an' tuck me one side,an' I tole him all. 'What's yer name?' he says. 'Zeb Borden,' Ianswers. Den he say: 'Zeb, you've been a good fren'. Ef I win defight in de mawnin' you shell hab your liberty. It's yours now, efyou can get away.' I says I'se lame an' couldn't get away unlesshe took me, an' dat I wanted my moder ter go, too. Den he toughta minute, an' went back ter de fire an' tore out a little bookde paper we brought, an' he says, 'What your moder's name?' An' Isays, 'Dey call her Maumy Borden.' Den he wrote de lines we bring,an' he says: 'No tellin
' what happen in de mawnin'. Here's somemoney dat will help you 'long when you git in our lines. Dis myfust inderpendent comman', an' ef yer hadn't tole me dis I might a'los' all I gained. Be faithful, Zeb; keep yer eyes an' ears open,an' I'll take care ob yer. Now slip back, fer yer might be missed.'"

  "I got back to my lof' mighty sudden, an' I was jis' a-shakin'wid fear, for I beliebe dat Missy Roberta would a' killed me widher own hands ef she'd knowed. She was like de ole mass'r, mightyhaughty an' despit-like, when she angry. I wasn't in de lof' nonetoo soon, fer Missy Roberta was 'spicious and uneasy-like, an'she come to de head ob de gerret starway an' call my name. At fustI ain't sayin' suffin', an' she call louder. Den I say, 'Dat you,Missy Roberta?' Den she seem to tink dat I was all right. I slippedarter her down de starway an' listen, an' I know she gwine ter putde light in de winder. Den she go to her room again.

  "A long time pass, an' I hear no soun'. De house was so still datI done got afeard, knowin' dere was mischief up. Dere was a littlewinder in my lof lookin' toward de creek-road, an' on de leabesob some trees I could see a little glimmer ob de light dat MissyRoberta had put dar as a signal. Dat glimmer was jes' awful, ferI knowed it mean woun's and death to de sogers, an' liberty or noliberty fer me. Bimeby I heared steps off toward de creek-road,but dey soon die away. I watched an' waited ter'ble long time, an'de house an' all was still, 'cept de tread ob de guards. Mus' a'been about tree in de mawnin' when I heared a stir. It was veryquiet-like, an' I hear no words, but now an' den dere was a jinglelike a sabre make when a man walk. I stole down de starway an' lookouten a winder in de d'rection whar Cap'n Lane was, an' I see datde Linkum men had let all dere fires go out. It was bery dark. DenI hear Missy Roberta open her doah, an' I whip back ter my lof.She come soon an' had a mighty hard time wakin' me up, an' den shesay: 'Zeb, dere's sumpen goin' on 'mong de Yankee sogers. Listen.'I says, 'I doesn't hear nuffin'.' She says: 'Dere is; dey's a-saddlin'up, an' movin' roun'. I want you ter steal outen an' see what deyis doin', an' tell me.' I says, 'Yes, missy.' I tought de boleplan would be de bes' plan now, an' I put on my shoes an' went out.Putty soon I comes back and says to her, 'I axed a man, an' he toleme dey was changin' de guard.'--'Did de res' seem quiet?'--'Yes,missy, dey is sleepin' 'round under de trees.' She seemed greatly'lieved, an' says, 'You watch aroun' an' tell me ef dere's anynews.' I stole out again an' crep' up 'hind some bushes, an' denI sho' dat de Linkum men was a-slippin' away toward de creek-road,but de guards kep' walkin' 'roun de pris'ners, jes' de same. On asudden dere was a man right 'longside ob me, an' he say, 'Make anoise or move, an' you are dead. What are you doin' here?' I gaspout, 'White-rose, Cap'n Lane.'--'Oh, it's you,' he say, wid a lowlarf. Fo' I could speak dere come a scream, sich as I neber heared,den anoder an' anoder. 'Dey comes from de missus' room.' Den hesay, 'Run down dar an' ask de sergeant ob de guard to send treemen wid you, an' come quick!' Now moder kin tell yer what happened.I had lef de back hall doah unlocked, an' de cap'n went in like aflash."

