Human Cattle by Liberty Dendron & L. A Johnson

Author:Liberty Dendron & L. A Johnson. [Dendron, Liberty & Johnson., L. A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, United States, African American, Historical, Two Hours or More (65-100 Pages), Short Stories
Amazon: B00ST3JCXG
Publisher: MaMbabooks.com, United States
Published: 2015-01-26T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

COME WITH ME Now eighteen, Paula had changed quite a bit, a great contrast to the time when she lived with Mrs. Cavalla. Her tall and well-developed figure; her long, silky black hair, falling in curls down her neck; her bright, green eyes lighting up her tinted face, and teeth that most people envy, she was even more beautiful than before. At times, there was a radiant smile upon her face, which would have warmed the heart of a religious person. Such was the personal appearance of the woman who was now in prison, to save the life of another. Would she be hanged, or would she receive a different kind of punishment? These questions Paula did not ask herself. Plainspoken, and generous to a fault, she always thought of others, never of her own welfare.

The long stay of Paula caused uneasiness to Tonya, but she didn’t tell her father, because he had said she couldn’t go to the jail to see Kato. When the clock in the liven room struck eleven, Tonya called Travis, and sent him to the jail to look for Paula.

“She left around eight o’clock…after the storm started,” was the jailer’s answer to the slave’s questions.

The return of Travis without having found Paula set off an alarm; she didn’t know what to do. The hurricane had changed to a tropical storm. Thought. “Paula could be out there hurt or she could have runaway, or killed herself. That thought saddened Tonya’s heart.” Still, she waited till morning before breaking the news of Paula’s absence to her father.

The jailer discovered, the next morning that his prisoner was white instead of black, and his first impression was that the change of complexion had taken place during the night, through fear of death. This assumption changed; when the mild, sweet voice that answered his questions, told him that she has taken Kato’s place.

When learning that Paula was in jail dressed in male clothing, Miss Hall immediately sent her ladies clothes to change into. The news of the heroic and daring deception of the slave-girl spread through Tallahassee.

“I will sell every nigger on this plantation,” said Mr. Hall, at the breakfast-table, “I will sell all them of them, and buy a new heard and whip them every day.”

Tonya wept for the safety of Paula; she was glad that Kato had escaped. In vain they tried to obtain by threats from Paula, where Kato had gone when questioned, she replied. “I don't know, and if I did I wouldn’t tell you. I don’t care about what you do with me. Dogs can’t track him; the hurricane has washed his scent away.” She smiled. Her unwavering manners seemed to challenge them, and the gaze in her eyes dared them to lay their hands on her.

Seven days, Paula stayed in a cage in front of the prison, to be gazed at by crowds of unfeeling white people, drawn there out of curiosity. The word came to her at last that the court had

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