WEEKLY HERALD: FLA.TTS J! OUTE, NEBRASKA. SEPTEMBER 11 1890.
SI OCTOROON
A mroHT or blatkbt dats.
BY MISS M. E. BRADDON.
dl A PTEB VL
wjenxi years
beforo the period
of whloh we are
writing, a certain
wealthy Span
iard, culling him
self Juan Mora
qultos, came to
New Orleans and
took up bis abode
In a superb villa
residence, suffi
ciently removed
from the din and buntle of the city, and
yet commanding a view vi the wide
sweep of waters, and the dcnae forest of
masts that thronged the levee.
Be brought many slaves, and a young
wife, a pale 8 anish beauty.
Within six .nonths of the arrival of
Don Juan Moraquitos at Kew Orleans,
ble wife died, leaving little Camillla an
only daughter.
An old female slave whispered strange
stories of the past.
For six years the father soarce noticed
the babe, who reminded him of his wife.
Be had a small estate on the bank of
the Mississippi. It was a little paradise.
Here. . under care of two women, the
Infant was placed. The Slave Pepita.
who had nursed Olyrupia, the mother of
Camillia, In her childhood, and had at
tended her in her death hour; and an
other female elave called Zarah, a woman
whoee husband had been sold to a mer
chant of Florida, but who had been al
lowed to keep her son with her. lie was
an active negro boy about six years
old. These two women, with a couple of
stout negro slaves, who worked in the
gardens, composed the entire establish
ment of the baby heiress.
Time passed; the rosy lips began to
form half inarticulate murmurs, then
gentle and loving words. The baby
learned to epeak her nurse's name, to
prattle with the negro lad Zarah's son.
Pepita, the Infant's foster-mother, had
loved the child with devotion.
Zarah attended to the household work
and waited on the nurse and her foster
child. As the baby, Camillla, grew into a
laughing girl, the young negro lovod to
amuse the little heiress by indulging In
all kinds of roggh and impish gambols
for her gratification.
Pepita often left Tristan, the negr
boy, to watch the slumbering child. It
was six years after the death of Olympia
when the stern father's heart first re
lented to his orphan child.
He would see her even though the
spirit of his lost Olympia seemed to rise
from the grave, and gaze at him, out of
the eyes of Camillla. The little girl was
asleep upon a grassy bank.
She awoke at the sound of the Span
lard's footstep, and uttered a scream of
terror.
The loneliness of her lite had made her
timid.
"You are not frightened at me, are
you, Camillla?"
"No."
"Yet you screamed when I first saw
you I It is a strange welcome for you r
.(father, Camillla."
'v "Father? Are you my father?"
xB, ulj vauililio, niu jrvri uiu
"I wllltry," answered the child quietly.
Don Juan clasped his child close to his
breast.
I have a playfellow here," said the
child, pointing to the young negro.
"Tristan is no fit playfellow for my lit
tle Camillla. Tristan is a slave."
The young negro heard every word.
"A slave ! he muttered, as Don Juan
led the child toward the house. "A
elave I Yes, I have been told that often
enough r
A week after this. Camillla, the nurse,
Pepita, Zarah, and the boy, Tristan, were
removed to the Villa Moraquitos, in the
suburbs of New Orleans.
CamiUla was now under the care of a
governess, a French woman. Mad
emoiselle Pauline Corsi. This lady took
no pleasure in the antics of Tristan so
he seldom saw Camillia.
It was in the depth of the brief winter
when the brother-in-law of Don Juan
Moraquitos arrived at the villa.
He was the only 6urviviDg relative of
the Spaniard's dead wife, her older
brother, dearly beloved by her, but he
who had foroed upon her the marriage
with his friend, Don Juan. His name was
Tomaso Crlvello.
He had come from Mexico on a tour
through the United States, and had ar
rived at New Orleans to die.
Yes ; the hand of death was upon him I
Three days after he expired la the arms
of his brother-in-law.
Half an hour before he died he became
conscious, and implored Don J uan to send
for an attorney. It was necessary that
he should make a wilL
The attorney sent for by the Spaniard
was no other than Silas Craig.
On the reading of the will it was found
that Dob Tomaso had left his entire for
tune to his brother-in-law, Don Juan.
VA t iDon Tomaso had not come to the
villa alone. He had brought a boy
about 8 years of age. He was named
Paul.
This Paul was a handsome boy. None
knew whence he came, or who he was.
Camillia was the only one from whom
be would take comfort
"My child, come hither," said the Span
lard, one day, addressing Paul.
