One
night's trabel an' dey'd sen' us on ter Washin'on. Onst yer git
dar, an' hab all de jules an' dresses dat I gib yer, dar's not a
culled gemmen dereaway but 'ud bow down ter yer."
Here was a dazzling vista that Suky could not resist. Her ideas of
freedom, like those of Jeff, were not very exalted. At that
period, slave property in the vicinity of the Union lines was fast
melting away; and scarcely a night elapsed but some one was
missing, the more adventurous and intelligent escaping first, and
others following as opportunity and motive pointed the way. The
region under consideration had not yet been occupied by the
Federals, and there was still no slight risk involved in flight.
Suky did not realize the magnitude of the project. She was not the
first of her sex to be persuaded by a cavalier and promised gold
to take a leap into the dark.
As a result of Jeff's representations the "'liance" was made there
and then, secrecy promised, and an escape to Washington agreed
upon as soon as circumstances permitted--Suky's mind, I regret to
say, dwelling more on "gemmen bowing down" to her than on the
devotion of the allied suitor.
Pages:
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498