A Romance of the Republic

began to form plans for future support. Her inexperienced mind foresaw few of the difficulties involved in the career her friends had suggested. She merely e

dery, hour after hour, without even looking up to answer the noisy challenges of the parrot. Sometimes the sisters, while they worked, sang together the hymns t

young ladies," said he. "A week before my best friend died, a Frenchwoman came to the store, and wished to sell some fancy-baskets. She said she was a poor widow; and Mr. Royal, who was always kind and generous, c

id for?" inq

lars. I want you to use them for the young ladies without their knowledge; and I should like to remit to you half my wages every month for the same purpose. When Mr. Royal was closing busine

shoulder. "I will borrow the fifty dollars; but I t

more for the daughters of my best friend and benefactor, who did so much for me when I was a poor, destitute boy. But would it be

ought to herself, "What is he but

ge he wished to deliver to them personally, Rosa said, "Pleas

trepidation. He had planned a very nice little speech to make; but before he had stammered out all the story about the baskets, he saw an expression in Flora'

quilled apple-green satin. Around the outside of one was the name of Rosabella embroidered in flowers, and an embroidered garland of roses formed the handle. The other bore the

poor woman, and so thoughtful to please u

baskets," said Floracita. "You know Mamita often calle

e dead, they inspired a consoling consciousness of his presence; and their

. If any one had seen them without hearing their conversation, he would certa

king his hair; while the Frenchwoman ever and anon

eir emotions had somewh

some mistake about this

r have left thin

ut with his pistol; but when I told him I had left mine at home, he said I must settle with him some other time, unless I chose to make an apology. I told him I would do so whenever I was convinced that his statement was true. I was never more surprised than when he told me that Madame Royal was a slave. I knew she was a quadroon, and I supposed she was a placés, as so many of the quadroons are. But now it seems that Mr. Royal bought her of her

emence of her agitation, exclaiming, "

rtines, like that Mr. Bruteman-Pah! I can't endure to think of it. How like a satyr he looked while he was talking to me about their being slaves. It seems he got sight of them when they took an inventory of the furniture. And that handsome little witch, Floracita, whom he

resist, you will get yourself into trouble without doing the girls any good. I'

Italian. "Why, they'd no more know how

ey must be got out of this house before another day

a brave heart, Madame," said he. "I should rather march

read of the task before her; but she brave

ceeded to the apartment assigned to the orphans. They were occupied with a piece of embroidery she had promised to sell for them. She looked at the work, prai

looking up, said, "What t

"and you have had such a storm beating on your

d Rosa, "if the good God had no

rust you will try to keep up brave h

Rosa, "unless you should be taken from us, as our father was.

hings than having me

and was looking earnestly at the troubled countenance of their fri

t to scream or faint, and will try to keep your wits co

d to hear what she had to communicate. "My dear children," said she, "I have heard something that

tly. "Whose slave could she be, when she was Papasito'

young, my dear; but I know very well that

ith her own father till

then could she

rouble about money, my

" exclaimed Rosa. "How incredible! Dear fr

ngs, my child,-stranger than anyt

," said Flora, "I don't think Mam

ose she ever thought of it; but a g

" they both

n't know that, by the laws of Louisiana, 'the child follows the condition of the mother.' The

trembled violently. But she held her head erect, and her look and tone

r in a bewildered way. Nature had written mirthfulness in the shape of her beaut

ons that choked her utterance. Having conquered in the struggle, she turned toward them, and said, almost cheerfully: "There's no need of dying, my ch

ingly: "Couldn't you write to Mr. Fitzgerald, and

ask him to come? I wouldn't do such a thing if we were as rich and ha

cane! But we must go to work in a hurry, my children. Signor Papanti has promised to send the disguises, and we must select and pac

s," said Flora. "I

e shall have no further trouble. But if we had a negro with us, it would lead to questions, perhaps. Besides, we haven't time to disguise her an

o when we get to th

me to see us a year ago? His father was papa's best friend, you know; and when he went a

gleam of light. I heard your father say

ount of her health," replied Rosa. "Besides, if he were at home, it would be very disagreeabl

im our story, and ask him about Mr. King. I did think of stopping awhile with relatives in New York. But it would be inconvenient for them, and they might not like it. This plan pleases me better. To Boston we will go. The Signor has gone to ask my cousin, Mr. Duroy, to come here and see to th