Tell me your proper name besides
Paul I"
"They call me Paul Lislmon."
"Lislmon it shall be."
"Do you remember yoar mother?"
"She died when I was a baby, and I
always lived with my father, Don Tom
aso. "Do not fear, my child, your future
will be my care," and Paul Lislmon was
brought up in the household of the
Spaniard. Camillia and Paul taking les
sons 6ide by side, from Madmoiselle
Pauline Corsi.
Bill Bowen was at the house of Sila.
Oral;? precisely at six o'clock
After dinner Silas and the visitor re
tired to the lawyer" private office.
Now we are alone. Mr. Bowen, what
want you?"
A thousand dollars."
"I gave you a thousand"
"The day after Crerald Leslie's part
ner, Philip Trevexton died !"
"Come, come, Bowen, don't- excite
yourself," said Silas. "You shall have
the money." , .
"Listen to what people 6ay of Mr.
Treverton's death; he lost heavily at
play ; he could not pay up ; he was in
sulted by a stranger, and stabbed In a
kind of duel, the murderer's party car
rying off the body. A fortnight after
Ward the body was found In the Mlesis
slppll the face could not be reoogmted,
but from capers lound. In the pocket, the
orrM was tsoira v tw ma ox Trever
ton It wne therefore buried la the Trer
ertoa vault. The police failed to discover
the murderer. On Gerald Leslie's ratur
frora Europe, he examined the papers of
his late partner which had bee sealed
op. That for whloh Leslie looked most
anxiously was a certain dootfment, the
receipt for one hundred thousand dol
lars, paid to Mr. Bliss Craig, attorney
and money-lender. Re did not And it I
- ltm win a-re cue inoney, n uuaa r
i ain't la no hurry," replied Bowen.
"Now I want to take a squint at what
ever lies behind yonder map." Silas
suppressed a half-muttered oath, but re-
j luotantly touched a spring. A door flew
! back. They entered a lonA, narrow pas.
sage. At its end was a window
having a view of a large gambling
saloon!
CHAPTEB VIL
EARLY a month
had ehtpsed since
the arrival of the
Tlrrlaia In the
harbor of New
Orleans, and still
Adelaide Horton
and Cora Leslie
had not met.
. The young
Creole, -generous-
hearted as she was, had never felt the
same affection for her schoolfellow since
the fatal revelation made by Silas Craig.
It was in vain that the generosity of her
nature would have combated with the
prejudices of her education; pride of
caste was the stronger, and she could
not - but despise Cora, the lovely de
scendant of slaves. In the meantime
the two girls had ceased to meet. The
nature of Adelaide Horton was capricious
and volatile, and. in a few days, she had
almost dismissed Cora's Image from hei
memory.
Indolent,' like all creolee, Adelaide
epent the greater part of her days in a
rocking-ohair, reading a novel, while
fanned by her favorite slave Myra.
Mortimer Percy was, as we know, by no
means the most attentive of lovers, al
though living in the same house as that
oooupled by his fair cousin. He saw hei
but seldom, and then evinced an indif.
ference and tistlessness which often
wounded the volatile girl.
"How weary and careless he la," she
thought; "how different to Gilbert Mar
grave, the artist, the poet, the enthu
siast I"
Alas, Adelaide, beware of that love
which Is given without return I Beware
of the bitter humiliation of finding that
he whom you have secretly admired and
reverenced he whose Image you hav
et upon the altar of your heart, and
have worshiped In the sanctity of sllenou
tnd of dreaming that even he. the tdoL
the beloved, looks on you with fndif
ference, while another usurps the earnest
devotion of hie poet soul.
Adelaide Horton bad ample time fox
Indulgence in those waking dreams
which are often so dangerous. A school
girl, , young, romantic and frivolous, ig
norant of the harsh ways of the world.
she built fair castles in the air Ideal
palaoes In a lovely dreamland, which
were only too soon to be shattered to the
ground.
Gilbert Margrave came to New Orleans
armed with those brilliant schemes of
inventions in machinery, which might.
as he fondly hoped, supersede slave la
bor, though not militating against the
employment of the many.
He came well furnished with letters of
Introduction from powerful men in Eng
land, to the planters and merchants of
New Orleans ; but though he met with
much politeness and hospitality, the
Loulslanians shrugged their shoulders
and shook their heads when he revealed
his opinions and tried to win their ap
proval of his plans. They looked upon
the handsome young engineer with a feel
lng something akin to pity. Ho was aa
enthusiast, and, like all enthusiasts, no
doubt a little of a madman.
