Nebraska Newspapers

    WEEKLY HERALD: PLAT7SM0UTH, NEBRASK ' . SEPTEMRER 4 1800
THE DCTORDOW
HTOllY OF ST.ATEItY DAY.
BY MISS il. E. Bit ADDON.
CnAFTKlt III.
OKA'S father,
Gerald Leslie,
was the owner of
a tine entate upon
the banks of a
lake about two
miloa out of New
Orleans, and aiM
of a handsome
house In that
city. It U at thla
latter residence
that we will Introduce him to the reader.
Oerald Labile was In the verv Tuimo of
life. Scarcely yet forty-flvo years of
age, time had Eet no mark upon his
thick chestnut hair or his handsome
face, eave a few almost Imperceptible
wnniuos wbicn tne cares or tins last year
or two had drawn In rigid lines about his
weu-enapeu mouth.
His features were massive and regular;
me Drow broad nl intellectual; the
large hazel eyes bright but yet thought
iul ; and there was a shade of melan
choly In the general expression of the
countenance which lent a peculiar charm
to im race to oerald Leslie.
It was the face of one who had 6uf.
fered. It was the face of one who found
himself a lonely man in the very primo
01 me ; in mat hour or ali other hours in
wnicn a man yearns for the smiles of
lovinff eyes, the warm pressure c-t
irlenuly hands. It was tho faoe of one
who had discovered too Iaut that he had
sacrificed the happiness of his life to a
mistaken principle.
While the good ship Virginia Is sailing
away from the dim blue shores of the
fading English coast, bearing Mrs. Mon
tresor, tier nephew and niece and Cora
Leslie, to their far Southern home, let us
enter the planter's luxuriously furnished
etudy, and watch him as he bends over
his desk.
The burning Southern sun is banished
from the apartment by means -of Vene
tian shutters ; the floor Is covered with
a cool matting woven from Indian reeds ;
and the faint plash oV a fountain In a
small garden at the back of the houae is
heard through one of the open windows.
It is not a pleasant task which occu
pies the planter. His brow contracts as
he examines the papers, pausing every
now and then to Jot down two or three
figures against a long row of accounts
which look terribly formidable even to
the uninitiated. At last he throws
down a heap of documents with a weary
sigh, and flinging himself back in his
chair, abandons himself to gloomy
thought.
Yes, the truth Is out at last," he mut
tered ; "no hope of a settlement in Eng
land ; no chance of a happy homo eu the
other side of the blue Atlantic with my
Cora, my only one. Nothing before me
but the weary struggle of a ruined man,
with difficulties so gigantic that, struggle
as I may, they must close in upon iae
and crush me at the laet. Oh, Phiilip
Treverton, but for the cruel deception
you practiced upon me, I should not be
in this position."
Philip Treverton was Gerald Leslie's
late partner. He had been shot a twelve
month before tho opening of our 6tory, in
a sanguinary dual with a young french
man, who had insulted him in a framing
house. Cut the two men bad been more
than partners, they had been friends ;
true and sincere friends; and Gerald
Leslie no more doubted the honor of hi
friend, Philip Treverton, than he would
have doubted his own.
Amongst the debts owed by the two
planters, there wae one of no less than
one hundred thousand dollars due to a
lawj-erand usurer.one Silas Craig, a man
who was both disliked and feared in New
Orleans ; for, he was known to be a hard
creditor, unscrupulous as to the means
by which he enriched himself, pitiless to
those who were backward in paying him.
In an evil hour Gerald Leslie and
Philip Treverton had had recourse to
this man, and borrowed from him at a
cruelly heavy rate of interest, the 6um
above mentioned. Treverton was, un
like his partner, a reckless speculator,
and, unfortunately, not a little of a
gamester; he therefore thought lightly
enough of the circumstances. Not so
Gerald Leslie. The thought of this loan
oppreesed him like a load of iron, and he
was determined that it should be repaid
at any sacrifice. He gathered together
the money before leaving New Orleans
to visit his daughter in England, and in
trusted the sum to his partner, Trever
ton, with special directions that it should
be paid immediatelv to Silas Craig.
Gerald Leslie knew that his partners
was a gamester, tut he firmly believed
him to be one of the most honorable of
men. and he had ever found him strictly
just in all their commercial dealings.
