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Show 222 UNCJ,E TO:\(~ C:\BlN: OH1 CliAP'l'Elt XXXV 1. EMMELlNt: AND ClASSY. CASSY entered the room, and found Emmeline sitting, pa.lc with fear, in the furthest corner of it. As she came in, tho girl stn.rtcll up nervously; but, on seeing who it was, rushed forward, and catcl!ing her arm, said, "0, Cassy, is it you 1 I'm so glad you 'vc come ! I was afraid it was-. 0, you tlon't know what a horrid noise there has been, down stairs, all this evening ! " '·I ought to know," said Cassy, dryly. "I've heard it often enough." "0 Cassy! do tell me,- couldn't we get away from this }Jbcc 1 I don't care where,- into the swamp among the snakes,- anywhere ! Couldn't we get somewhere a. way from hero?" ':Nowhere, but into our graves," said Cassy. " Did you ever try ? " "I've seen enough of trying, and what comes of it," said Cassy. "I 'd be willing to live in the swamps, and gnaw the bark from trees. I an't afraid of snakes ! I'd rather have one ncar me than him/' said Emmeline, eagerly. w_rhcre have been a good many here of your opinion," said Cassy; "but you couldn't stay in the swamps,- you'd be tracked by the dogs, and brought back, and then- then-" L!FB AMONG TilE LOWLY. 223 " What would he do 1" said the girl, looking, with breathless interest, into her face. " 'Vhat wotddn't he do, you'd better ask," said Cassy. "He's learned his trade well, among the pirates in the 'Vest Indies. You wouldn't sleep much, if I should tell you things I ' ve seen,-things thn.t he tells of, sometimes, for good jokes. I 'vc hcn.rd screams here that I haven' t been able to get out of my head for weeks and weeks. 'l'hcrc 's a place w:.ty out down by the quarters, where you can sec a black, blasted tree, and the ground all covered with black ashes. Ask any one what was done there, and · sec if they will dare to tell you." "0! what do you mean ?" "I won't tell you. I hate to think of it. And I tell you, the Lord only knows what we may sec to-morrow, if that poor fellow holds out as he 's begun." " Horrid ! " said Emmeline, every drop of blood receding from her cheeks. "0, Cassy, do tell mo what I shall do! " "What I 've done. Do tho best you can,- do what you must,- and make it up in hating and cursing." " lie wanted to make me drink some of his hateful brandy," said Emmeline ; n and I hate it so - 11 "You'd better drink," said Cassy. "I hated it, too; and now I can't live without it. Ono must have something i - things don't look so dreadful, when you take that." "Mother used to tell me never to touch any such thing," sa.iU Emmeline. "Mother told you!" said Cassy, with a thrilling and bitter emphasis on the word mother. "'Vhat usc is it for mothers to say anything? You arc all to be bought and paid for, and your souls belong to whocYcr gets you. That 's tho |