"Sam," she said, when he had finished, "I wish I had known this before.
It might have saved your master much anxiety. I am going North--going to
Snowdon first, and then to Washington, in hopes of finding him."
In a moment Sam was on his knees, begging to go with her.
"Don't leave me, Miss Ellis. Take me 'long. Please take me to Massah
Hugh. I'se quite peart now, and kin look after Miss Ellis a heap."
Alice could not promise till she had talked with Mrs. Worthington, whose
anxiety to go North was even greater than her own. They would be nearer
to Hugh, and by going to Washington would probably see him, she said,
while it seemed that she should by some means be brought near to her
daughter, of whom no tidings had been received as yet. So it was
arranged that Mrs. Worthington, Alice and Densie, together with Lulu and
Sam, should start at once for Snowdon, where Alice would leave a part of
her charge, herself and Mrs. Worthington going on to Washington in hopes
of meeting or hearing directly from Hugh. Aunt Eunice and Mug were to
remain with Colonel Tiffton, who promised to look after the Spring Bank
negroes.
Accordingly, one week after the fire, Alice found herself at the same
station in Lexington where once Hugh Worthington, to her unknown, had
waited for her coming. The morning papers were just out, and securing
one for herself, she entered the car and read the following
announcement: "DIED, at his country residence, from the effect of a shot received
while dastardly attacking a house belonging to Unionists, Robert
Harney, Esq., aged thirty-three."
With a shudder Alice pointed out the paragraph to Mrs. Worthington, and
laying her head upon her hand prayed silently that there might come a
speedy end to the horrors entailed by the cruel war.