Roxy Hastings — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS. . 71 you will not be wrong, but at present you will excuse me from particulars regarding the change in my circumstances. 3 _ ‘Let it suffice that there is no way in which I could dispense more will- ingly of my means than for your welfare.” What remained of the epistle was made up of items of domestic news, and Alfred, after having perused it hastily 4 the end, stood for a few moments seemingly lost in re- ection. - Then turning to Luke, who was looking on in silence, he said, in a low voice: ‘What would you do, Luke, to earn half that money ?” “Half dat ar? Any ting in de world—dat was honest, Massa Lee.” “Would you help me out of this prison, and out of Rich- mond—if you could secretly ?” | “Yes, sah; I would. I’d be glad to help you if I could.” **Come ‘and see me day after to-morrow, and in the meantime think it over, and so will I. You shall be a rich man if you can doit. In the meantime take these.” Lee offered him two of the pieces. **l been paid,” said Luke, drawing back. ‘‘No matter, take these, and come and see me day after to-morrow. Ill see that you get in.” The negro went of in a delirium of joy, leaving the young lieutenant scarcely less excited. It is scarcely necessary to say that Alfred’s roommates had a great feast that night, and another the next day. The young man spent his money freely for the general weal, though without disclosing the amount of his great windfall. Louis Hartley now began to improve under a generous diet, and all were delighted to see the color return to his cheeks, and the light to his eye, and to hear some accus- tomed sally of wit issue from his yet pallid lips. But while our little band of prisoners were felicitating themselves on their improved condition a new cause of anxiety arose among them. One of their warders brought them a rumor that General Halleck, in the department of the Mississippi, had arrested as a spy a Confederate officer who had been decoyed into the Union lines, while on a re- connoissance, and that President Davis had resolved to retaliate upon one of the Federal officers in his hands if the prisoner should be put to death. ‘He was only a lieutenant,” said the man, “‘and to-mor- rer they’re goin’ to draw one’ o’ you by lot, and hang him jes as soon as they hear that t’other man is hung,” - Comichboo gs) (eo)