[The Trials of the Soldier’s Wife by Alex St. Clair Abrams]@TWC D-Link book
The Trials of the Soldier’s Wife

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIFTH
3/8

I don't beliebe a word ob it." "I don't beliebe neider," replied the old woman, "but for all dat, dey did carry her to prison because dey say she steal money." "My poh mistis," remarked Elsy, bursting into tears, "I knowed dat some bad ting would happen to her--and I was in town so long and neber eben sawed her." "Poh lady," observed the old negro, "she look bery bad and sorrowful like, aldough she didn't cry when de chile die; but she tan up by de bedside and look 'pon de dead face widout sayin' a word--it made me feel bad to see her." "I must tell my master," said Elsy, "so dat he can go and take her out ob prison.

It am a shame dat a lady like dat should be locked up in a prison, and Mr.Wentworth will soon take her out." "You better not say anyting to your master about it, yet," observed the old woman.

"See de Doctor and tell him; he will know what to do, and den he can tell de gemman all about it a'terwards." "But you certain it am my mistis ?" said Elsy.
"I ain't quite sure ob dat," she answered, "for de name sound different to de one I heard, and dats de reason I don't want you to say noting 'bout it till de Doctor enquire into de matter and find out.

I must go now, gal," she added, "don't forget to tell de Doctor all 'bout it when he come home." "I won't," replied Elsy.
The old woman then left the house and returned to her cabin, where she found the little boy amusing himself on the floor with some marbles.
Dr.Humphries, accompanied by Harry, returned home at the usual hour.
After dinner Elsy requested him to speak to her for a few minutes--a request which he promptly complied with.
"Well, my good, girl, what do you wish with me ?" he enquired.
"Oh! sir," she replied, "I hab found out whar my mistis is." "You have," answered Dr.Humphries, rather astonished at the intelligence, "where is she ?" he added.
"In prison, sah," she replied.
"In prison!" exclaimed the Doctor, "for what ?" "I don'no, sah," she replied, "but I hear it is for stealing." "Who gave you the information ?" asked Dr.Humphries.
"It was your ole slave what libs in de cabin, up town," answered Elsy.
"And how did she learn anything about Mrs.Wentworth ?" enquired Dr.
Humphries.
"My Mistis went dere wid her chil'en, sah, and her little daughter died in de ole woman's cabin." "Good God!" exclaimed the Doctor, "and how was it that I have heard nothing about it until now ?" "It only was a few days ago," replied Elsy, "and Auntie come here ebery day, but you and Miss Emma was not at home ebery time, and she only tole me about it dis mornin." "Are you certain that the woman who has been carried to jail is your Mistress ?" asked Dr.Humphries.
"No sah," she answered, "Auntie say dat de name am different, but dat de name ob de leetle gal am de same." "And the little boy you say has been under the care of the old woman ever since," remarked Dr.Humphries.
"Yes sah," Elsy replied, "but she want you to take him away from her, so dat he may be under a white pusson, and das de reason why she been here wantin' to see you bout it." "Very well," said.

Dr.Humphries, "I will attend to it this evening; in the meantime do you remain here and go with me to the cabin and see if the child is your Mistress'." Elsy curtsied as she enquired, "Shall I tell my Master 'bout dis, sah ?" "No, no," replied the Doctor, "he must know nothing about it until I have arranged everything for his wife and removed her from prison.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books