At the Mercy of Tiberius

arters, in that which common parlance denominated the "back-

ommensurate, were none the less invaluable, to the proud recipient. The floor was covered by a faded carpet, once the pride of the great drawing-room, but the velvet pile had disappeared beneath t

handles and tall brass feet representing cat claws, stood in one corner; and across the top was stretched a rusty purple velvet strip, bordere

in the centre by the talons of a gilt spread-eagle. So tall was the bed, that three steps were required to ascend it, and the space thus left between the mahogany and the floor, was hidden by a valance of white dim

prototype of macrame and Arrasene lambrequins), would have filled with coveto

since disappeared, peeped coquettishly through the engraved crystal of a tall candle shade at the bloated features of a mandarin, on a tea-pot with a cracked spout-that some Darrington, stung by the gad-fly of travel, had brought to the homestead from Nanking. A rich blu

es; some engraved, many colored, and ranging in comprehensiveness of designs, from Bible scenes cut fro

trivet provided with lizard feet that threatened to crawl away, rested a copper kettle bereft of its top, once the idol of three generations of Darringtons, to whom it had liberally dispensed "hot water tea," i

y gazing up at an engraved portrait of "Our First President," suspended on the wall. It was appropriately framed in black, and where the co

lico dress, donned as mourning for her master, was relieved by a white apron tied about the ample waist; a snowy handkerchief was crossed over the vast bosom, and a checked white and black turban skilfully wound in intricate folds around her gray head, terminated in a peculiar knot, which was the pride of her toilet. A beau

n; you know I

than eat pound cake. Supposin' yo

ound you and me; but we won't turn out

rline smells a mouse? Don't talk pa

s to me, if she only went on four legs 'sted

danzer! How di

was hiding something else; that I picked up something on the floor and hid it in my bosom, after the crowner's inquess. Sez I: 'Well, Miss Angerline, you had better sarch me and be done with it, if you are the judge, and the jury, and the crowner, and the law, and have got the job to run this case.' Sez she, a-squinting them venomous eyes of her'n, till they looked like knitting needles red hot: 'I leave the sarching to be d

of her pipe, and stood like a dus

you 'screshun! and I might as well 'a wasted my time picking a banjo for a dead jackass tu dance by; for you have got no more 'screshun t

eir diction, and they usually abstained from plantation dialect; but when embarrass

screech owull! Bedne

ing the contents-thimble, thread, two "scalybarks," and some "ground peas" over the floor. Then stooping, s

ve bizness consarning that bunch of horgs and cattle, I am raising on shares in the 'Bend' plantati

ng gesture, and l

-washer at that sarching, for the appintment is at

yarn sock, and began to knit unconcernedly; but

't be pestered about mine. I'll

g needles, and began to chant: "Who will

icture of perplexity, stood filling his pipe, when the bolt was turned, an

all by yourselves? I hallooed at the gate till your dog threate

to shake hands with you in my cabin. Lem'me take off your overcoat, sir, and g

atter settled before I get back to town to my office. Thank you, Dyce, t

his hat, and held his gl

chief you found in your master's ro

I done tole everything I kno

something was found aft

ou have knowed me ever since you

have been valuables. Now it is my duty, as District Solicitor, to discover and prosecute the person who killed your master, and you ought to render me every possi

d, Marse

xe of jestice hits, there is no telling whar the chips will fly; it's wuss than hull-gull, or pitching heads and tails. You are a lie-yer, Marse Alfred, and you know how it is yourself; and I beg your pardon, sir, for slighting the perfession; but when I was a little gal, I got my scare of lie-yers, and it has stuck to me like a kuckleburrow. One Christmas eve jest before ole Marster got married, he had a egg-nog party; and a lot of gentlemen was standing 'round the table in the dining-room. One of 'em was ole Mr. Dunbar, Marse Lennox' father, and he axed ole Marster if he had saved that game rooster for him, as he promised, Marster told him he was very sorry, but some rogue had done gone and burnt some sulphur the week before in his henhouse, and bagged that 'dentical rooster. Presently Mr. Dunbar axed if Marster would let him have one of the blue hen's roosters, if he would catch the rogue for him before midnight. Of course Marster said he would. Mr. Dunbar (Marse Lennox' pa), he was practicing law then, had a pot full of smut on the bottom, turned upside down on the dining-room flo', and he and Marster went out to the hen-'ouse and got a dominicker rooster and shoved him under the pot. Then they rung the bell, and called every darkey on the place into the dining-room, and made us stand in a line. I was a little gal th

f my profession has forced you to such a sensi

alf-filled pipe slipping from his fingers; and he stared at his

being cantankerous. If yo

d to unfold the contents. The outside covering was a richly embroidered Canton crape shawl, originally white, now yellow as old ivory; but when this was unwrapped, there appeared only an ordinary sized brown gourd, with a long and singularly curved handle, as crooked as a ram's horn. Bending one of her knitting needles into a hook, Dyce deftly inserted it in the neck, where it joined the bowl, and after manoeuvring a few seconds, laid down the needle, and with the aid of her thumb and forefinger slowly drew out a long roll, tightly wrapped with thr