One of the first houses at which Gil
bert Margrave presented himself, was
that of Augustus Horton. He found
Adelaide and her aunt alone in their
favorite morning room ; one lounging in
her rocking-chair, the other as usual,
busy at an embroidery frame.
The young oreole looked very pretty in
her loose and floating morning robe of
India muslin, richly trimmed with Valen
ciennes lace, and peach-colored ribbons,
Her hair was arranged In clusters of
short ringlets, which trembled in the
summer breeze, wafted in through the
Venetian blinds of the veranda.
As the name of Gilbert Margrave was
announced, the animated girl sprang
from her easy-chair, and, flinging down
her book ran forward to receive the long-looked-for
visitor.
"At last ! she exclaimed. "I was sure
you would come, but I have looked out
for you so anxiously I mean we all
have," she added, blushing.
" A thousand thanks for 700 kind wel
come, Miss Horton. Believe me, your
house is one of the very first to which I
have directed my steps.
M How good of you to remember oer"
"Say, rather, how selfish," replied Gil
bert. "Do you think it is no happiness.
In a foreign country, to find one circle at
least where one is not a stranger?
"Nay, Mr. Margrave," said Mrs. M ou
tre sor ; "will you not cell us a circle of
friends V
"But pray eft down," exclaimed Ade
laide, pointing to a low chair near a stand
of perfumed exotics in one ot the win
dows, "sit down and tell us all your ad
ventures by land and sea, especially the
latter, and how you have survived the
hair-breadth 'scapes and ventures of the
briny Atlantic."
Gilbert Margrave told, in a few words,
the particulars of his voyage, which had
been a rapid and a pleasant one ; "so
rapid a passage," he continued with a
smile, "that I trust I am vet in time to
assist at the wedding of Miss Horton and
my old friend Mortimer Percy."
A shade of vexation crossed Adelaide's
pretty face.
"I really do not see," she safd, "why
ail the world should be in such a hurry
for this marriage. There is surely time
enough. One would think I was in dan
ger of becoming an old maid, or else that
everybody was desirous of getting rid
of me."
"I do not think there is much fear of
either contingency," replied Gilbert,
laughing.
"The truth is, Mr. Margrave," Eald
Mrs. Moutresor, "that my dear Adelaide
is a spoiled child, and because her cousin
happens to be a very sensible, high-principled
young man, but not exactly a nero
of romance, she thinks herself oalled
upon to affect a contempt for him. But
I know her better than she knows her
self, and I am certain that, at the bot
tom of her heart, she cherishes a very
sincere affection foe Mortimer."
"How can you know what's at the
bottom of my heart, when I don't know
myself, aunt Lucy?" exclaimed Adelaide,
impatiently; "upon my word I think no
girl was ever so cruelly used as I have
been. Other people make up a mar
riage for me, other people tell me whom
I love, when I ought to know a great
deal better than they do. It's really
shameful?"
if the real cause of Adelaide's lndte-
MTBon coma nerve nee mown, n woura
hare been discovered that hr anger was
not so maoh aroused against her aunt as
against Gilbert Margrave, for . the Indif
ferent manner la which he had spoken
of her approaehlng marriage.
Anxious to quell 11m storm, of which
he little knew hlmtf to be the cause,
the young engineer endeavored to turn
the conversation, and in order to do so,
he asked a question which had been
trembling on his Hps from the very first.
"Your friend. Miss Leslie," he said:
"the star of your farewell assembly you
often see her, I suppose. Miss Hurt on?"
Gilbert Margrave little knew that this
very question only added fuel to the fire
alread raging In the breast of the lw
petuous alrl.
"1 have never seen Cora Leslie since
our arrival in New Orleans, she an
swered coldly. .
"Indeed ! But I thought you such in
timate menus. Miss lesue ebe is not
111, I hope?"
His evident anxiety about Cora ter
ribly Irritated Adelaide Horton.
"That question I cannot answer. I
know nothing whatever of Miss Leslie ;
for, I repeat, we have not met since
we reaohed A merlon."
"May I ask why this is so, Miss Hor
ton r
"Beoauite Cora Leslie is no fit associ
ate for the daughter of Edward Hor
ton."
The blood rushed in a crimson tor
rent to the face of the young engineer,
He started from his seat u If m had
been shot.
In Heaven's name, Mlse Horten." he
exclaimed, "what would you Insinuate 1
surely nothing against the honor of "
"I insinuate nothing, Mr. Margrave,"
answered Adelaide. "I simply tell you
that the the person of whom you speak
Is no 00 m pan ion forme. Whatever friend
ship onoe existed between us Is hence
forth forever at an end Cora Leslie is a
slave."
