N ANCY was not likely to turn pale, even if she had been frightened. Really, however, she was not frightened, having considerable nerve.

"Is that you, Massa Fox?" she replied composedly, pushing the boat off at the same time. "Where did you come from?"

"Who have you got with you?" demanded the doctor, in a peremptory tone.

"Lor\', doctor, what\'s the matter? It\'s my sister Chloe from \'cross the river. She cum over to see me yes\'day, and I\'m agwine to take her home."

Dr. Fox surveyed the pretended sister critically, and was inclined to believe the story. The dress, the stuffed form, and general appearance certainly resembled Nancy. But he was not satisfied.

"Are you sure that you haven\'t got one of my runaways in the boat with you?" he asked suspiciously.

Nancy\'s fat sides shook with laughter.

"One of them crazy critters!" she exclaimed. "Chloe, he thinks you\'re a crazy critter run away from his \'sylum. Won\'t Dinah laugh when you tell her!"

Mrs. Kenyon possessed an admirable talent for mimicry, though she had not exercised it much of late years. Now, however, the occasion seemed to call for an effort in that direction, and she did not hesitate. She burst into a laugh, rich and hearty, so like Nancy\'s that the latter was almost startled, as if she heard the echo of her own amusement. No one who heard it would have doubted that it was the laugh of a negro woman.

The laugh convinced Dr. Fox. He no longer entertained any doubt that it was really Nancy\'s sister.

"It\'s all right, Nancy," he said apologetically. "I see I am mistaken. If you see either of the runaways let me know," and he turned his horse from the bank.

Not a word passed between Nancy and her passenger till they had got beyond earshot of the pursuer. Then Nancy began:

"You did dat well, Mis\' Kenyon. Ef I hadn\'t knowed I\'d have thought it was ole Chloe herself. Where did you learn dat laugh?"

"I think I might make a pretty good actress, Nancy," said Mrs. Kenyon, smiling. "I knew something must be done as Dr. Fox\'s suspicions were aroused. But I didn\'t dare to speak. I was not so sure of my voice."

"Lor\', how we fooled Massa Fox!" exclaimed Nancy, bursting once more into a rollicking laugh.

"So we did," said Mrs. Kenyon, echoing the laugh as before.

"You almost frighten me, Mis\' Kenyon," said Nancy. "I didn\'t think no one but a nigger could laugh like dat. Are you sure you aint black blood?"

"I think not, Nancy," said Mrs. Kenyon. "I don\'t look like it, do I?"

"No, Mis\' Kenyon; you\'re as white as a lily; but I can\'t understand dat laugh nohow."

Presently they reached the other shore, and Nancy securely fastened the boat.

"How far is it to the depot, Nancy?" asked the runaway.

"Only \'bout a mile, Mis\' Kenyon. Are you tired?"

"Oh, no; and if I were, I wouldn\'t mind, so long as I am escaping from that horrible asylum. I can\'t help thinking of that poor Cleopatra. I wish she might be as fortunate as I, but I am afraid she will be taken back."

"She an\' you\'s different, Mis\' Kenyon. She\'s crazy, an\' you aint."

"Then you think I can be trusted out of the doctor\'s hands?"

"How came you there, anyway, Mis\' Kenyon?" asked Nancy curiously.

"It is too long a story to tell, Nancy. It is enough to say that I was put there by a cruel enemy, and that since I have been confined I have met with a great loss."

"Did you lose your money, Mis\' Kenyon?" asked Nancy sympathetically.

"It was worse than that, Nancy. My only boy is dead."

"Dat\'s awful; but brace up, Mis\' Kenyon. De Lor\' don\'t let it blow so hard on de sheep dat\'s lost his fleece."

"I feel that I have very little to live for, Nancy," continued Mrs. Kenyon, in a tone of depression.

"Don\'t you take it so much to heart, Mis\' Kenyon. I\'ve had three chil\'en myself, an\' I don\'t know where they is."

"How does that happen, Nancy?"

"When we was all slaves dey was sold away from me, down in Alabama, I reckon, and I never expec\' to see any of \'em ag\'in."

"That is very hard, Nancy," said Mrs. Kenyon, roused to sympathy.

&q............