CHAPTER XLIII. THE SLAVE'S ARGUMENT.

wishedtoknow,proceededimmediatelytoAlexandria.Whenhewasthere,hefoundaconsiderableexcitement. "Aslave-woman,"itwassaid,"whowastohavebeensentoffinacofflethenextday,hadmurderedhertwochildren." ThemomentthatClaytonheardthenews,hefeltaninstinctivecertaintythatthiswomanwasCoraGordon.Hewenttothemagistrate'scourt,wheretheinvestigationwasbeingheld,andfounditsurroundedbyacrowdsodensethatitwaswithdifficultyheforcedhiswayin.Atthebarhesawseatedawomandressedinblack,whoseface,haggardandwan,showedyettracesofformerbeauty.Thesplendiddarkeyeshadapeculiarandfierceexpression.Thethinlinesofthefaceweresettledintoanimmovablefixednessofcalmdetermination.Therewasevenanairofgrave,solemntriumphonhercountenance.Sheappearedtoregardtheformalitiesofthecourtwiththeutmostindifference.Atlastshespoke,inaclear,thrilling,distinctvoice,— "Ifgentlemenwillallowmetospeak,I'llsavethemthetroubleofthatexaminationofwitnesses.It'sgoingalongwayroundtofindoutaverylittlething." Therewasanimmediatemovementofcuriosityinthewholethrong,andtheofficersaid.— "Youarepermittedtospeak." Sherosedeliberately,untiedherbonnet-strings,lookedroundthewholecourt,withapeculiarbutcalmexpressionofmingledtriumphandpower. "Youwanttoknow,"shesaid,"whokilledthosechildren!Well,Iwilltellyou"andagainhereyestravelledroundthehouse,withthatsamestrong,defiantexpression"Ikilledthem!" Therewasapause,andageneralmovementthroughthehouse. "Yes,"shesaid,again,"Ikilledthem!And,oh,howgladIamthatIhavedoneit!DoyouwanttoknowwhatIkilledthemfor?BecauseIlovedthem!—lovedthemsowellthatIwaswillingtogiveupmysoultosavetheirs!IhaveheardsomepersonssaythatIwasinafrenzy,excited,anddidn'tknowwhatIwasdoing.Theyaremistaken.IwasnotinafrenzyIwasnotexcitedandIdidknowwhatIwasdoing!andIblessGodthatitisdone!Iwasborntheslaveofmyownfather.YouroldproudVirginiabloodisinmyveins,asitisinhalfofthoseyouwhipandsell.Iwasthelawfulwifeofamanofhonor,whodidwhathecouldtoevadeyourcruellaws,andsetmefree.Mychildrenwereborntolibertytheywerebroughtuptoliberty,tillmyfather'ssonenteredasuitforus,andmadeusslaves.Judgeandjuryhelpedhim—allyourlawsandyourofficershelpedhim—totakeawaytherightsofthewidowandthefatherless!Thejudgesaidthatmyson,beingaslave,couldnomoreholdpropertythanthemulebeforehisploughandweweredeliveredintoTomGordon'shands.Ishallnotsaywhatheis.Itisnotfittobesaid.Godwillshowatthejudgment-day.ButIescaped,withmychildren,toCincinnati.Hefollowedmethere,andthelawsofyourcountrygavemebacktohim.To-morrowIwastohavegoneinacoffleandleavethesechildren—mysonaslaveforlife—mydaughter"—Shelookedroundthecourt-roomwithanexpressionwhichsaidmorethanwordscouldhavespoken."SoIheardthemsaytheirprayersandsingtheirhymns,andthen,whiletheywereasleepanddidn'tknowit,IsentthemtoliedowningreenpastureswiththeLord.Theysaythisisadreadfulsin.Itmaybeso.Iamwillingtolosemysoultohavetheirssaved.Ihavenomoretohopeorfear.It'sallnothing,now,whereIgoorwhatbecomesofme.But,atanyrate,theyaresafe.And,now,ifanyofyoumothers,inmyplace,wouldn'thavedonethesame,youeitherdon'tknowwhatslaveryis,oryoudon'tloveyourchildrenasIhavelovedmine.Thisisall." Shesatdown,foldedherarms,fixedhereyesonthefloor,andseemedlikeapersonentirelyindifferenttothefurtheropinionsandproceedingsofthecourt. Shewasremandedtojailfortrial.Claytondetermined,inhisownmind,todowhathecouldforher.Herowndeclarationseemedtomaketheformofatrialunnecessary.Heresolved,however,todowhathecouldtoenlistforherthesympathyofsomefriendsofhisinthecity. Thenextdayhecalledwithaclergyman,andrequestedpermissiontoseeher.Whentheyenteredhercell,sherosetoreceivethemwiththemostperfectcomposure,asiftheyhadcal