A choking sensation had risen to te
throat of the young engineer during this
speech. Unutterable anguish had pos
sessed him at the thought that he was
perhaps to hear of some stain upon the
character of Cora. What, then was
his relief at finding how muoh he had
wronged her purity, even by that fear?
"A slave !" he replied.
"Yea : African blood flows In her veins.
She has never been emancipated ; she is,
therefore, as much a slave as the negroes
upon her father's plantation."
"I was led to believe something to
this effect on the very night of your
aunt's ball in Groove mjt Square, Miss
Horton. So far from this clroum
stanoe lessening my reepeot for
Miss Leslie I feel that it is rather
exalted thereby into a sentiment
of reverence. She Is do longer
simply a beautiful woman; she hence
forth becomes the lovely representative
of an oppressed people.
"Your opinions are rather Quixotic,
Mr. Margrave," replied Adelaide, with a
sneer ; "and I fear you will find yourself
almost in as painful a position as the
Spanish knight, if you venture to make
them known In New Orleans." '
"Whatever danger I maj incur of be
ing either ridiculed or persecuted, I
shall never conceal my detestation of
prejudice and tyranny, and my sympathy
with the weak," answered Gilbert
proudly. "Pardon me, if I speak warmly
on this subject. Miss Horton.; it Is not
to be supposed that you and I should
think alike. We represent the opposite
sides of the Atlantic"
"Nay, Mr. Margrave," replied Adelaide,
whose brief outburst of anger bad passed
like a thunder eloud In a suny sky, "it
Is I who should ask pardon. I fear I am
a passionate and heartless creature, but
I cannot help feeling some indignation
against Mr. Leslie for the cheat he has
put on us."
Adelaide Horton scarcely dared own to
herself that It was Jealousy of Gilbert's
evident partiality for Cora, rather than
anger against the young girl herself,
that had been the cause of her cruel
word.
Augustus Horton entered the room at
this moment, and Adelaide presented
her brother to the young engineer.
There was little sympathy between
Gilbert Margrave and the planner of New
Orleans. Augustus had never quitted
the Southern States, except on the occa
sion of one or two brief visits to New
York. His ideas were narrow, his preju
dices deeply rooted. He was' by no
means free from the vices of bis fellow
citizens ; he was known to frequent the
gambling-houses, which, In spite of the
law promulgated for their suppression,
still existed in New Orleans ; but he was
known, also, to be prudent, even In the
midst of his dissipation, and never to
have Jeopardized the splendid estate left
blm by his father.
But hospitality is an universal virtue
with the Creoles, and Augustus bade the
Joung engineer a hearty welcome to his
ouse.
: They conversed for some time on in
different subjects, and Gilbert, having
accepted an invitation to dinner for the
following day, was about to take his
leave, when he was prevented by the en
trance of the slave. Myra.
. The girl approached her xntetrees with
an embarrassed manner unusual to her.
"What 1 the matter with you, Myra?"
asked Augustus Impatiently. "What are
you standing there for? Why don't you
speak?
"Oh. ff you please, massa," stam
mered the girl, "there is a young person
below who asks to see my mistress, and
who calls herself Mioe Leslie."
"Gerald Leslie's daughter here!" ex
claimed Augustus. "This is too much.
This is what her father exposes us to in
not teaching this girl her real position."
"What is to be done?" aekod Adelaide,
turnlsg pale.
"Can you ask? replied her brother.
"Surely there is but one course. I will
ask Myra here," he added, pointing to
the young quadroon. "Tell me, girl,
what do you think of this young per
son?" 'Why, massa, I I thought in spite
ot the whiteness of her skin, she must
"Of the same rank as yourself; is it
not so?"
"Yes, massa."
"Very well, then ; do you ttJnk it pos
sible that your mistress could receive her
as a visitor as an equal?"
"Oh, no, massa! exclaimed the girl.
"That is enough. You can let her
know this."
Myra oourtesied, and was about to
leave the room, when Gilbert Margrave
arrested her by an imperious motion of
his hand.
"Stay I" he exclaimed. "Pardon me,
Mr. Horton, if I presume to say that this
must not bo. I had the honor of meet
ing Miss Leslie one evening at the house
of your aunt. Permit me, therefore, to
spare her an insult which X should feel
myself a dastard in tolerating. Allow me
to carry your answer to Miss Leslie?"
"xou, sir! exclaimed Augustus Her
ton. ...
