CHAPTER II.
THE NEGRO SALE.
As might have been expected, the day of sale brought an usually large number together to compete for the property to be sold.

Farmers, who make a business of raising slaves for the market, were there, and slave-traders, who make a business of buying human beings in the slave-raising States and taking them to the far South, were also in attendance.

Men and women, too, who wished to purchase for their own use, had found their way to the slave sale.
In the midst of the throne was one who felt a deeper interest in the result of the sale than any other of the bystanders.

This was young Linwood.

True to his promise, he was there with a blank bank-check in his pocket, awaiting with impatience to enter the list as a bidder for the beautiful slave.
It was indeed a heart-rending scene to witness the lamentations of these slaves, all of whom had grown up together on the old homestead of Mr.Graves, and who had been treated with great kindness by that gentleman, during his life.