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Show 160 UNCJ,E TOM'S CADIN: Ol1 1 his hand, walked up leisurely to the bar, and gave in his name ns Henry Butler, Oak lands, Shelby County. Turning, with an indifferent air, he sauntered up to tho advertisement, and read it over. '' Jim,'' he said to his man, '' seems to me we met a boy something like this, up at Bm·nan's, didn't we?" "Yes, Mas'r," said Jim, "only I an't sure about the hand." "Well, I didn't look, of course," said the stranger, with a careless yawn. Then, walking up to the landlord, he desired him to furnish him with a private apartment, as ho had somo writing to do immediately. The landlord was all obsequious, and a relay of about seven negroes, old and young, male and female, little and big, were soon whizzing about, like a covey of p..'trtridgcs, bustling, hurrying, treading on each other's toes, and tumbling over each other, in their zeal to get Mas'r's room ready, while he seated himself easily on a chair in the middle of tho room, and entered into conversation with the man who sat next to him. The manufacturer, Mr. Wilson, from the time of the entranco of the stranger, bad regarded him with an air of disturbed and unensy curiosity. He seemed to himself to have met and been acquainted with him somewhere, but he could not recollect. Every few moments, when tho man spoke, or moved, or smiled, he would start and fix his eyes on him, and then suddenly withdraw them, as tho bright, dark eyes met his with such unconcerned coolness. At last, a sudden recollection seemed to flash upon him, for he stared at tho stranger with such an air of blank amazement and alarm, that he walked up to him. "Mr. Wilson, I think," said he, in a tone of recognition, and extending his hand. "I beg your pardon, I didn't rocol- LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY. 161 loot you before. I seo you remember me,- Mr. Butler, of Oaklands, Shelby County." "Ye -- yes - yes, sir," said Mr. Wilson, like one speaking in a dream. Just then a negro boy entered, and announced that Mas'r's room was ready. "Jim, sec to tho trunks," said the gentleman, negligently; then addressing himself to Mr. Wilson, he added- " I should like to have a few moments' conversation with you on business, in my room, if you please." Mr. Wilson followed him, as one who walks in his sleep; and they proceeded to a large upper chamber, where a newmade fire was crackling, and various servanta flying about, putting finishing touches to the arrangements. When all was done, and tho servants departed, the young man deliberately locked the door, nnd putting the key in his pooket, £wed about, and folding his arms on his bosom, looked Mr. Wilson full in the face. "George! " said J\.1r. 'Vilson. ' 1 Yes, George,'' said the young man. "I couldn't have thought it!" " I a.m pretty weB disguised, I fancy t'' said the young man, with a smile. "A little walnut bark has ronde my yellow skin a genteel brown, and I 'vc dyed my hair black; so you see I don't answer to the advertisement at all." "0, George! but this is a dangerous game you are playing. I could not have advised you to it." "I can do it on my own responsibility," said George, with the same proud smile. We remark, en passant, that George wns, by his fitther's side, of white descent. His mother wns one of those unfortunates of her race, marked out by personal beauty to be tho 14• |