He departed, therefore, happy in the
thought that the debt was paiii, and that
Silas Craig, the usurer, could no longer
rub his fat, greasy hands, and chuckle at
the thought of his power over the
haughty planter, GeraM Leslie. He de
parted happy in the thought that hi3
next voyatio would be to convey him to
an English home, where the tyranny of
prejudice could neveroppress his beloved
and lovely child.
The first intelligence which greeted him
on his return to" New Orleans, was tho
death of his friend and partner.
Philip Treveiton had died a week be
fore Gerald Leslie landed. He had died
atmidniaht in a wretched chamber at a
gambling-house. There was a mystery
about his death his last hours were
shrouded in the darkness of the silent
secrets of the night. None knew who
had watched beside him in his dyius mo
ments. The murderer had escaped ; the
mutilated body of the murdered man was
found in the waters of the Mississippi.
Philip Treverton's death was a ead
blow to his survivor, Gerald Leslie. The
two men had been associates for years ;
both thorough gentlemen, intellectual,
highly educated, they had been united
In the bonds of a sincere and heartfelt
friendship.
What then were Gerald Leslie's feel
ings when he found that his friend, his
Eartner, his associate, the man whom he
ad fully trusted, had deceived him ; and
that the money left by him In Trever
ton's hands had never been paid to Silas
Craig?
In vein tuu he searcn amongst uia
friends papers for. the receipt; there I
was not one memorandum, not one
scrap of paper containing any mention of j
the one hundred thousand dollars : and i
a week after Gerald Leslie's return, he i
received a visit from the usurer, who j
came to claim his debt. The planter .
gave him a bill at a twelvemonth's date, I
the heavy interest for that period fear- j
fully increasiag the debt. This bill
came due on the very day on which we
have introduced Gerald Leslie to the j
reader, and ho was now every moment
expecting to hear the usurer announced.
He waa still without funds to meet hia .
LI
bccevcanoe. Many oiuer ootw were
pressing upon him ; and ho felt that In a
few months his Plantation must be sold,
and be left a ruined man. But as the
drowning wretch catche at the feeblest
straw, or the frailest plank, so he clung
to the hope furnished by delay.
"Once more," he muttered, as he
leaned his head upon his hands in the
attitude of despair, "once more must I
humiliate myself to this low-minded
wretch, and beg the delay which he may
grant or refuse, as it pleases his bae
nature. Heaven help mo, I little
dreamed that Gerald Leslie would ever
come to sue to Silas Craig."
At this moment a cheerful-looking
negro entered the apartment, bearing a
card upon a silver salver.
"Masga Craig, please, maasa," he
said.
"Tell him to walk In."
"Into thin room, maasar
"Yes, Censar."
The negro departed, and In a few mo
ments returned, ushering In a fat man.
of about fifty years of age, dressed in the
loose and light-colored coat and trousers.
fashionable In New Orleans.
This summer costume, which was be
coming to many, accorded ill with the
fat and awkward figure of Silas Craig.
The loose open collar displayed a bull
neck that bespoke tho brute force of a
eensual nature. It was almost impossi
ble to imagine a more truly repulsive ap
pearance than that of the usurer of New
Orleans; repulsive, not so much from
natural ugliness, as from that hidden
something, dimly revealed beneath the
outward features that told the nature of
the roan, and caused the close observer
and tho physiognomist to shrink from him
with instinctive abhorrence.
Cruelty leered out of the small rat-like
gray eyes, hypocrisy and sensuality alike
were visible in the thick lips and wide
animal mouth. The usuer's hair, of a
reUdlsh yellow, was worn long, parted
In the middle, and pushed behind his
ears, giving a sanctimonious expression
to his face. For It must be known to
the reader that Silas Craig had always
contrived to preserve a character for
great sanctity. His voice was loudest
in expressing horror at the backslidlngs
of others; his presence was unfailing at
the most frequented places of worship ;
and men who knew that the usurer
would strip the widow or the orphan of
the utmost farthing, or the last rag of
clothing, beheld him drop his dollars
Into the plate at the close of every char
ity sermon.
By such pitiful artifices as these the
world is duped, and Silas Craig was uni
versally respected in New Orleans ; re-
epected in outward seeming by men who
in their Inmost soul loathed and exe
crated him.
With a bland smile, he obeyed Gerald
Leslie's gesture, and seated himself in a
low rocking-chair opposite the planter.
"Charming weather, Mr. Leslie. he
said.
