e, desirous to live in the North.
What could I do?"

"But the other slaves were set free. Master James provided means for
those who wished it, to emigrate to Liberia; a few went, more remained
of choice. No servant was kept on the estate who did not desire it. I
alone was sold."

"But you know how the young man detested you; he never could be
persuaded that your presence in her sick room, had not an evil influence
on his mother. In short Zillah, after her death he seemed to think of
little else."

The woman turned deadly pale, as the sick room of her old mistress was
mentioned. A shudder ran through her frame, and she sat down upon a
neighboring divan, gasping for breath. General Harrington watched this
strange emotion with keen interest; he did not comprehend its source,
but it brought up vague suspicions that had in former years passed like
shadows across his brain, when the sickness and death of his first wife
was a recent event.

"Zillah," he said, seating himself on the divan by her side, "you turn
pale--you shiver--what does this mean?"

The woman sat up, forcing herself to look into his questioning eyes.

"I was surprised at your blindness, shocked at the duplicity of this
man, James Harrington. So he excuses his hatred of me by this pretence,
and you believe him. I will speak now--why should I be silent longer?
Listen to me, General Harrington. It was because I knew his secret, that
James Harrington hated me. He loved the woman you have married, for
whose tranquillity I was sold to a new master."

"Very possible," replied the General, with a complacent smile. "I should
have been sorry to give my name to any woman whom a man of taste could
know, without loving. Of course, the young gentleman, like many others,
was dying of envy when that remarkable woman became my wife."

Zillah's eyes flashed, and she turned pale, lip and forehead. A bitter
laugh broke away with the words, as she said,

"But she loved _him_--adored him, rather."

The General was moved now, his self-love was all up in arms; he was
evidently getting furious.

"Zillah, this is one of your jealous dreams. You have no proof!"

"Master--let me call you so once more--among other benefits which came
to me through your kindness, I was taught to read and write--that was a
key to much else that I learned afterwards. In a vellum covered book,
which Miss Mabel always kept locked with a little golden heart, I saw
more than proof of what I say.