| Share page |
|
LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY 77 |
||
|
|
||
|
feet, —while blood marked every step ; but she saw nothing, felt nothing, till dimly, as in a dream, she saw the Ohio side, and a man helping her up the bank.
" Yer a brave gal, now, whoever ye ar ! " said the man, with an oath.
Eliza recognized the voice and face of a man who owned a farm not far from her old home.
" Oh, Mr. Symines ! — save me, — do save me, — do hide me ! " said Eliza.
" Why, what's this ? " said the man. " Why, if 't an't Shelby's gal! "
" My child ! — this boy ! — he 'd sold him! There is his Mas'r," said she, pointing to the Kentucky shore. " Oh, Mr. Symmes, you 've got a little boy! "
" So I have," said the man, as he roughly, but kindly, drew her up the steep bank. " Besides, you 're a right brave gal. I like grit, wherever I see it."
When they had gained the top of the bank, the man paused. " I 'd be glad to do something for ye," said he ; 4t but then there 's nowhar I could take ye. The best I can do is to tell ye to go thar," said he, pointing to a large white house which stood by itself, off the main street of the village. " Go thar ; they 're kind folks. Thar 's no kind o' danger but they '11 help you, — they 're up to all that sort o' thing."
'* The Lord bless you ! " said Eliza, earnestly.
" No 'casion, no 'casion in the world," said the man. " What I 've done 's of no 'count."
" And oh, surely, sir, you won't tell any one ! '
" Go to thunder, gal! What do you take a feller for ? In course not," said the man. " Come, now, go along like a likely, sensible gal, as you are. You 've arnt your liberty, and you shall have it, for all me."
The woman folded her child to her bosom, and walked firmly and swiftly away. The man stood and looked after her.
" Shelby, now, mebbe won't think this yer the most |
||