The Wife of his Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line, and Selected Essays

rn institutions was sedulously maintained. But there were negro waiters in the dining-room, and mulatto bell-boys, and Dick had no doubt that Grandison, with the native gregar

, on the other hand, he should merely give Grandison sufficient latitude, he had no doubt he would eventually lose him. For while not exactly skeptical about Grandison's perfervid loyalty, Dick had been a somewhat keen observer of human nature, in his own indolent way, and based his expectations upon the force of the example

face and clear blue eyes made him proof against the blandishments of the one sex and the persuasions of the other. Meanwhile he kept Grandison supplied with pocket-money, and left him mainly to his own devices. Every night when Dick came in he hoped he might have to wait upon himself, and every morning he looked forward with pleasure to the prospect of ma

et, "this is the chance of your life to go around among your

t f'm de niggers down ou' way. Dey 'lows dey 're free, but dey ain' got sense 'nuff te

on to Boston, where he thought the atmosphere might prove more favorable to his ends. After he had been

dresses of several well-known abolitionists, he

end and

people of Boston by bringing his slave into their midst. Shall this be tolerated? Or shall steps be tak

d of Hu

had scarcely left the hotel when a long-haired, sharp-featured man came out behind him, followed him, soon overtook him, and kept along beside him until they turned the next corner. Dick's hopes were roused by this spectacle, but sa

ent him on further errands from day to day, and upon one occasion came squarely up to him-inadvertently of course-while Grandison was engaged in conversation with a young white man

t dey riles me so sometimes dat I 'm feared I 'll hit some of 'em some er dese days, an' dat mought git me inter trouble. I ain' said nuffin' ter y

a secret vow that if he were unable to get rid of Grandison without assassinating him, and were therefore compelled to take him back to Kentucky, he would see that

ars in this drawer and give you the key. If you need any of it, use it and enjoy yourself,-spend it all if you like,-for this is

oyed. His vexation was increased by the fact that he could not express his feelings adequately. He did not even scold Grandison; how could he,

er medal, made out of his own hide tanned. I reckon I 'll write

hink," the colonel observed to one of his friends, "that Dick ought to have the nigger intervi

f she knew how hard he was working, and under what difficulties, to accomplish something serious

Of course he might run away himself, and abandon Grandison, but this would be merely to leave him in the United States, where he was still a slave, and where, with his notions of loyalty

I have it! I 'll visit Niagara Falls on the way home, and lose him on the Canada si

hey found themselves at Niagara. Dick walked and drove about the Falls for several days, taking Grandison along with

voice above the roar of the catara

Mars Dick; dat

from their masters. If you wished, Grandison, you might walk away from me

ooked aroun

I 'll lose you ovuh heah, an' den I won' hab no marst

et hopeless, Dick said

o the inn over yonder. You stay here until

ned wide and he look

blasted abolitioners r

ing there might be. "But I 'm not afraid of your running

in the distance. For a while he hoped that the seed he had sown might have fallen on fertile ground, and that Grandison, relieved from the restraining power of a master's eye, and finding himself in a free country, might get up and walk away; but the hope was vain, for Grandison remai

d at her; and as she was young and pretty and remained in attendance, it was some minu

sgust, as he approached the spot where he had left Grandison, the familiar form of his servant stretched out on the ground, his face to the sun, his mou

you; and I certainly am not worthy of Charity Lomax, if I am not smart enough to get rid of you. I have an idea! You shall yet be free, and I will be the instrument of your delivera

ay, apparently engaged in earnest conversation with a colored man employed as hostler for the inn. She thought she saw something pass from the white man to the other, but at that moment her duties called her away