, her voice
trembling, "then it must be really true what these men say--Delia is my
mother? I--I am a slave?"

"You did not really know. You were not warned by anyone before their
arrival?"

"No, there was no warning. Did anyone in this neighborhood understand?"

"Haines the lawyer did. He furnished me with much of the information I
possess. But I am the one puzzled now. If the truth was not known to
any of you, how does it happen the others are gone?"

"So far as I am aware that is merely an accident. They walked over to
the old Carlton place early this evening; there is sickness in the
family, and they hoped to be of help. That is everything I know. They
were to return two hours ago, for I was here all alone, except for the
negroes in their quarters. I cannot conceive what has occurred--unless
they have learned in some way of the trouble here."

"That must be the explanation; they have hidden themselves. And these
men told you why they came?"

"The only one I saw at first did. He came in all alone and claimed to
be a deputy sheriff. I was terribly frightened at first, and did not
at all understand; but I questioned him and the man liked to talk. So
he told me all he knew. Perhaps I should have thought he was crazy,
only--only some things had occurred of late which led me to half
suspect the truth before. I--I wouldn't believe it then, but--but I
made him repeat everything he had heard. Horrible as it was, I--I
wanted to know all."

"And you acknowledged to him that you were Rene Beaucaire?"

Her dark eyes flashed up into my face questioningly.

"Why--why, of course. I--I could not deny that, could I?"

"Perhaps not; yet if none of them knew you, and you had claimed to be
Eloise, they would never have dared to hold you prisoner."

"I never once thought of that; the only thing which occurred to me was
how I could best protect the others. My plan was to send them warning
in some way. Still, now I am very glad I said I was Rene."

"Glad! why?"

"Because it seems it is Eloise they must find to serve their papers on.
They dare not take away the slaves until this is done. As for me, I am
nothing--nothing but a slave myself; is that not true?"

To look into her eyes, her face, and answer was a hard task, yet one I
saw no way to evade.

"Yes; I am afraid it is true."

"And--and then Delia, the housekeeper, is actually my mother?"

"That is the story, as it has reached me."

She held