"Charming, "answered Gerald absently.
"1 trust I see you well, my dear friend."
murmured Silas Craig, in the fat, oily
voioe peculiar to him, "and yet, he added,
almost affectionately, "I no not think
you are looking well no, decidedly not.
you look a little harrased ; a little care
worn, as if the business of this life was
pressing too much upon you."
I have good need to look harnassed
and care-worn," answered Gerald Leslie
impatiently. "Come, Mr. Craig, do not
let us waste time upon tine speeches and
sympathy which wo cannot either of us
expect to feel I know what you have
come here for, and you know that I know
It, so why beat about the bush? You
have my acceptan-se, due today in your
pocket, and you come to claim payment."
"xou are as proud as ever. air. Leslie.
Bald the usurer, an angry gleam shooting
out or his email eyes, in spite of the af
fected smile upon his Hps.
'Why should I be less proud than
vrr" answered the planter, haughtily.
If you call a contempt for falsehood, and
a loathing of hypocrisy pride, I am oei.
tainly amongst the proudest."
Gerald Leslie knew that every word he
uttered was calculated to infuriate Silas
Craig, and that, at the moment when he
had to ask a favor of him; but the
haughty spirit of the planter could less
brook to stoop now than ever the very
fact of having to ask this favor stung him
to the quick, and urged him on to show
his contempt of the man from whom he
had to ask it.
The usurer sat for some few moments
In silence, rubbing his hands slowly one
over the other, and looking furtively at
GeraJd. -
"You may ask me why you should be
less proud today than ever, Mr. Leslie,"
he said, with a malicious grin. "Shall I
tell you why? Because the tables are
turned since the day when you passed
Silas Crait in the streets of New Orleans
as if he had been one of the slaves on
your plantation ; when yon spurned him
as if he bad been the dirt beneath your
feet. I know what you said of me in
these days ; 1 came by my money by
crooked ways ; I was a rogue ; an usurer ;
my iU-gotten wealth would bring me to
the gailows some day. These are the
sort of things you said, and I took them
quietly enough ; for I am of a patient dis
position, and I knew my turn would
come. It has come. The times are
chanod since then. My wealth was ill
gotten, was it? You were glad enough
to borrow a hundred thousand dollars of
it, ill-gotten as it was ; and now when I
come today to ask you for the payment of
that money, you take such a high tone
that I can only believe you have it ready
for me in your cash-box yonder."
It waa with a malicious chuckle that he
uttered those concluding words ; for the
crafty wretch well knew the nature of
Gerald Leslie", and he had suspected from
the first that the money was not forth
coming. "Not odc penny of it!" cried the
planter; "not one penny of it, Mr.
Craig."
"Indeed !" said Silas. "Then I'm ex
tremely sorry to hear It; as, of course,
under those circumstances I can no
longer delay putting an execution upon
your property, and sending the Leslie
plantation and your valuable lot of nig
gers to the auctioneer's hammer."
Having uttered thl threat, he sat for
some little time with his hands on his
knees, and a smile of triumph upon his
face, watching the countenance of the
planter.
Gerald Leslie's was a gloomy face to
look upon In that moment; but it neither
expressed grief nor humiliation, and his
enemy was disappointed.
It was not enough to ruin the man he
hated. Silas Craig' would have given half
his fortune to see that haughty spirit
lowered in the dust.
The planter sat for some minutes in
perfect silence, as if he were revolving
some plan in his mind. Presently he
looked up, and, without any alteration of
his former manner, addressed the usurer
thus:
"Silas Craig, sooner than ask a favor
of you, I would see every scrap of prop
erty I poasess sold In tho public eale
room, and would leave my native land a
beggar. I do not ask you a lavor, then ;
I offer you a bargain. If my property is
sold today, it will be sold at a loss. You
will be paid, it is true, but others, for
whom pardon me I feel a great deal
mors concern, win toae. xwo montns
hence that same property will, for certain
commercial rt aeons known as wU to you
as to me, realize a much larger amount.
Besides which, I have friends in the
North who may come forward in the
meantime to save me from ruin. Kenew
your bill at two months from today, and
for those two months I will give you
double tho enormous interest 1 have boen
already paying a ruinous bargain for
me, and as valuable one for you. But no
favor; remember that ! Do you accept?"
"I do," said Silas, after a few moments'
deliberation. "The interest ought to be
trebled, though."