  "De good Lor' bress Cap'n Lane," began the colored woman, "fer hecome just in time. De missus had been wakin' an' fearful-like mos'ob de night, but at las' we was all a-dozin'. I was in a char byher side, an' Missy S'wanee laid on a lounge. She hadn't undress,an' fer a long time seemed as if listenin'. At las' dere come alow knock, an' we all started up. I goes to de doah an' say, 'Who'sdar?'--'A message from Cap'n Lane,' says a low voice outside. 'Opende doah,' says Missy S'wanee; 'I'se not afeard ob him.' De momentI slip back de bolt, a big man, wid a black face, crowds in an'say, 'Not a soun', as you valley your lives: I want yer jewelryan' watches;' an' he held a pistol in his hand. At fust we toughtit was a plantation han', fer he tried ter talk like a cullud man,an' Missy S'wanee 'gan ter talk ter him; but he drew a knife an'says, 'Dis won't make no noise, an' it'll stop yer noise ef yermake any. Not a word, but gib up eberyting.' De missus was so beatout wid fear, dat she say, 'Gib him eberyting.' An' Missy S'wanee,more'n half-dead, too, began to gib dere watches an' jewels. De manput dem in his pocket, an' den he lay his hands on Missy S'wanee,to take off her ring. Den she scream, an' I flew at 'im an' triedto tear his eyes out. Missy Roberta 'gan screamin', so we knowedshe was 'tacked too. De man was strong an' rough, an' whedder hewould a' killed us or not de Lord only knows, fer jes' den de doahflew wide open, an' Cap'n Lane stood dere wid his drawn sword. Ina secon' he seed what it all meant, an' sprung in an' grabbed derobber by de neck an' jerked him outen inter de hall. Den de man'gan ter beg fer mercy, an' tole his name. It was one of Cap'nLane's own sogers. At dis moment Missy Roberta rush outen her room,cryin', 'Help! murder!' Den we heared heaby steps rushing up destarway, an' tree ob Cap'n Lane's sogers dash for'ard. As soon asMissy Roberta see de cap'n wid de light from de open doah shinin'on his face, she comes an' ask, 'What does dis outrage mean?'--'Itmean dat dis man shell be shot in de mawnin', he say, in a chokin'kind ob voice, fer he seem almost too angry to speak. Den he ask,'Were you 'tacked also?'--' Yes,' she cried, 'dere's a man in myroom.'--'Which room?' An' she pointed to de doah. De fus' robberden made a bolt ter get away, but de cap'n's men cotch 'im. 'Tiehis han's 'hind his back, an' shoot him if he tries to run agin,'said de cap'n; den he say to Missy Roberta: 'Go in your moder'sroom. Don't leave it without my permission. Ef dere is a man inyour room, he shall shar de fate ob dat villain dat I've 'spectedob bein' a tief afore.' An' he went an' looken in Missy Roberta'sroom. In a few moments he come back an' say, 'Dere was a man dar,but he 'scape troo de winder on de verandy-roof. Ef I kin discober'im he shall die too.' Den he say, grave an' sad-like: 'Ladies, dereis bad men in eb'ry army. I'se deeply mort'fied dat dis shouldhappen. You'll bar me witness dat I tried to save you from all'noyance. I know dis man,' pointin' to a soger dat stood near,'an' I'll put him in dis hall on guard. His orders are--you heardem--not to let any one come in de hall, an' not to let any oneleabe dis room. As long as yer all stay in dis room, you are safe,eben from a word.' Missy S'wanee rush for'ard an' take his han', an'say, 'Eben ef you is my en'my you'se a gallant soger an' a gemlin,an' I tanks you.' De cap'n smile an' bow, an' say, 'In overcomin'your prej'dice I'se 'chieved my bes' vict'ry.' An' he gib herback all de jewels an' watches, an' drew de doah to, an' lef us toourselves. Den we hear 'im go to a wes' room back ob de house widanoder soger, an' soon he come back alone, an' den de house allstill 'cept de eben tread ob de man outside. Missy Roberta claspher han's an' look wild. Den she whisper to Missy S'wanee, an' deyseem in great trouble. Den she go an' open de doah an' say to desoger dat she want ter go ter her room. 'You cannot, lady,' saidde soger. 'You heared my orders.'--'I'll only stay a minute,' shesay. 'You cannot pass dat doah,' said de soger. 'But I mus' an'will,' cried Missy Roberta, an' she make a rush ter get out. Desoger held her still. 'Unhan' me!' she almost screamed. He turnher 'roun' an' push her back in de room, an' den says: 'Lady, doesyou tink a soger can disobey orders? Dere ain't no use ob yourtakin' on 'bout dat light. We'se watch it all night as well asyour fren's, an' de cap'n has lef' a soger guardin' it, to keep itburnin'. Ef I should let yer go, yer couldn't put it out, an' efit had been put out any time, we'd a' lighted it agin. So dere'snuffin' fer yer to do but 'bey orders an' shut de doah. Den no onewill say a word to yer, as de cap'n said.' Den he pulled de doahto hisself.

  "Missy Roberta 'gan to wring her han's an' walk up an' down likea caged tiger, an' Missy S'wanee larf and cry togedder as shesay, 'Cap'n Lane too bright fer us.'--'No,' cries Missy Roberta,'somebody's 'trayed me, an' I could strike a knife inter dereheart fer doin' it. O S'wanee, S'wanee, our fren's is walkin' rightinter a trap.' Den she run to de winder an' open it ter see ef shecouldn't git down, an' dere in de garden was a soger, a-walkin'up an' down a-watchin'. 'We jes' can't do nuffin',' she said, an'she 'gan to sob an' go 'sterical-like. Missy S'wanee tole de missus,an' she wrung her han's an' cry, too; an' Missy S'wanee, she wasa-larfin' an' a-cryin', an' a-prayin' all ter once. Suddenly derewas a shot off toward de creek-road, an' den we was bery still.Now. Zeb, you know de res'!"

  CHAPTER XXIX.

  MARIAN CONTRASTS LANE AND MERWYN.