NEVER since the night at the sod house had Agnes
Stewart been the same person. She could not seem
to dismiss Jean Baptiste, and the instance of her
providence in getting lost and thereby saving him, from her
mind. His strange words and singular recognition of her
was baffling. Being so very curious therefore, she had
since learned that he was well known in the community and
held in popular favor.
She knew little and understood less with regard to pre-
destination; but she had, since meeting him, recalled that he
was the one she had seen in her dream and loved! She
tried to laugh away such a freak; but do what she might,
she grew more curious to see him again as the days pa**ed;
to talk with him, and learn at last what she was anxious to
know - curious to know. How did he come to utter her
name and say that he had waited?
And, coincident with this, she recalled anew what she had
learned which positively was little regarding her
mother. She had been told that she inherited that one's
peculiarity; that her mother had possessed rare eyes, which
in a measure explained her own. But she had not been told
or knew why her mother had arranged the legacy as she
had. Not until the day before she was to marry must she
know. And then should she not have won a husband to
herself by the time she had reached thirty, she was to have
the same then, anyhow. Singular, but in a sense practical.
Well, it was so, and she could only sigh and be patient.
Most girls she had known back in "Nubbin Ridge" were
usually married by the time they had reached her present
age. But she was not quite like other girls, and did not
even have a beau.
She wondered if the man she had saved had a sweet-
heart. And when she thought of this, she had a feeling that
she would know in time. And as the days pa**ed she be-
gan at last to believe that in some manner he would play
a part in her own life. But Agnes Stewart was too in-
nocent to know at least appeared not to be aware of
the custom of the country and its law, and therefore
could not appreciate the invisible and socially invincible
barrier between them. 'Twas only the man Jean Baptiste
she saw and reckoned according to what she understood.
Therefore, because she could get nowhere in her wonder-
ings, as a diversion she turned to the little diary and re-
corded therein:
JANUARY 2OTH, 19 - I have not had the patience since
arriving here to record any of the events that have tran-
spired since we left Indiana. We have been here now nearly
three weeks. Have not as yet had time to draw any con-
clusion with regard to the country, but this much I can
cheerfully say and which did not prevail back where we
came from there is spirit in the country, the spirit of the
Pioneer.
The weather has been cold, cold every day since we ar-
rived. Because we ran out of urgent provisions soon after
coming here I ventured to go to Gregory, which is seven
miles distant, for some more. I have been too much upset
over what took place on that memorable trip to say much
about it. Because I have never kept anything from him, I
told papa how I started from the town, became lost, and
stayed all night at a house and saved a man thereby. He
has been so frightened over what happened that he will not
let me go anywhere alone again not even in the daytime.
"Just think, my girl," he has said time and again, "sup-
posing you had not stumbled into that house, you would
surely have frozen to d**h on the plains!" I somehow feel
that Dolly would have brought me home; but that is a matter
for conjecture. But what I say to papa in return is:
"Had I not gotten lost, that man that is known so well about
the country must surely have suffered d**h!" This seems
to pacify him, and he is pleased after all to know that my
getting lost was so provident and opportune.
He has met the man, Jean Baptiste, (such an odd name,)
and likes him very much in fact, he is very much carried
away with him. I have not seen him since the morning I
left him at his sod house; but I cannot get out of my mind
the events that pa**ed while I was there. Always I can
see him look up into my eyes with that strange recognition,
and then as he turned, call "Agnes, it is you. I'm glad you
have come for I've waited for you so long." What that
means I would give most half my life to know. I know that
I shall never rest in peace until I have become well enough
acquainted with him to ask him why and how he knew me.
Then followed the morning when he talked to himself and
did not know I heard. It is all so vivid in my mind.
Of late I have had an uncontrollable desire. I have
wanted to know more of my mother. It seems that if I
could have known her, I would understand myself better.
I am positive now, that she must have been a rare person.
That she was French and very high tempered, papa has
told me; and also that she had lived in the West Indies be-
fore he met her, but that she was born in France. As to
the legacy, he lays that to her peculiarity. She was always
peculiar in a way, says he; and that at all times she was mys-
terious. She had been over almost all the world, and was
wise in many things. He thinks I have inherited much of
her wit, and that eventually it will express itself in some
manner, which is all so strange. I hope, however, it will.
To rise in some manner out of the simple, uneventful life
I've lived would certainly be appreciated; but whatever it is
I cannot conclude.
Should I ever rise in any way, I feel now it would be due
in some manner to my meeting that strange colored man.
I have wondered so often since meeting him, how it feels
to be a Negro. Papa and I have discussed it often since.
I understand there is a sort of prejudice against the race
in this country; that in the South they are held down and
badly treated; that in the North, even, they are not fairly
treated. Papa and I were both agreed about it. We can-
not understand why one should be disliked because his skin
is dark; or because his ancestors were slaves. But withal
I cannot understand how one could deal unfairly with them
because of this. It is said that some of the race are very
ignorant and vicious; that they very often commit the un-
speakable crime. I suppose that is possible. If so, then
they should be educated. Take this Jean Baptiste, for in-
stance, an educated man, and what a gentleman! But papa,
(he is very vindictive!) he says that only about half the
colored people in this country are full blood; that in the
days of slavery and since, even, the white man who is very
often ready to abuse the black men, has been the cause of
this mixture. . . . I should think their consciences would
disturb them.
Oh, well, I am glad that I have grown up where prejudice
against races is not a custom. My mother was French; my
father Scotch all through, and because I know him and am
so ingrained with his liberal traditions even tho' he be
poor, I am at peace with all mankind.
We haven't all the money we need, and the fact worries
me. Papa says he will hire Bill to some one if any one
should need help. It might be that the colored man will
hire him, maybe. They say he is going to hire a man.
Papa intends to speak to him about it. The only thing that
worries us is that we have to explain that weakness in Bill
and George. George is impossible: too slow, talks too
much, and would never earn his salt. But if one is patient
with Bill until he catches on, he is an excellent worker, and
faithful. I wish the colored man would give him the job.
He owns the quarter that corners with us, which he expects
to complete breaking out and putting into flax next summer,
so we are told. If Bill could get that job it would be
handy. Handy for Bill, for Mr. Baptiste, and for us.
We have not met many people as yet. Because it is so
cold to get out, I haven't met any so to speak; but papa ap-
pears to be getting acquainted right along. We are going to
town to Gregory again Saturday. I am looking forward
to it with pleasant anticipation. I sincerely trust it will be a
beautiful day. In the meantime the clock has struck one,
papa is turning over in bed and I can hear him. I'll hear
his voice presently, so I will close this with hopes that Satur-
day will be a beautiful day and that I'll meet and become
acquainted with some nice people.