ut mebbe you don't know what this is, that

nee, and held up the small gray furry

the lining of my coat skirt. But, Dyce, that rabbit's foot was not worth a button; for the very first battle I was in, a cannon ball killed my horse under me, and carried away my coat tail-rabbit's foot and all. Don't pi

me that same blue hankcher, and he said he found it. I wasn't with him when he found it, but I hardly think he wou

and her lips closed like

e the real article you found, I shall be obliged to send you to jail, and try you for the murder. How do I know that you and Bedney are not the guilty parties, instead of General Darrington's granddaughter? This soiled

shun. If Marse Alfred wants to set the red-eyed hounds

and, whose lower jaw had suddenly fallen, while his eyelid

e minutes

k out his watch,

Marse Al

planned. Only three minutes more. There is a constable

and let Marse Alfred see the s

nter out of these comfortable quarters, and let you try how soft the beds are, at the 'State boardin

a snap, and rose as he r

ld Marster's regiment captured at the battle of Manassas. I gin it to my wife as a screw-veneer o' the war and she have treasured it accordin'. You are a married man yourself, Marse Alfred, and you are obleedged to know that wedlock is such a tight partnership, that it is an awfully resky thing for a man to so much as bat his eyes, or squint 'em, toward the west, when the wife of his bosom has set her'n to the east. I have always 'lowed Dyce her head, 'pecially in jokes like that o

ing your own canoe, means

Lincoln, took it carefully down from the hook. With the blade of his pocket-knife, he loosened some tacks which secured the thin pine slats at the

f this here portrait, between the pasteboard and the brown p

and bent over like the Tower of Pisa, and Mr. Churchill saw that in his u

ce I tuck you for better for wurser, mostly wurser. I want that hank'cher, and you'd better believe-I want it quick. I found it, and I'm gwine to give it up; and you have got no right to jeppardy my life, if you are

I would chaw my tongue into sassage meat. That's the diffunce between a palavering man full of 'screshun, and a 'oman who means what she says; and will stand by her word, if it rains fire and brimstone. Betrayin' and denying the innercent, has been men's work, ever since the time of Judas and Peter. Now, Marse Alfred, Bedney did tack the hank'che

ches which held it securely. When she had ripped the thread about a quarter of a yard, she rai

aned close to the fire, and carefully examined it. As he held it up

o my office by nine o'clock to-morrow, as the Grand Jury may ask you some questions. Good bye, Dyce, shake hands; for I honor your loya

earnest pleadings, his vehement expostulations, or his fierce threats of summary vengeance. The remainder of that night was spent by Pilot and his irate master in the great hay bin of the "Elm Bluff" stables. When the sun rose next morning, Bedney rushed wrathful as Achilles,

f the small room adjoining her own bedchamber, to

t the barred window, and d

u for a few moments. She says she is an o

he door, the prisoner put out o

on and his friends; and I will see nobody connected

here, says she nursed your mother, a

he warden's wife, into the room, and almost before

iss Ellie'

lling on her knees hid her face in Beryl's dress, sobbing passionately. In the violence of her emotion

eautiful white deer! tracked and tore to pieces by wolves, and hounds, and jackalls! Oh, honey! Just look straight at me, like you was facing yo

reaming down

you think it possible her chil

ney, you are half and half; and while I am perfectly shore of Miss Ellie's half of you, 'cause I can

er was a lady; and I would rather be hi

many a time, 'cause she thought her Mammy's vittils was sweeter than what Mistiss 'lowed her to have; and she have slept in my bosom, and these arms have carried her, and hugged her, and-and-oh, Lord God A'mighty! it most kill

ed head, and bending it back, so as to lo

any more innocent of crime then, than I am to-day. I had no more to do with t

my dear young Mistiss' child in this beasts' cage. I can't help thinking of that poor beautiful white deer, what Marster found c

her face with her white apr

dney, who saved my mother's

de, and much is spun out of little, on theirn. They are more cunning than foxes, and bloodthirstier than panters, and they no more git tired than the spiders, that spin and piece a web as fast as you break it. Three nights ago, I got down on my knees, and I kissed a little pink morocco slipper wh

t my peace a

you didn't drap

I wrapped it around some chrysant

nated sinner, Miss Angeline, kept sarching and eavesdrapping, and set the lie-yers on the scent, and they have 'strained Bedney on peril of jailing him, to perduce it. When it got into their cla

re is one, the other two lie yonder. But that handkerchief is worth everything; because it must belo

Jury is set

he door; finding it ajar, closed it, then stole back.

ose a slee

id not w

as drapped by the pusson who killed him. I was so afeared it might belonk to you, that I have been on the anxious seat ever since I found it; and I concluded the safest way was to bring it here to you. I am scared to keep it at home, 'cause them yelping wolves as wears the sheepskins of Justice, are on m

olorless cement. Beckoning Beryl to follow, Dyce went closer to the window, and with the aid of her teeth drew out the stem. Into her palm rolled a circular button of some opaque reddish-b

hed it, stared at it. Then the Gorgon head slipped through her fingers, she threw herself against the window, shook

-Mother! You are na