s gwine to start early to Lexinton tomorrer, so dey can't 'tend to de
mattah; but I'll jes inform Miss Viola of de situwation."

When the slave had reached this wise and satisfactory conclusion he had
also reached the end of his journey, and with much self-complacency
retired to his humble cot to dream of his dusky sweetheart.

Early the next morning Mose called at the mansion to see Miss Viola,
telling her that he had "sumpin' of special 'portance" to make known.
For the sake of privacy, she took him into the large drawing-room and,
seating herself in that beautiful bay window overlooking the stately
lawn and the broad cornfield now shining white under their coverlet of
snow and farther on the lovely river, she beckoned him to proceed. With
much earnestness and an air of importance he related what he had heard
at the barn the night before.

Mose was so absorbed in his recital that he did not notice the full
effects of his words on his mistress. As his story continued, a great
change came over her. Her breathing quickened until it came in short
and labored gasps. First a deeper color of red suffused her cheeks,
then a crimson overspread her face and neck, which was soon followed by
a paleness which marked her face with an ashen hue. How that poor heart
was troubled! Now its violent beatings force the hot blood to face and
hands and feet; then with the cruel news it takes into itself the
torrid currents of blood, leaving the face and extremities cold and
bloodless and a feeling of suffocation in the lungs. By a supreme
effort of will, which God has made sovereign over the emotions, she
calmed her beating heart and considered what was best to be done.

"Mose, you are quite sure you have told me all you heard?"

"Yes, Miss Viola, I is, kase de wo'ds made such a 'pression on mah mind
dat I 'members dem zackly."

"You are certain they selected Tuesday night for their wicked acts?"

"Dey spoke of Chewsday night, and tuk it bekase Mas'r Very is to go dat
way dat night."

"You can leave me now for an hour, but at eight o'clock come back and I
will send by you a message to Mr. Very."

When the negro had left, Viola LeMonde retired to her own room and
seating herself at her writing desk, wrote the following communication:

"Mount Pisgah, January 6, 181--.

The Rev. Jasper Very,

Dear Mr. Very:

Our servant, Mose Williams, has just made known to me a plot which
some base men have devised to treat