s, as they said: "How kind you are to us, dea

to me," replied Madame; "and now their child

hought of, beside the necessary packing for the journey. The girls tried their best to help her, but

possibly do without. Bless my soul, there goes the bell! What if it should be one of those dr

was no occasion for being so frightened, but I am getting nervous wit

acita, and I will come directly, as soon as I ha

and orange-buds, the other of orange-blossoms and fragrant geraniums; saying

one whose nature was so childlike and playful; but the recent knowledge that she was a slave had made her, for the f

juvenile face made her attempt at majesty somewhat comic, it was quite sufficient to intimidate the bashful youth; and he answered, very

smiles, and a quick little courtesy, she said: "Do you think it's

e said everything so sweetly! Do you remember she used to call me Florimond when I was a little boy, becaus

ou Florimond, just as

sa, who thanked him graciously for her portion of the flowers, and told him her f

warm feeling at his heart, thinking Floracita a prettier name

r elapsed without their seeing or hearing anything of Madame; and they began to be extremely anxious lest someth

he was wont to do when buried in profound thought. He rose as they entered, and Rosa said, with one of her sweetest smiles, "What is it you wish, dear frie

latent hope put maidenly reserve to flight, and Rosa dropp

on her forehead, said: "Save you, my precious R

clinging to him, and hid

itors are not aware of my acquaintance with you, and I have assumed this disguise to prevent them from discovering it. The Signor has had a talk with Tulee, and told her to keep very quiet, and not tell any mortal that she ever saw me at your father's house. A passage for you and Madame is engaged on board a vessel bound to Nassau, which will sail at midnight. Soon, after I leave this house, Madame's cousin, Mr. Duroy, will come with two boys. You and Madame will assume their dresses, and they will put on some clothes the Signor has already sen

!" exclaimed Rosa. "But can't we contri

cannot go with you to Nassau; because, if I do, the creditors may suspect my participation in the plot. I shall stay in New Orleans a week or ten days, then return to Savannah, and take an early oppo

ered, as she said, "I thank you, Gerald, for all this tho

aimed he. "Where

ready to take us to Boston, you

e?" said he reproachfull

blushed deeply as she added-"but I promised my father that I woul

. Everything is arranged, and there is no time to lose. If you knew all tha

he deepest distress,-"I cannot go with you, for I

e said: "It shall be just as you wish, darling. I will bring a clergym

ation upon you, Gerald. It seems wrong to take advantage of your generous forgetfulness of yo

replied; "and as for the rest, no circ

cceed, how ashamed you would fe

if it should not, you shall never be

proud Gonsalez tone, striving to

happiness that I cannot be careful of my words. I merely meant to e

"Petit blanc, mon bon fr?re!" but she stopped at the first line, for she recollected how her father had checked her in the midst of that frisky little song; and now that she knew they were octoroons, she partly comprehended why it had been disagreeable to him. But the gayety that died out of her voice passed into her steps. She went hopping and jumping up to Mada

thing," rejoined Madame. "But

a's answers to a few

in sight of the outer

ute directions concerni

appearance, again di

to prevent our getting off safely. Rosabella has so much Spanish pride, I

low my beautiful rose to be trampled by swine. If we fail, I will buy them if it costs half my

t them like wax flowers under a glass cover. They are as t

ling by her side, pouring forth her girlish congratulations. Madame came in, saying, in her ch

up. "How noble and kind Mr. Fitzgerald is, to wis

you are a little better, and that seemed unnecessary. But you mu

oracita. "Couldn't we go into Papasito's garden one little minute, and take

bout. Mr. Fitzgerald charged me not to let you go out of doors. But yo

their once happy home. "How many times we have walked in that little grove, h

hing has changed! We don't hear Mamita's Spanish and papa's English any more. We have nobody

ponded Rosa. "If such good friends hadn't been raised up

Duroy and the boys have come. We must ch

ughed outright. But she checked herself immediately, saying: "I am a wicked little wretch to laugh, for you and your f

aps, give them a hint that one of your father's old friends invited you to c

"what a talent you have for arr

forced one. The pulses of her heart were throbbing with anxiety and fear; and they all bega

as she put her hand on the latch of the door. "Go out n

eize them. But all was still, save the sound of voices in the distance. When they came in sight of t

Their disguises were quickly exchanged for dresses from their carpet-bags, which had been conveyed out in Madame's boxes, and smuggled into the carriage by their invisible protector. Flora, who was intent upon having things seem a little like a wedding, made a garland of ora