Oh, pardon me, Mr. Horton, If Z apj
pear to make a bad return for the kind
weleome you were so ready to offer to
sv anger; but remember tnat the cos
torn and prejudices of the South &r
fcw to me. and f orcJve me If J ray.tLkJ
tea evnoocv tswa on your part wouia
be only natural, would become on mtn
an abotninaMe oowardtoe P
"Sir!" cried the Indignant Augustus.
Before he oould say more Gilbert Mar.
grave had bowed deferentially to the
ladles, and to the angry planter himself.
"Oh, it is toe clear he loves her H ex
claimed Adelaide, when they were alone.
"And even If he does," said her aunt,
quietly; "what difference can It possibly
make to Miss Adelaide Horton that is
Mrs. Mortimer Percy that is to be?"
Crimson blushes mounted to Adelaide '1
face at this remark. She made no an
swer, but with an angry look at her aunt,
hurried from the room.
This display of emotion had not es
caped the penetrating eye of bet
brother.
"Pray, what is the meaning of this, my
dear aunt?" he asked.
"I very much fear, Augustus, that
your sinter has no great inclination to
marry her cousin, Mortimer Percy."
"And the oauae of this disinclination
Is some foolish preference for the Insolent
European who has just left us 7
"Unhappily, yes."
"This is too humiliating," exclaimed
Augustus, walking rapidly up and dowi
the apartment ; "my sister degrades her
self by evincing a marked predilection foi
a man who is indifferent to her, and th
object of her admiration does hor th
honor to prefer a slaveJ
CHAPTER VIII.
N an elevated ter
race, fifty feel
above the mar
gin of a lake, wai
situated th
summer pavilion
occupied by th
onoe wealth
planter, Goralc
Leslie.
Thick shrub
beries of mag
nolia and arbu
tus. Intersected by winding pathway
and varied by rockeries, lay between the
terrace and the limpid waters below.
Tall palms spread their feathery
branches above the roof of the pavilion,
and exotic (lowers bloomed beneath the
colonnade of bamboo work which sur
rounded the light edifice. A flight oi
marble steps led from the glass door ol
the pavilion, and a balustrade of the
same pure white material stretched the
whole length of the terrace, at each end
of which were sculptured marble vases,
filled with the rarest blossoms. A novel
garden, in exquisite order, surrounded
the pavilion, while, exactly opposite ths
veranda, a rustic table and some gardri
chairs were placed beneath the luxurious
shade of a banana tree.
Seated on the steps leading from the
pavilion, faithful as a dog who listens lor
the footsteps of his beloved master, the
slave Toby might have been seen on the
dav following that on which oora naa
paid her unwelcome visit at the house of
Augustus Horton.
Gerald Loslie was at his office In New
Orleans, where business often detained
him when the best wishes of his heart
would have kept him by his daughter's
side.
The summer afternoon was hot and
sultry, and all the windows were open.
The elave seemed to be listening eagerly
for some sound within.
All is silent," he said, sorrowfully;
"that pretty bird sings no more. What
has happened? Something, I know. I
saw by her sad faoe when she returned
from New Orleans yesterday, that all
was not well with the sweet young mis
tress. The sorrows of those he loves
cannot eecape the old eyes of poor Toby."
At this moment a light footstep
sounded behind him. and Cora Leslie
emerged from the pavilion.
The young girl was dreeeea m tne
thinnest white muslin, which floated
round her graceful figure aerial as some
vapory oloud in a summer sky. She was
pale, and a mournful shadow dimmed
the orient splendor of her large black
eyes. She descended the marDie steps
slowlv. without perceiving the faithful
slave who had risen at her approach, and
who stood aside regarding her earnestly.
"Miss Cora is sad. he said presently ;
"will she forgive the poor slave If he pre
sumes to ask why?"
She started at the sound 01 the
mulatto's voice, and turning toward him
held out her hand silently.
Toby took the little hand In his and
raised it to his Hps.
"Miss Cora does not deny tnat sne is
sad." he repeated.
"Not so much sad, Toby, ae be
wildered." replied the young girl. "My
reception at the bouse of my old school
fellow has filled my mind with per
plexltv. What oould be the meaning of
Adelaide Horton's conduct?"
"Forgive me. Miss Cora, if I remind
vou that your father particularly re
quested you not to leave the house dur
ing his absence."
"I know, Toby, I know. But why that
request? Why am I a prisoner here?