The planter laughed bitterly.
"I have offered you the uttermost far
thing I mean to offer, be said.
'I accept it," answered SHa. "Give
me pen, ink and pa pec, and I'll draw up
ine document.
CHAPTER IV.
HILE the diffi
culties of the
planter were be
coming evsry day
mors pain ul to
encounter, and
mora perlkma to
his future pros
pects of happi
ness tne good
ship Virginia reached her destination,
and in due time Mrs. Montresor and her
two fair charges arrived at New Orleans.
Cora Leslie had given her father no
warning of her coming. It had pleased
the loving irl to think taat aha should
creep to his side when he least expected
her, and that the happy surprise of her
arrival would come upon him la the
midst of his troubles.
It was growing dusk on a lovely
summer evening, when the travelers
reached New Orleans. Bidding a hasty
adieu to Adelaide Horton and Mrs. Mon
tresor, with a promise to call upon them
early the next day, Cora sprang Into the
carriage which Mortimer Percy had pro
cured for her, requesting him to give the
address to the driver.
"Your father is in town. Miss Leslie,"
said the young man. "You will have
scarcely ten minutes' drive."
"Ten minutes!" cried Cora eagerly.
"In ten minutes, then, I shall see my
father P
Her lovely countenance glowed with
enthusiasm as she spoke ; while her tiny
hands were clasped m an ecstasy of de
light. Mortimer Percy's faoe grew strangely
mournful as he looked upon the excited
girl.
One monent, Miss Leslie," he ex
claimed earnestly, pausing with his hand
upon the oarriage door. "You remem
ber what I said to you in Grosvenor
Square, on the night of my aunt's haiVi"
"Yes, perfectly."
"You remember that I then told you I
feared your father's welcome might not
be so warm a one as your loving heart
would lead you to desire. If tonight
you should find it so, remember my
warning, and do not doubt your father's
affection, even should be receive you
somewhat coldly. Remember, too, that
come what may, an should the hour of
trouble fall upon you as it sometimes
does on the youngest and the fairest ; re
member that you have always a friend in
Mortimer Percy, and do not scruple to
appeal to him."
He clasped her hand in his as he spoke
and she returned the friendly pressure.
"There is a mystery in your wards
which 1 seek in vain to fathom, Mr.
Peroy," she said ; "and I know that your
warnings fill me with a strange fear;
but I know, too, that you have been very
good to me. and should bofivv come I
will not hesitate to appeal te you and
your cousin Adelaide."
"Adelaide Is a dear, good little girl,"
answered Mortimer with a sigh ; "but I
shall be better able to serve you thap
?be.
Good night, Miss Leslie. "
released her slender hand, gave
directions to the driver, and in an
moment the horse started, and
Ee
some
other
Cora felt that she was on her way to her
father's residence.
The sun was sinking in a bed of eclm-
6on glory, and the dusky shadows clos
ing in the streets of New Orleans.
The houses and Dublio bulldincs were
dimly visible in the declining fight, as
Cora looked out of the carriage window.
The place seemed strange to her after
her long residence in England. She had
no memory of anything she saw, and felt
that she was an utter stranger in her
native land.
But tho had not loig to think of these
things. The carriage drew up before
her father's house, and the door was
opened by the black servant, Oaar.
Without waiting to ask any questions,
she hurried into the hall, aiter dismiss
ing the driver ; but as she was about to
inquire for her father, another negro ser
vant emerged from one of the doors open
ing into the hall, and advanced to meet
her
He was past mkld)a age. His hahr was
grizzled with patches of gray, and his
face had an expression settled melan
choly rarely seen upon the negro coun
tenance. He was dressed in a looe linen
jacket and trousers, and his manner and
appearance altogether denoted his
station, which was that of confidential
man and funeral swvant, factotum to Ws
master, Mr. Leslie.
This mars name wa$ Toby. He had
served tae planter faithfully for hve-and-twenty
years.
"Mr. "Leslie oan see no one this even
ing." he said a he approached Cora.
"He wL'l not refuse to see me," mur
mured th young grrl ; "he cannot deny
himself to his daughter."
"His daughter!" exclaimed the negro,
with an irrepressible burst of enthusi
asm ; "bis daughter. Miss Cora, that was
away across the tea yonder in Ihe.froe
country. Cora, the child I used to nurso
in the years that are gone by ; ah, forgive
me, forgive me, forgive the poor old ne
gro slave, who is almost wild at the
sight of his young mKtress !"
