The Moonlight Visitor.
The evening air stole gently into a quiet room in a southern island,
more than sixty years ago.
There were no casements in the wide windows; the heavy shutters were
thrown back, and the moonlight poured, in long, unbroken streams,
across the polished, un-carpeted floor.
Within the large pleasant room, two children were sleeping in their
curtained beds, like birds in pretty cages.
Suddenly there was a cautious tread in the hall, and then a strange
figure stood silently in the moonlight. Without candle, or taper, might
have been plainly seen the short, strongly-built woman, whose black
face and gay turban formed a striking contrast to the fair children in
their loose, white night-dresses.
Who was that dark intruder, and what was her secret errand, in that
quiet room?
It was Daph, black Daph, and when you have heard more about her, you
can better judge whether she came as a friend, or an enemy, to the
sleeping children of her master.
The large mirror, bright in the moonlight, seemed to have an
irresistible attraction for the negro, and the sight of her black
face fully reflected there, made her show her white teeth in a grin
of decided approval. The pleased expression, however, disappeared
almost instantly, as she said impatiently, “Foolish darky, spendin dese
precious time, looking at your own ugly face!”
At this whispered exclamation, the children stirred uneasily. “If
I mus, I mus!” said Daph, resolutely, as she drew from her pocket
a box, containing two small pills. With the pills in her hand she
approached the bedside of the little girl, who was now half sitting up,
and looking at Daph, with the bewildered expression of one suddenly
aroused from sleep.
Daph put aside the mosquito bar, and said, coaxingly, “Take dis, Miss
Lou, quick as you can, and don’t go for waking Mass Charley, asleep da
in dat beauty bed of his.”
Daph had slipped the pill into a juicy bit of pineapple, which she
seemed to have had ready for the purpose, and the child instantly
swallowed it. With one trustful, pleasant glance from her large, blue
eyes, the fair-haired little girl sank back on her pillow, and was soon
in the sweet sleep of innocence.
As soon as Daph saw the small, slender hands lie open and relaxed,
she closed the gauze-like curtains, and stole to the cradle-bed of
the little boy. She raised his head gently on her arm, and placed in
his mouth a bit of the same juicy fruit she had given his sister,
containing another of those hidden pills, which she seemed so anxious
to administer. The child did not wake, but the sweet morsel was
pleasant to his taste, and no doubt mingled in his baby-dreams of the
joys of the pleasant world in which he had passed but little more than
a twelve month.
Daph now set to work busily to fill a huge basket, which she brought
from some place of deposit near at hand. The drawers of the bureau, and
the contents of the elegant dressing-case she thoroughly over-hauled,
making such selections as seemed to please her fancy, and being withal
somewhat dainty in her choice. Children’s clothing, of the finest and
best, formed the lowest layer in the basket; then followed a sprinkling
of rings and necklaces, interspersed with the choice furniture of the
rich dressing-case. Over all was placed a large light shawl, with its
many soft folds, and then Daph viewed the success of her packing with
much satisfaction.
Quietly and stealthily she approached the bed, where the little girl
was sleeping so soundly that she did not wake, even when Daph lifted
her in her strong arms, and laid her gently in the great basket,--the
choicest treasure of all. In another moment the plump, rosy boy was
lying with his fairy-like sister, in that strange resting-place. Daph
looked at them, as they lay side by side, and a tear rolled over her
dark cheeks, and, as it fell, sparkled in the moonlight.
The negro had taken up a white cloth, and was in the act of throwing it
over the basket, when a small book, with golden clasps, suddenly caught
her eye; rolling it quickly in a soft, rich veil, she placed it between
the children, and her task was done.
It was but the work of a moment, to fasten on the cloth-covering with
a stout string; then, with one strong effort, Daph stooped, took the
basket on her head, and went forth from the door with as stately a step
as if she wore a crown.