Why is my father's manner more Indi
cative of sorrow than joy at my return to
Louisiana? whv. on my first visit to tne
friend of my youth, do I find the door
shut in my facer"
"But the English gentleman who con
ducted you home explained the reason of
that Miss Oorar'
"No, Toby ; Mr. Margrave endeavored
to explain, but in doing so he only re
vealed his embarrassment. There hi
some seoret In all this. Some mystery
that Hark!"
The sound which arrested Cora's at
tention was the trampling of a horse's
boors upon tno oarriage drive oeiow ice
terrace.
"Hulloa r cried a voice from the
ewne
direction. "Hulloa, there I Is
there
any one to hold mv horse?"
"A visitor 1" exclaimed Cora.
"It is Mr. Augustus Horton,"
said
Toby, loo kins over the balustrade.
"Adelaide's brother 1 Then I will
OOO
him."
"But in your father's absence. Miss
Oora?" murmured the slave, anxiously.
"I will soe him," repeated Cora; "he
may come to offer an explanation
Heaven knows It is needed."
"Hulloa ! Is every one asleep here?
cried the voice below.
"Coming, massa," answered Toby,
running down the terrace steps.
Three minutes afterward Augustus
Horton made his appearance in the
flower garden, where Cora awaited blm.
He bowed carelessly to the young girl
without raising his hat, but fixing upon
her lovely face a gaze of ardent admira
tion. He carried a light riding-whip In his
hand and was smoking a cigar, which he
did not remove from his mouth.
"Miss Cora Leslie, I pre3ume?" he
said.
Cora bowed.
"Mr. Leslie is not at home, I under,
stand?"
"I am expecting his retr.m at any
moment, Mr. Horton," answered Cora,
Something in the planter's familiar
manner, and in his ardent gaze filled the
young girl with indignant surprise, and
she looked at him with a glance of as
tonishment as he flung sealed packet
upon the table, and seated hirael4 with-
vrt tsTMutm, w omm o wm iwiw enairs.
"I have some paper to restore to your
father," he said ; "but that Is not the
whole object of my visit. My tuster told
me that you were lovely. Mist Leslie,
but 1 now perceive that la sueh a case a
woman never tells mere than half the
truth."
Cora had remained standing during
this speech. She now seated herself In
the chair opposite to that taken by th
young planter, and said, calmly :
"Pardon me, Mr. Horton : but I im
agined that the object of your visit
here"
"Was to reply to the letter addressed
by you to my Mister, Adelaide? Yes, Mis
Leslie, that letter proved to us that Mr.
Margrave had not properly acquitted
himself of the commission which ho un
dertook." "How so, sir?"
"My sister much regretted not belns
able to receive you, yesterday, and J
should have shared those regrets, had
she not chosen me to briniz vou her ex
cuses. '
"It Is net an excuse which I require,
Mr. Horton. but an explanation," replied
Cora, with dignity.
Augustus shrugged his shoulders.
"What further explanation can you re
quire, Miss Leslie," he said; "the prepa
rations of her approaching marriage? A
llttlo touch of headache, perhaps? Is not
this sufficient to explain all?"
"No, sir, it is not. Because I would
rather hear the truth, bitter as that
truth may be, than these discourteous
mockeries whloh put me to the rack. Mr.
Perqy's opposition to my return to
Amerlea; my father's emotion on be
holding me; the strange isolation in
which I am kept; and lastly, your sis
ter's extraordinary conduct of yester
day all these prove to me that some
terrible fatality overshadows me ; a fa
tality of which I am Ignorant, but which
lam determined to discover."
"Nay. Miss Leslie, what is that you
would seek to know? Why not be con
tent to' reign by your grace and beauty?
for the fatality of which you speak can
cast no cloud upon your loveliness; and
even the jealousy of our wives and sis
ters cannot roD you or. your sover
eignty."
"I do not understand you, sir."
"And yet I endeavored to make my-
sell understood. Ah, Miss Jeslle I we
are but strangers, newly met within this
hour ; but we Creoles are the children of
a southern ollme, and our passions art
gigantic as the palms which wave above
your head rapid in growth as the lilies
on the breast 01 yonder lake. Ixve.
with us. is a flame; suppressed. It U
true, yet needing out one sparK from the
torch of beauty to cause a conflagra
tion."
"Sir!" cried Cora, indignantly.
The young girl felt that the Creole's
burning, passionate words veiled a mean
lng which was an insult to her.
"Nay, hear me, hear me, Cora," con
tinued Augustus Horton ; "there is, per
haps, a secret: there Is, it may be, a
fatality which overshadows your young
life. Be mine.-and none shall ever taunt
you with that fatal secret; be mine, and
you shall be the proudest beauty in
Louisiana, the queen of New Orleans,
the idol of your lover's devoted heart;
be mine, and the debt owed me by your
father shall be canceled; be mine, and
I will tear Into a hundred fragments the
bill which I hold for fifty thousand dol
lars, and which It will half ruin Gerald
Leslie to pay."