The faithful creature fell on bis knees
at Cora's feet and, clasping her hand in
both his own, covered it wfth kisses.
"You remember me then?" said Cora.
"I remom ber the little child that I U6ed
to carry in my arms, not the beautiful
young lady from the happy English land ;
but the younj lady has &till the soft
voice and the sweet smile of the little
child, and she is not angry wrth poor
Toby because he is beside himself with
joy to see her once again."
"Angry with you!" exclaimed Cora;
"but tell me my father, whera is he?
Do not detain tne Ion far when I should
rush into his dear arms !"
Your father !" A sudden change
came over tho slave's manner. "Your
lather. Miss Cora ! . He thinks you ctj.ll
In the free English country, and when ha
hears that you have returned The &q
gro paused, with an embarrassed cou&tsa
ance, as he uttered these words.
What then?" cried Cora. "II I hO
returned without his knowledge, arnj J
no bis daughter; and. wbo, In hia twfr
Of eorrow, has a better right to be at ha
aide?" i
Tee. Miss Cora, but "
Tell me where If he?"
"In that room. Miss Cora," answered
the negro, gravely, pointing to the door
of the study.
Without waitkuz for another ward'Car.
softly opened the door, and gliding into
the room, stood for a moment mutely re
garding her father. The Venetian shut
ters were ciseu, and a shaded lamp
burned upon the planter's desk a lamp
"in len tne room in shadow, and threw
its full light upon the careworn face of
Gerald Leslie. The papers before him
lay unheeded on the deuk, with a half
burned cigar by their side. His finely
molded chin rested upon his hand, his
brow was contracted by painful thoughts
and his dark brown eyes were fixed
gloomily upon the ground.
He had not heard Cora's entrance. The
young girl crept softly to his side, and
dropping on her knees at his feet, olap
ing her bauds about his left arm. which
hung loosely over the arm of his chair.
"Father, she murmured, "dearest
father I"
It was with no exclamation of joy, but
with a cry of something nearer akin to
agony, that the planter turned and be
held his only daughter.
. . ... i ,
vor i no exciaimea; uora, you
uere i
"Yes, dearest father. I know I know
that it Is against your commands that I
have come, hut I felt that It could not be
against your wishes."
Gerald Leslie's head dropped upon his
Dreast wun a gesture or despair.
"It needed but this, he murmured,
to compiwte my ruin."
These words were uttered In a voice so
low as to escape the ear of Cora ; but she
could still perceive that her comintr had
not given her father the pleasure she had
fondiy hoped to have seen written in his
face, when he first beheld her.
"Father, father," she cried piteously.
ciasping ner arms about his neck, and
gently drawing round hl9 head, so as to
be able to look in his face ; "father, can
it De that you do not love mar
"Not love you, Cora, my darling, my
darling!" Clasping his child to his
breast, Gerald Leslie burst into a pas
sion ox SODS.
Thla was her welcome home.
CHAPTER V.
r1 us turn from
the residence of
Cora's father to
the splendid man
sion inhabited bv
the wealthy
young planter,
il Augustus llor
il ton. in one of the
best streets of
New Orleans.
It Is upward of
a week after the
arrival of Mon
tresor with her
two fair charges
It is a bright
summer morning, and the ramlly party
are assembled in an elegantly furnished
apartment, opening into a cool veranda.
filled with exotic plants.
Airs. Montresor, who, even in that
warm climate, is too energotio to be Idle.
is seated at her embroidery. Her nephew
Augustus lolls in an easy chair, reading
the New Orleans papers, whilo Adelaide
Horton reclines in a hammock ottar tho
open window. Mortimer Percy, with his
hands in the pockets of his light trou
sers, and a cigar in his mouth, leans
against the window talking to his cousin
"Say what you will, Mortimer, it is
moet extraordinary that Cora should not
have called here sinoe our return, ex
claims Adelaide.
But do I not tell you, my dear
cousin." answered the young man, "that
Mr. Leslie has taken his daughter to his
country-seat upon the plantation?"
"What of that replied Adelaide, "iir.
Leslie's villa is but half an hour's drive
from New Orleans. Nothing could haw
been easier than for him to have brought
Cora here."
