Roxy Hastings — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ROXY HASTINGS. 91 Luke came with his inevitable basket at about half-past nine o’clock, and was readily admitted, even without the usual inspection of his load, about which, however, there was nothing contraband. | “Bad news this morning, Uncle Luke,” said the jailer, with a half smile. “Yes; I heered it outside, Mr. Hess. It’s awful, sah. _ Ise goin’ to see if the young man won’t have a minister.” “Oh, of course he will. They always do that. But it won’t be one of your kind, Uncle Luke. Nota methody.” - “I don’t know dat, sah. Some his relations is Metho- dists, sah, and he tinks a good deal ob ’em.” Luke went in, and as soon as the key was turned upon him he dropped his basket, and with trembling hands raised, he said : “ He’s all ready, Massa Lee, over to my house; he’s been waiting dar all night, and tought he would have to wait a day or two yet; but he’s all ready.” | “What kind of aman? and what’s his name ?” “His real name is Allen, sah; but the Rev. Mr. Brown now, of de Weldon circuit, who come to change with Mr. Jenks next Sunday; but Mr. Jenks not gone yet.” Alfred laughed. *Dat’s wot he told me to say, sah, if de jailer axed about him, when he come.” “Well, is he up to trap ?” Lee had a faculty of suiting his language to his com- pany. “Yes, sah. He de smartest fellah. I knowed him ten years, sah. Used to be a lawyer, and would been a Con- gressman, or somepin’, ony he drinks, sah.” “Drinks ?” “Yes, but he’s sober as a judge now, and will be till dis is over. He was strong Union man when de war fust begun, but he dusn’t peep now, ony he told me he’d help you, sah, more for your own sake dan for de money. He did, sah, and I most believe him.” “How much did you promise him ?” “Five hundred dollars, if you got off, and one hundred anyway. And he says if he gits de big pile he gwine to leave off drinkin’, and go inter business.” “All right. And now what have you brought?” | “I brought some little tings in de basket, jis’ for show, sah ; dere’s a pie Dinah sent you, and some cakes. Den I _ brought dis black soft hat, zactly like his, and dese shoes, — JOO CS (E(o) EOMIIG