Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1756-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more
Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL
Newspaper Page Text
SAM'S CHARGE By Harold Carter Copyright by W. G. Chapman.) When Sam was a .pickanniny on what was left of his oltfrnaster's es tate in Virginia, his father told him stories of the war that matchless war, fought with devotion, gallantry and humanity on both sides, in which the strange spectacle was seen of a dependent and enslaved race guard ing the womankind of its masters while those masters went out to fight against those who wished to set them free. Sam absorbed all the spirit of those times; but when he was 30, and the butler of the financier Ammt, in a large northern city, only the spirit remained the details were forgot ten. Sam knew about the quarrels be tween Ammt and his pretty young wife. Lily Ammt had been a beauty before her marriage, but three years of sorrow had effaced the "outward and visible" signs that had held men's hearts in subjection, though they had, if anything, added to the spirituality of her face. Her famDy had been rich once. They had had estates in Louisiana, but the war had reduced them to poverty and Lily Ammt was a stenographer be fore her marriage. She had been Ammt's employe, and after his wife secured her di vorce he had asked her to marry him. There was no other way to win her to himself. Sam entered Ammt's service im mediately after their return from the honeymoon, and it was only through the quarrels that he learned of the financier's furious jealousy and its cause. Sam had never seen Mr. Trent He only knew that his name was the word used by Ammt to cow the spult of his beautiful wife. He sus pected Lvt Lily Ammt had loved Mr. Trent before her marriage, and he suspected, too, that she had married the wealthy man to bring some com forts to her aged parents. But Sam only suspected, and he was too loyal a servant to. voice his suspicions, even to himself.' After three years Ammt ceased to be jealous. He was seldom at home in the big mansion in which Lily moved sorrowfully through the days. Came in at an Hour When He Knew His Mistress Would Be Out It was quite an accident that Sam learned of his master's designs. He had noticed a shabby fellow who haunted the street and often stood staring up at the windows, par ticularly in the evenings. One day the fellow approached the butler as he was going down the street. "Want a little easy money?" he asked. "Yassuh," said Sam. "Tip me off the names of the gen --., JKTS ! iVC- - s&>-e&9HH..