At this moment a female slavo entered,
announcing Mr. Craig.
"Show him in," 6aid Augustus, without
raising his eyes from the newspaper he
was reading.
"Silas Craig P exclaimed Mortimer,
with a shudder of disgust. "What in
Heaven's name Induces you to encourage
the acquaintance of that man, Augustus?"
"Pshaw, Mortimer, I have none of your
romantic notions. Mr. Craig is a very re
spectable member of society."
"Respectable! Yes; the man who
makes monev is respectable, no matter
by what shameful means he makes it.
Usurer, oppressor of the helpless, traf
ficker in human flesh what matters by
what hideous trade the gold is got? The
yellow guineas will not sparkle less the
hollow world will not be less ready to
bow to the respectable member of so
ciety." Fool!" cried Augustus, angrily ;
"Craig is here. Do you wish him to know
your opinion of him?"
Mortimer shrugged his shoulders and
resumed bis conversation with his cousin
Adelaide. .
SUas Craig saluted the ladies with cer
emonious politeness, and. after the first
greetings, exclaimed with a face expres
sive of sanctimonious grief and pious
horror
"Of curse, ladies, you have heard the
news?"
"The news ! What news?" cried Ade
laide and her aunt simultaneously.
"What ! is It possible that you have not
heard of Mr.Gerald Leslie's conduct? All
New Orleans Is ringing with the scandal."
"What scandal? "
"Ah, ladies, you may indeed well ask
what scandal ; for who could believe that
Mr. Leslie, one of the principal planters
of Louisiana, should have been guilty of
such a treason against the Interest oi so
ciety at large?"
"Treason ! Mr. Leslie ! What do you
mean. Mr. Craig ! exclaimed Augustus
Horton.
"I mean that Gerald Leslie has been
discovered, within theae last few day,
to have educated in England tho child of
one of his slaves, a Quadroon called
Francilia, whom Le sold to me some four
teen years ago. The girl has been
brought up In England, where she has re
ceived the education of a princess, and it
is only through her unexpected return to
Now Orleans that the secret has been dis
covered." "Merciful Heavens" cried Adelaide,
hiding her face in her hands, "Cora a
slave P
There was one spark of feeling at
laeiBt," muttered Mortimer, as he watched
his couein's emotion.
'Now," pursued the pitiless usurer,
'apoording to the Louisiana law, it is
criminal to teach a slave to read. What,
then, must be the offense of Mr. Leslie
In sending this girl to a first-clasaJSpgllsn
boarding-6chool, and having her taught
the accomplishments of a lady of the
highest birth?"
"A terrible offense. Indeed, Mr. Craig,"
said Mortimer, bitterly, "but this girl is j
Oerald Leslie's own" daughter, ia she
not?" !
"She is; but what of that? Born of a j
slave mother, 6he is not the Ies3 his j
slave." j
I understand. As a worthy member
of society, then, as a Christian and a gen-
tlemen in the sense in which we regard !
theHe things he may send his daughter j
to toil sixteen hours a day on his planta
tion ; he may hand her to his overseer to
rioggeU. ir sue is too weak (or too lazy, a-i
It will most likely be called) to work ; he
may sen ner, n ne win. no matter to
what degradation no matter to what in
famy; but let him darn to love her let
him dare look upon her with n- thrill
of fatherly affection lt him attempt t
elevate her mind by education, to teach
her that there Is a free heaven above her,
where slavery cannot be let him do
this, and he ha committed a crime
against society and thu laws of Louis
iana." Exactly so," replied Craig, rubbing
his oily bands, "I se you understand
ths law of the land, Mr. Percy. No
wonder that Gerald Iitlle is a ruined
man, he has wastwl a princely income
on the education of thU girl This s!avo."
"Poor Cora!" exclaimed Adelaide.
"What, MU Uortoii, did you know
her?" asked Craig.
"I did. Indeed, replied Adrlaide; "we
were educated at the same school we
were bosom friends."
"Merciful Heaven '" exclaimed Craig,
sanctimonioutly ; "to what pollution
are our daughters exposed, when the
children of s!vms are foisted upon so
ciety in this manner!"
"No, Mr. Craig." cried Mortimer, with
a bitter laugh ; "tho pollution is in the
vry atinojherw of a clime in which a
father's first duty to society is to trample
on the laws of " humanity--the tlos of
fibh and blood."
