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following Clotelle as she passed through the room。
〃She is far above the station of a slave；〃 remarked the lady。 〃I saw her；
last night； when removing some books； open on and stand over it a
moment as if she was reading； and she is as white as I am。 I am almost
sorry you bought her。〃
At this juncture the front door…bell rang； and Clotelle hurried through
the room to answer it。
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〃Miss Morton；〃 said the servant as she returned to the mistress' room。
〃Ask her to walk in；〃 responded the mistress。
〃Now； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Taylor to her husband； 〃just look and see if
you do not notice a marked resemblance between the countenances of Jane
and Clotelle。〃
Miss Morton entered the room just as Mrs。 Taylor ceased speaking。
〃Have you heard that the Jamisons are down with the fever？〃 inquired
the young lady； after asking about the health of the Taylors。
〃No； I had not； I was in hopes it would not get into our street；〃 replied
Mrs。 Taylor。
All this while Mr。 and Mrs。 Taylor were keenly scrutinizing their
visitor and Clotelle and even the two young women seemed to be
conscious that they were in some way the objects of more than usual
attention。
Miss Morton had scarcely departed before Mrs。 Taylor began
questioning Clotelle concerning her early childhood； and became more
than ever satisfied that the slave…girl was in some way connected with the
Mortons。
Every hour brought fresh news of the ravages of the fever； and the
Taylors commenced preparing to leave town。 As Mr。 Taylor could not go
at once； it was determined that his wife should leave without him；
accompanied by her new maid…servant。 Just as Mrs。 Taylor and Clotelle
were stepping into the carriage； they were informed that Dr。 Morton was
down with the epidemic。
It was a beautiful day； with a fine breeze for the time of year； that Mrs。
Taylor and her servant found themselves in the cabin of the splendid new
steamer 〃Walk…in…the…Water；〃 bound from New Orleans to Mobile。 Every
berth in the boat was occupied by persons fleeing from the fearful
contagion that was carrying off its hundreds daily。
Late in the day； as Clotelle was standing at one of the windows of the
ladies' saloon； she was astonished to see near her； and with eyes fixed
intently upon her； the tall young stranger whom she had observed in the
slave…market a few days before。 She turned hastily away； but the heated
cabin and the want of fresh air soon drove her again to the window。 The
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young gentleman again appeared； and coming to the end of the saloon；
spoke to the slave…girl in broken English。 This confirmed her in her
previous opinion that he was a foreigner； and she rejoiced that she had not
fallen into his hands。
〃I want to talk with you；〃 said the stranger。
〃What do you want with me？〃 she inquired。 〃I am your friend；〃 he
answered。 〃I saw you in the slave…market last week； and regretted that I
did not speak to you then。 I returned in the evening； but you was gone。〃
Clotelle looked indignantly at the stranger； and was about leaving the
window again when the quivering of his lips and the trembling of his
voice struck her attention and caused her to remain。
〃I intended to buy you and make you free and happy； but I was too
late；〃 continued he。
〃Why do you wish to make me free？〃 inquired the girl。
〃Because I once had an only and lovely sister； who died three years
ago in France； and you are so much like her that had I not known of her
death I should certainly have taken you for her。〃
〃However much I may resemble your sister； you are aware that I am
not she； why； then； take so much interest in one whom you have never
seen before and may never see again？〃
〃The love；〃 said he； 〃which I had for my sister is transferred to you。〃
Clotelle had all along suspected that the man was a knave； and this
profession of love at once confirmed her in that belief。 She therefore
immediately turned away and left him。
Hours elapsed。 Twilight was just 〃letting down her curtain and
pinning it with a star；〃 as the slave…girl seated herself on a sofa by the
window； and began meditating upon her eventful history； meanwhile
watching the white waves as they seemed to sport with each other in the
wake of the noble vessel； with the rising moon reflecting its silver rays
upon the splendid scene； when the foreigner once more appeared near the
window。 Although agitated for fear her mistress would see her talking to
a stranger； and be angry； Clotelle still thought she saw something in the
countenance of the young man that told her he was sincere； and she did
not wish to hurt his feelings。
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〃Why persist in your wish to talk with me？〃 she said； as he again
advanced and spoke to her。
〃I wish to purchase you and make you happy；〃 returned he。
〃But I am not for sale now；〃 she replied。 〃My present mistress will
not sell me； and if you wished to do so ever so much you could not。〃
〃Then；〃 said he； 〃if I cannot buy you； when the steamer reaches
Mobile； fly with me； and you shall be free。〃
〃I cannot do it；〃 said Clotelle； and she was just leaving the stranger
when he took from his pocket a piece of paper and thrust it into her hand。
After returning to her room； she unfolded the paper； and found； to her
utter astonishment that it contained a one hundred dollar note on the Bank
of the United States。 The first impulse of the girl was to return the paper
and its contents immediately to the giver； but examining the paper more
closely； she saw in faint pencil…marks； 〃Remember this is from one who
loves you。〃 Another thought was to give it to her mistress； and she
returned to the saloon for that purpose； but on finding Mrs。 Taylor engaged
in conversation with some ladies； she did not deem it proper to interrupt
her。
Again； therefore； Clotelle seated herself by the window； and again the
stranger presented himself。 She immediately took the paper from her
pocket； and handed it to him； but he declined taking it； saying；
〃No； keep it； it may be of some service to you when I am far away。〃
〃Would that I could understand you；〃 said the slave。
〃Believe that I am sincere； and then you will understand me；〃 returned
the young man。 〃Would you rather be a slave than be free？〃 inquired he；
with tears that glistened in the rays of the moon。
〃No；〃 said she； 〃I want my freedom； but I must live a virtuous life。〃
〃Then； if you would be free and happy； go with me。 We shall be in
Mobile in two hours； and when the passengers are going on shore； you
take my arm。 Have your face covered with a veil； and you will not be
observed。 We will take passage immediately for France； you can pass as
my sister； and I pledge you my honor that I will marry you as soon as we
arrive in France。〃
This solemn promise； coupled with what had previously been said；
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gave Clotelle confidence in the man； and she instantly determined to go
with him。 〃But then；〃 thought she； 〃what if I should be detected？ I would
be forever ruined； for I would be sold； and in all probability have to end
my days on a cotton； rice； or sugar plantation。〃 However； the thought of
freedom in the future outweighed this danger； and her resolve was taken。
Dressing herself in some of her best clothes； and placing her veiled
bonnet where she could get it without the knowledge of her mistress；
Clotelle awaited with a heart filled with the deepest emotions and anxiety
the