The next morning, when Lewis was missed at the house of his master, suspicion immediately fell upon Miss Ford.  The plot was so simple that the truth could not well be concealed; but nothing was said about it until they might find some tangible evidence, and this was soon afforded by the imprudence of Dean.  Two mornings after this he came to the garden fence by the arbor where she usually spent the morning, and threw over a note containing the words, “All right, and no suspicion.”

But he was mistaken about the “no suspicion.”  He himself would have been arrested at the moment of his return, for one of his neighbors had seen and recognized them in Cincinnati; but they waited and watched to see if by some chance Miss Ford might not also be implicated.  And it was done.  There were more observers than he dreamed of, and Miss Ford, who from her window saw the note fall, saw it picked up a moment after by Mr. Johns himself.  Mr. Dean was arrested before he reached home again, and both he and Miss Ford were sent to jail.  Complaints were preferred against them, but many months passed before they were brought to trial.  When at last the trial came off, Mr. Dean was sentenced to imprisonment for ten years, and five thousand dollars fine.  Miss Ford’s sentence was five years’ imprisonment, but the governor finally granted a reprieve of the last two years.

After many adventures Lewis reached Boston, where he still lives, for aught I know, with a nice little woman of his own color for a wife, and three smart little boys.  He labored so diligently in the cultivation of his mind that he became qualified for a teacher, and has been for a long time engaged in that pleasant and profitable occupation.  But best of all, he has become a sincere Christian, rejoicing in the privilege of worshiping God according to the dictates of his own conscience, with none to molest nor make him afraid.  He has heard once more from his parents.  His father’s master had returned to the neighborhood where his mother was, and they were again living together.  His mother’s mind was restored to sanity.  She was more “like herself” than she had been before since the early days of their married life.  In her later years she was brought to taste of the “liberty wherewith Christ has made us free,” and went to her home above to be comforted after all her sufferings, while her cruel masters who enjoyed their ease here shall be tormented.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  WHIPPING A SLAVE.]

[Illustration:  HUNTING RUNAWAY SLAVES.]

MARK AND HASTY;

OR,

SLAVE-LIFE IN MISSOURI.

BY MATILDA G. THOMPSON.

PREFACE.

The facts narrated in the following pages occurred in St. Louis a few years ago.  They were communicated to the author by a friend residing temporarily in that city.