Her eyes Hashing, hor bosom neavmg
with offended modesty, Cora Leslie rose
from her chair.
"Toby," 6he called, without even re
plying by so much aa a look to the
planter's appeal.
Oora Xjeslie, what would you uor ex
claimed the Creole, rising.
"Toby ! repeated Cora.
"Beware, young lady !"
The mulatto appeared In answer to the
summons of his young mistress.
Toby, you will conduct this gentle
man to the gates of my father's grounds,
and remember that If he ever again dares
to prevent himself here, it will be your
duty to refuse him admittance. You
hear?"
"Yes, mistress."
"Go. sir," said Cora, looking at Augus
tus for the first time 6ince she had risen
from her seat; "I am but a stranger in
New Orleans, and you have done much
to enlighten me as to the charaoter of its
inhabitants. You have done well to
choose the hour of a father's absence to
insult his only daughter. - Go I"
"I obey you. Miss Leelle, answered
Augustus, white with rage, and trem
bling In every limb with suppressed pas
sion, "Believe me, I shall not forget our
Interview of today, and shall take an op
portunity to remind you of It on some
future occasion. For the present I am
your debtor ; but trust me, the hour of
settlement will come between us, wnen
you shall pay dearly for this insolence.
in tne meantime," he added, turning to
the mulatto, "in order to teach your
young mistress her proper position, be
good enough to relate to her tne story 01
rrancUia."
With one savage gienoe at the Indig
nant girl, he hurried down the terrace
steps, sprang Into the saddle, put spurs
to bis horse, and rode off at a gallop.
"Francilial" exclaimed Cora: "rran
cUia 1 what could he mean? Speak,
Toby, tell me, who was this Francula."
The mulatto hung his head and was
silent.
"Speak, I say," repeated Cora.
"Francilia was- a slave belonging to
Mr. Leslie, Miss Cora."
Well, then, what could she have In
common with me? Why did that man
cast her name in my face as an insult?"
Toby made no reply.
"You do not answer me. Good Heav
ens ! a terrible light flashes upon me.'
Speak, speak T' cried the excited girl,
grasping the arm or tne slave in ner
slender band. "Toby, speak I"
The mulatto fell on his knees at the
feet of his young mistress, and cried im
ploringly. "Miss oora, in tne name 01 mercy, oo
not look at me thus."
Toby, tell me," murmured Cora, in a
voice hoarse with emotion; "who was
my mother?"
"Mistress, oear mistress, ror pity s
sake do not ask me. I have promised
not to reveal "
You eald just now that you loved
me," answered Cora; "If you spoke the
truth, prove your affection ; tell me who
was my mother."
"lour motber faltered the slave;
"no, no, I cannot, I dare not.
'But I command you nay, I Implore.
Your mother was oalled Francilia,"
"Oh. merciful Heaven, have pity upon
me I" cried Cora, hiding her face In her
hands; then, after a long pause she
&aio. sorrowfully
And I did not even know the came
of my mother. Francilia 1 a slave 1 this
then is tne secret 01 my me. aus : she
is dead; Is she not?"
She is."
"Dead, far from her child who was not
even permitted to weep for her."
"Thank Heaven youao not curse hei
memory, murmured lony, rising.
"Curse ner r exclaimed oora; would
that I could embrace her as I do you,"
she dded, throwing her arms about the ,
1M1 M. -
"Me, MIa Cora ! me, a mulatto f" re
monstrated Toby, gentry repulsing her.
"What ot that? does net the samet
blood flow in our veins? are we net eC
the same down-troddon race? Ah, speak,
speak, Toby, you knew my mother; tl&.(
me of her; you see I am calm. Iossi
listen."
She drow the mulatto to one of the-
arden-chalrs, and forcing him to sis
own, plaoed herself at his fset; hear
band In his; her eyes raised to his faeew ,
"Francilia was but fifteen years at
age," Toby began, "when a slave mr
chant brought her to Mr. Leslie; eive
was a Quadroon, beautiful as you are. 1
4 V, .w,V Kav i-bln m-nd as. kit. tJ W
had long black hair, and large dark eytt ,
nuuaa tnwi uu Kuiif fiauc can see
again in yours. She was at first employed ,
In the service of Mrs. Leslie. Oh, Ilsaveor
sha then was. her lovous voir virMlti.
the soft melodies of her nation: hmm
ottnry moan riugiug uiruugn me corri
dors of the house. I saw her, and 1.
dared to love her 1 That time was the
happiest of my life, for she too loved me.
