And found their newest thoughts as old as time—

Their brightest fancies woven in the threads

Of ancient poems, history or romance,

And knowledge still elusive and far off.

 [Pg 34] V.

[Pg 34]

The days that lengthen into years went on.

The quadroon girl who fainted on the cliff

Was Ruth; now, blooming into womanhood,

She looked on Karagwe, and seeing there

Something above the level of the slave,

Watched him with interest in all his ways.

At first through pity was she drawn to him.

While both were sitting on a rustic seat,

Near the tall mansion where the planter dwelt,

A drunken overseer came straggling past,

And seeing in the dusk a female form,

Swayed up to her, and caught her by the arm,

And with an insult, strove to drag her on.

Ruth spoke not; but the negro, with one grasp

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