"Hold your tongue. Mortimer," said
Augustus Horton, "you know nothing of
theau things ; Geruld Leslie has acted
disgracefully, and this girl must pay the
penalty of her father's lolly."
"That Is Louisiana justice."
"Excuse me fo two or three minutes.
Mr. Craig," said Angustus, rising; "I
have a few words to say to my cousin. I
will rejoin you almost immediately ; in
the meantime the ladle will amuse you.
Come, Mortimer."
The young man followed his cousin,
after bowing coldly to Craig. The truth
of the matter was that Augustus Horton
wished to get hfs Imprudent partner out
of the way, as he felt that Silas Craig
would take care to spread the report ol
Mortimer Percy's revolutionary principles
among the outraged Southerners.
Left alone with the two ladies, Silag
Craig felt himself very much at a loss fox
conversation.
He had never married, and he was
always silent and ashamed in female so
ciety. Accomplished hypocrite as h
was, he trembled before tho keen in
stincts of a woman, and felt that his real
nature stood unmasked.
But on this occasion he was relieved
from his embarrassment in a manner
that be had little expected. Just as h
was preparing himself to uttor some com
monplace remark, a stentorian voice re
sounded through the vestibule without.
"Oh, you needn't announce me," said
the intruder; "everybody knows me. It's
old Craig, the lawyer, I want to see, and
I know he's here."
A close observer might have observed
that Silas Craig's faoo grew considerablj
paler at the sound of his voice ; but be
fore he could make any remark the ownei
of it had dashed into the room, banging
open tho door with a noise of thunder.
Weil might the ladles start with an ex
clamation of amazement at the apparitioo
that stood before them. The new eomei
was a tall, lanky, raw-boned looking man,
with long hair, whioh streamod in rough
locks from under his fur cap. He wore a
bear-skin jacket, very much the worse
for bad usace, loose knickerbocker-
trousers, leather gaiters, and great nailed
boots ; his red-striped shirt was torn and
ragged, and a tattered cloak hung looselv
over his shoulder. When we further add
that ho carried a musket under bis arm,
the reader will be able to understand the
astonishment of Mrs. Moutreor and hei
niece at beholding such an intruder it
their elegant apartment.
If a ghost risen from the grave hal
stood before him, Silas Craig could
scarcely have appeared more terrified
than he did at the sight of this man.
So I ve found you at last, my worthy
Craig, have IV" cried the stranger. "I've
boon over evers- inch of ground in New Or
leans. I think, looking for you. At last
somebody told me you were at Mr. Hor-
ton's. 'Very well, then,' says I, 'bore goes
for Mr. Horton's,' and here ! am ; but how
Is my dear Craig ! You don't seem glad
to see me.
His dear Craig! Vulgar ruffian P mut
tered Silas in an undertone ; and then,
with an effort to overcome his embarrass
ment, he said, "Why, as for being glad
to see you, my dear Bill, of course I m
giad ; but you see you see the truth was
1 thought you were in California.
ies, whore you sent mo to dig for
gold and keep out of your way. No, the
climate didn't agree with me, and I
didn t find any gold, though I soon spent
spent all I took with me. &o, knowing I
had powerful friends in New Orleans, I
thought the best thing I could do would
De tO come Dae a and throw mv'seir once
more on their generosity."
Silas Craig bit hia thick under Hp till
tho blood started beneath his teeth.
But I 6ay, Craig," said the stranger.
looking at the two astonished women,
"where's your manners? Ain't you going
to introduce me to the ladies?"
"Oh, to be sure," replied Silas, with
Increasing embarrassment. "My dear
Mrs. Montresor, my dear Miss Horton,
allow me to introduce to you Mr. Bill
Bowen, formerly captain of a slaver."
"Captain of a slaver !" exclaimed Ade
laide. "Don't be frightened, miss," said Bill;
your brother was one of my best cus
tomers. I've dono many a bit of bus
iness in the nigger trade wit'a him."
The young girl shuddered as she
turned away from the speaker.
"I know my dress ain't quite the
thing for a lady's drawing room," he said
looking down down at hi ragged shirt
sleeves and clay stained olothe3, " but
we'll poon set all that to rights. My
friend Craig will recommend me to his
tailor and lend me the money to pay his
bill, if it comes to that, won't you, Craig ?"
"Oh, certainh', as far as that goes, In
consideration for past services."
