"Democracy, boast not
of thy privileges! tell no man thou governest with equal justice!"
said the stranger to himself, as the gas-light shed its flickers
upon this military array formed to suppress liberty.
They have reached the outskirts of the city, and are approaching a
pretty villa, which the negro, who has been explaining the nature
and duties of this formidable display of citizen soldiery, points
to, as the peaceful home of the Rosebrook family. Brighter and
brighter, as they approach, glares the bright light of a window in
the north front. "I wish Mas'r Rosebrook owned me," says the negro,
stopping at the garden gate, and viewing the pretty enclosure ere he
opens it. "If ebery mas'r and missus war as kind as da'h is, dar
wouldn't be no need o' dem guard-houses and dem guardmen wid dar
savage steel," he continues, opening the gate gently, and motioning
the stranger to walk in. Noiselessly he advances up the brick walk
to the hall entrance, and rings the bell. A well-dressed negro man
soon makes his appearance, receives him politely, as the guide
retires, and ushers him into a sumptuously furnished parlour. The
Rosebrook negroes quickly recognise a gentleman, and detecting it in
the bearing of the stranger they treat him as such. Mrs. Rosebrook,
followed by her husband, soon makes her appearance, saluting the
stranger with her usual suavity. "I have come, madam," he says, "on
a strange mission. With you I make no secret of it; should I be
successful it will remove the grief and anxiety of one who has for
years mourned the fate of her on whom all her affections seem to
have centred.
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