Pine and Palm; A Novel - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1887. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXVIII. A GOOD DEED SHINES FAR IN A NAUGHTY WORLD. "QEHIND a barn, which supplied shade for a JD "shady " scene, a score of men gathered to bid for the human stock of the Woodward estate, in chancery for payment of its late owner's debts. These bidders were not southern gentry, but its agents, its left hand doing sinister work which its fair right must not know. The company looked askance at one man who joined them; he was not of them or known to them. The silent trembling chattels were successively sold, at prices ranging from five hundred to a thousand dollars--until Alice Ross was brought forward. She did not look her best, being haggard from causes known to but one of the company. The bidding languidly reached six hundred and there stopped. "A fine healthy young woman, gentlemen--a little peeky just now but worth a good deal more than is bid. Speak up, gentlemen! Six hundred bid." "And ten," said the stranger, bringing all eyes on him, "Twenty." "Thirty." "Forty." There were whispers and murmurs among the dealers. Angry glances were cast at the interloper, who perceived that they were not competitors, but a ring for dividing the negroes among them at pre-arranged prices. He had to fight a combination, and the bidding for Alice mounted to a thousand. This was the stranger's bid, and then the dealers began to sneer. "A thousand and ten." "What are you a-bidding for, Snellings, when a gent's got his eye on a fancy lot?" "Ha-ha, he-he!" "And twenty." "And thirty," cried a bidder angrily. "There's Bob now. Don't interfere with the course o' true love, Bob!" "Mr. Auctioneer," said the stranger, "I desire to make my bids without remark. If not, I can only leave, and report to the court that the sale was not fair." "Quite right, sir ! Gentlemen, I must insis...