If you will but read this it will save the further
recital of my mission." Thus saying, he drew a letter from his
pocket, presented it, and watched her countenance as line by line
she read it, and, with tears glistening in her eyes, passed it to
her husband.
"I am, good sir, heartily glad your mission is thus laudable. Be at
home, and while you are in the city let our home be yours. Franconia
is here with us to-night; the child you search after is also with
us, and it was but to-day we learned the cruelties to which she has
been subjected during the last few years. Indeed, her fate had been
kept concealed from us until a few weeks ago, and to-day, having
escaped the brutal designs of a ruffian, she fled to us for
protection, and is now concealed under our roof-"
"Yes, poor wretch-it is too true!" rejoins Rosebrook. "But something
must be done as quickly as possible, for if Pringle Blowers regains
her she will be subjected to tortures her frame is too delicate to
bear up under. There must be no time lost, not a day!" he says, as
Mrs. Rosebrook quickly leaves the room to convey the news to
Franconia, who, with Annette, is in an adjoining apartment.
Like a hunted deer, Annette's fears were excited on hearing the
stranger enter; Franconia is endeavoring to quiet them. The poor
slave fears the ruffian's pursuit, trembles at each foot-fall upon
the door-sill, and piteously turns to her old friend for protection.
Blowers, maddened with disappointment, would rather sacrifice her to
infamy than sell her for money to a good master.
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