The home of Mr. Wagner was on the Stringtown pike, about one-third of the distance between the southern and the northern extremities of the village. Its owner was not in affluent circumstances; still he lived comfortably. An unmarried sister acted as housekeeper, and it would have been difficult to determine by their countenances which was the older. However, no question could arise concerning their relationship, for the maiden lady, fully as spare and nearly as tall as her lank brother, possessed features so similar as to bespeak the close family connection. Her face was kindly in its expression, and it was evident that Susie had fallen into good hands. The thoughtful judge had made no mistake in the selection of the child's guardian.
To this home, that rested its face against the edge of the pike, and its heel-like shed in the narrow lot that stretched back to the woodland pasture, the village clerk carried the unwilling charge he had taken from the home of Cupe. The girl was still sobbing; she had refused the kindly advances of such of the neighbours as chanced to be in the street, and would not be comforted. It chanced that I stood before my mother's door as, together with her new guardian, she passed by, but she gave no sign of recognition when I called her name. Judge Elford came out of his house and took her kindly by the hand, but she buried her face in the shoulder of the man who carried her, and refused to speak. The sister of Mr. Wagner was alike unsuccessful; she could get no kind word; the untamed child refused to eat and refused to play. She fell asleep sobbing, and was gently laid on the little bed that had been prepared for her by the expectant and puzzled spinster. Then it was that a tap was heard at the door, and on opening it the bent form of Cupe appeared. Handing Miss Wagner the package of clothes, he silently turned away and vanished in the darkness.
A few minutes later, Judge Elford was disturbed by a similar knock, and opened the door to find the disconsolate negro on the threshold.
At the pressing invitation of the judge, Cupe stepped inside the door, but, in accordance with the custom of old slaves, refused to sit down.
"What can I do for you, Cupid?"
"De light ob de cabin am gone, de clouds am risen, an' Cupe ax fo' comfo't."
"But what can I do for you?" repeated the judge.
"Yo' kin send de man ob sorrah ter de pen'tensh'ry, fo' he ain't no moah use heah. Yo' kin do de duty yo' spoke 'bout las' week, Ma'se Elford."
"Indeed I cannot. You have freed yourself from the penitentiary by the Right of Clergy."
"De law am pow'ful strong when a man wan's et weak, an' monstrous weak when a man wan's et strong; ef a man wan's t' git out ob de pen'tensh'ry he can't git de doah op'n, case ob de law' ef he wants t' git into de pen'tensh'ry he can't git dah case ob de law. De law am monstrous cu'yus."
"But you don't want to go to the penitentiary, Cupe?"
" 'Deed I does, case dah ain't nuffin t' lib fo' out ob et now dat yo' hab took de chile 'way. She am white an' Cupe am brack; but de chile wah raised from a baby by de brack man; de ole nigger promise Ma'se Hardman t' keer fo' her 'til deff come, an' he promise de muddah ob de child befor' God t' watch obah her 'til she wah able t' keer fo' herse'f. Dese am serous tings t' promise t' de ma'se what am dead an' t' de angel mammy, an' t' bre'k de wo'd am wicked, an' Cupe doan want t' be walkin' free an' not doin' what he say on his knees he 'ud do. Ef de nigger am in de pen'tensh'ry an de dead ma'se come an' say in a dream: "Why ain't yo' keerin' fo' de blos'm?' Cupe kin say back: "Caint yo' see dat de nigger am in de jail?' Ef de sperrit ob de muddah ob de chile come floatin' into de cabin an' say: "Wha' am de baby Susie what yo' fin' on de grabe in Bloody Hollah?' what kin Cupe say ef he am free t' walk 'bout? 'Deed, Ma'se Elford, I does wan' t' go t' de pen'tensh'ry, an' ef yo' keer fo' de peace ob min' ob de ole man yo'll sen' him dah."
"Go home, Cupid, go home and sleep. You will feel better in the morning. Susie is well, has a good home, and will see you often."
"An' yo' won't lis'n t' de claim ob de sah'rin' nigger?"
"I cannot."
The old negro opened the door and hesitated on the sill. "An' yo' caint sen' de nigger t' de pen'tensh'ry?"
"No, Cupid."
"An' yo' caint gib him back de chile?"
The judge shook his head.
"Do yo' see wha' Cupe am stan'n'? Et am on de doah-sill, Ma'se Elford, an' dat sign say bad luck t' yoah argyment. Lis'n t' what de ole nigger tole yo' now. De law say dat de chile can't lib wid Cupe, but de sign say dat she mus' lib wid Cupe 'ef she lib. Ef de law am right, de sign am wrong. Who made de law?" he vehemently asked.
"Wise and good men," replied the judge.
"An' God make de sign. Do do wise man set hisse'f 'bove de Lawd? Ma'se Elford, yo'll lib t' see dat de Lawd am biggah dan de law."