ded,
seriously, 'but ye karn't mean to saddle my doin's onter them.'

'Yes, I will; and tell them they have you to thank for it.'

'What,' and he struck his forehead with his hand; 'what a dangnation
fool I wus ter tell ye 'bout them!'

'Of course, you were; and a greater one to say you paid sixteen fifty
for the property. I'd have given fifteen hundred for them if you had
told the truth. But come, what do you say; are they Preston's or not?'

'No, I karn't do it; karn't take Preston's note--'tain't wuth a hill o'
beans. Give me the money, and it's a trade.'

'Preston is cramped, and cannot pay the money just now. I'll give you
my note, if you prefer it.'

'Payable in York, interest and exchange?'

'Yes.'

'Well, it's done. And now, d----n the nigs. I'll never buy ary 'nother
good-lookin' 'un as long's I live.'

'I hope you won't,' I replied, laughing.

He then produced a blank note and a bill of sale, and drawing from his
pocket a pen and a small ink bottle, said to me: 'Thar, Mr. Kirke, ye
fill up the note, and I'll make out the bill o' sale. I'm handy at such
doin's.'

'Give me the key of these bracelets first. Make out the bill to
Preston--Robert Preston, of Jones County.'

He handed me the key, and I unlocked the shackles. 'Now, Phyllis,' I
said, 'it is over. Go and tell Master Robert.'

She rose, threw her arms wildly above her head, and staggering weakly
forward, without saying a word, left the cabin. Yelping and leaping with
joy, the yellow boy followed her; but the little girl came to me, and
looking up timidly in my face, said: 'O massa! Rosey so glad 'ou got
mammy--Rosey _so_ glad. Rosey lub 'ou, massa--Rosey lub 'ou a heap.' I
thought of the little girl I had left at home, and with a sudden impulse
lifted the child from the floor and kissed her. She put her little arms
about my neck, laid her soft cheek against mine, and burst into tears.
She was not accustomed to much kindness.

I filled out the note and gave it to the trader; and, with the bill of
sale in my hand, was about to go in search of Preston, when he and
Phyllis entered the cabin. I handed him the document, and glancing it
over, he placed it in his pocket book.

'Now, Larkin,' I said, 'this is a wretched business; give it up; there's
too much of the man in you for this sort of thing.'

'Well, p'raps yer right, Mr. Kirke; but I'm in it, and I karn't git out;
but it seems ter me it tain't no wuss dealin' in 'em then ownin' 'em.'