"Yes, 'in consideration for past ser
vices.' " repeated Bill Bowen, rather sig
nificantly. "I tell you what, Mr. Craig,
as you seem doing the civil to these la
dies here, and as you don't seem over
much to relish my oompany, I'll slope
now, and drop in and take a bit of dinner
with you at your own house by-and-by.
What's your hour?"
"Six o'clock," muttered Craig, with ill
concealed vexation.
"Six o'clock. I shall be sure to be
punctual," said Bill Bowen, "for I've got
a pretty sharp appetite. Good morning,
ma'am. Good morning, miss," he added,
nodding familiarly to the two ladies, as
he strode out of t he room .
"What a horrible creature!" exclaimed
Mrs. Montresor. How can you tolerate
him, Mr. Craig?"
"Why, the truth is," replied Silas,
"the man has been of nee to me In some
trlfiin matters of business. He ha3
served me for a long time one way and
another, and I've got used to his Queer
ways. He's an eccentric sort of animal,
and he works all the better for being
humored, so I look over his uncultivated
manner."
"I would not advise you to encourage
him in running after you into people's
drawing-rooms," paid Mrs. Montresor,
pointing to the clay left by Bill Bowen's
boot upon the rich colors of the Persian
carpet.
Silas reddened and an angry
frowt1
contracted his sandy eyebrows. ,
"I'll forgive him if he ever plays tat
this trick again," he muttered. "You
are quite right, Mrs. Montrssor, Mr.
William Bowen requires to be taught a
lesson, and I think Silas Craig Is the nw
to teach It him. Pray exouse the iacon-!
venlence you have been subjected to,,
and permit me to wish you good raoro!
ing.'' t
"I cannot tell you how I dislike that
man P exclaimed Adelaide, when her
aunt and she wore alone; "he Lnsplraa
me with a disgust for which I can
scarcely account. And, then, again,
how cruelly he spoke of Coral Poor;
girl, poor girl! A slave a kUvs Ilka
Myra, or Daisy, or Rose, or any of out
servants. Tho friendship between us La i
broken forever, and henceforth I dar
not look upon her as my equal."
The Iron hand of prejudice had so
strangled every warmer emotion of th
soul, that this girl, whose heart was nat-
uratiy goou anu gonerous, was prepare
to abandon forever the friend and com
panion of her youth, because the taint of
African blood was in her veins, tha
brand of society was stamped against
ber name because ahs was a slave !
o ! I'ontiiliiieil.
HENRY BOECK'
C
IS TIIK 1-LACK TO JICT VODK
Parlorand Bod Room Sets, Mat
tresses, Sofas, Lo'irges and
Office Furniture.
Coil and examine
ing elsewhere.
his stock betoit yo-
Cor Mnin .V, Sixl.li KK PlHttamonth, Nel.
Lumber
THE OLD RELIABLE.
11. A. WATERMAN & SOU
Wiioiei- Hud HiMHii Dealer n.
r i iiynrn i
L LUIVIDLTi j
Shingles, Lath, Sash,
Ooo
finds.
Can supply every demand of the
Call and get terms. Fourth stref-t
In HcHr of Om i'i IIou.s
e.
ROOFING.
GU.U-KLASTIU HOOFING FELT
costs only $2.00 per 100 square feet.
Makes a good roof for years and anyone
can put it on. Siind stump for sample
and full pnrticulars.
Gr.M Elastic Hooking Co.,
3'.) ifc 41 West Uko.uway, New Yokk.
LOCAL AGENTS" WANTED-
PUBE FIAPLE SUGAR
and Syrup.
Lvin p:iccs quoted on large or kmall Iota
Strictly Pure.
Adirondack Maple Sngar Co
123!! Monro .-t., Chicago, 111.
FULL Ell & DENIFON
Western Agents.
JULIUS PEPPERRERG,
MANUFACTURE K OK ANL
WHOLESALE & RETAIL
DEALER IN TIIE
Choicest Brands of Cigars,
including
our
Flor do Popparbargo' and Qud
FULL LINE OF
TOBACCO AND SMOKERS' ARTICLE
aiways in stock.
Nov- 26, IBS.
I DRESSLER,
The 5th St. Merchant Tail
Keeps a Full Line of
Foreign & Domestic Goods.
Consult Yuur luterc' ly Giviog Hie a Call
SHERWOOD BLOCK
Yard
1