Rosebrook had no sooner received Annette's letter from the hand of
Pompe than he repaired to Blowers' plantation-as well to sound that
gentleman's disposition to sell his captives, as a necessary
precaution against the dangers he had incurred through his
participation in the fair girl's escape; for albeit the disclosure
might be extorted from her by cruelty. But Blowers was too much of a
gentleman to condescend to sell his captive; nor would he listen to
arguments in her behalf. Nevertheless, we will not underrate
Blowers' character, that the reader may suppose him devoid of
compassion; for-be it recorded to his fame-he did, on the morning
following that on which the punishment we have described in the
foregoing chapter took place, send the child, whose long and
piercing cries he could no longer endure, to the arms of its poor
disconsolate mother, whom he hoped would take good care of it.
Now, let not the reader restrain his fancy, but imagine, if he can,
Pringle Blowers' disappointment and state of perturbation, when,
three days after the punishment, he presented himself at Broadman's
establishment, and was informed by that functionary that the fair
mother was non est. With honest face did Broadman assert his
ignorance of wrong. That he had not betrayed his duty he would
satisfy the enraged man, by producing the very order on which he
delivered them to Joe! "Yes, Joe was his name!" continues the honest
man; "and he asserted his ownership, and told a straightforward
story, and didn't look roguish.
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