A Daughter of Maryland — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. 55 Her eyes were guided by a sound at the opposite side, and she discovered a man hanging from the timbers of the second floor. At least she could see his lower limbs and feet-dangling in the air, while one arm was in sight. He seemed to be held there between two timbers, while he was struggling in vain to free himself. In answer to her greet- ing, a dark face framed in with a fringe of short, knotty hair of mingling black and white peered suddenly down from the cobwebs and darkness above, while a voice with that unmistakable African dialect demanded : ‘*Who dar?’’ | **A friend. What has happened to you??’’ ‘*Oh, massa—I mean, missus—I’se don’ fo’ dis time. I’se cotched atween dese tim’ers an’ dar’s I hilt like a _’possum atween two rocks.’’ ‘*Can’t they be raised if you had help?’’ **I s’pose so; but don’ yo’ go fo’ help, missus. Ol’ Dan’l will stay right hyur ef yo’ won’t let ennybuddy ’sturb him. He berry comf’ble.’’ ‘*But you can’t stay there. I will call my servant, and perhaps he and I can lift the timbers so you can get free.’’ ‘*Hain’t dar nobuddy wid yo’ but yo’ nigger?’’ asked the imprisoned man with an earnestness she recalled vividly when the affair was all over. In her excitement she failed to notice the strange effect her offer of assistance gave the negro. — | ‘“Only S’posen Jones; but I can send him to Sylvania for as much help as we shall need if he and I can not free you,’’ and without waiting to hear his repeated remon- strance against seeking assistance, she ran back to where S’posen Jones was awaiting her. Attributing the same cause to her haste as he felt in his own desire to get away from the ill-omened locality, S’posen gladly and with unusual celerity for him, headed the horses toward home, and stood ready to assist her into her seat. ‘*No, S’posen! we are not going to leave yet. Tie the co i e ry , Jot % : ® > a ~*~ tu o~ 2 fei : “ \ Y < —_ ¢ : : . & - ! weal } r a h . wx! f} ; oe ry wee / i “ nl *. _, Ss % <. ‘e eis ’ ee a hs : - ee Ee MCE Se eee Oke ee Ne hee Ate PONE ag eGR Ei Dl Gs A ee Re OBOE