Fools that we were. What right has the
slave to love? The slave who belongs to
another. One day, Francilia left foe
St. Louis, with hor master and mis
tress. They were to be absent sotner
weeks. I was to remain behind. Ia
bidding me farewell she left me this sil
ver ring, which I wear on my finger.
would give it you, dear mistress, but C
have sworn to keD it till my deathu.
When Francilia returned she"
The slave paused, overcome with e men
tion. "Speak, speak, Toby !" said Cora.
"Oh, for pity's sako do not aocuse herT
You know not what It Is to be a slave.,
bound to obey, body and souL the com
mands of a master. Is not even resis
tance a crime ? When Francilia returned
she had become your father's mistress.
She confessed all to me, with tears, andl
heart-rending grief! A terrible ragey
possessed me. I was like a drunken
man I If in that moment Mr. Leslie had.
npearod before mo, I know that I
hould havo become a murderer. But.
the habit of suffering teaches resignation
to the slave. This first fury past, I felt
my energy abandon me, and I could only
weep with Francilia over our vanished
happiness. Alas, poor child she no
longer laughed, she no longer sang I"
"Poor girl ! poor girl !"
"It was only when you came into the
world," continued Toby, "that she
seemed tore-attach herself to life, and I,
bestowins on you all the deep devotl.
that I had felt for her forgive me, klitm
Cora, I loved you as If you had been ny
own child."
"Dear Toby."
"But she oh. how she loved yotu.
With more than a mother's love ; with,
the love of the slave, who knows that,
even her child is not hr own, but is a
slave like herself and who dares not.
slumber beside the cradle of her Infant,
for they take away the children while they
mother sleeps, and she awakes, perhaps,,
to find the cradle empty."
"Oh, cruel, cruel V
"But this was not the fate with whfohv
you were threatened. Mr. Leslie had.
married a vatn and capricious woman-.
They bad no children, and his life was
not a happy one. His love for you want
Intense all the more intense, as he we
compelled to conceal from all an affection
which would have been considered, sv
weakness. Your father's love for youv
bad reassured Francilia, when obs daw
you were then four years old. he an
nounced his determination of taking youv
to England, Franoilla did not utter a
word ; the silent tears filled her mournful,
eyes. But when they tore you from her
arms, she burnt into a tempest of sobs
and fell Insensible to the ground."
"Yes, yen, I remember.
"But all that Is nothing 1 cried the
slave, his eyes Hashing with vecgefnL
fury; "nothing to. Yet, no, not X
have no more to tell."
"But I inist on knowing all, x
cl aimed Cora, vehemently. "What be
came of my uahappy mother? How did.
she die?"
"On his return from Europe, Mr. Les
lie found her tranquil, and apparently re
signed ; but the glance of those mournful
black eyes became an eternal reproach,
which Irritated and tormented him. Ho
sent her to work on the plantation; bun
for some rea&on or other, go where he
would, he was always meeting her. al
ways encountering the same melancholy
lool which seemed to ask him for hetr
ehild. At last he oould endure It no
longer. He sold her."
"Oh, Heaven !" exclaimed Cora.
"He sold her to a man of the name et
Craig a bad man who, under the masts
of a sanctimonious life, concealed the
base heart of a profligate and a villain.
He thought, on purchasing the slave.,
that he would succeed her late master tm
her good graces; but finding that her
could obtain nothing by persuasion, he
would have bad recourse to violence,,
when Francilia seized a knife and buxiedfc-
its blade in her heart."
"Oh, my mother, my murdered
mother !"
"A negro belonging to this Craig stole
the knife, which he gave to me. I haras
it still."
Cora sank on her knees, the teara
streamlng from her eyes, her clasps d
bands uplifted to Heaven.
"Alas, beloved mother P she cried,
"martyr to the base and cruel laws or
this accursed land, it Is after fifteMfc.
years that your daughter learns yotLe-
un happy rate : alter niteen years uu
she weeps for your memory P
To be Conttmued.
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
J11VSICIAN AND SL'SGKON"
Dr. ALFRED SIIIPMAN
Office and residence 31 Main street, Wetten-
canip block.
Dif-penseg his own mdiein" and furnisher all
Kinds 01 medical tm soricai appliance
including Xruses, ltr.ice. Supporters,
tic Stocking" Etc.
Telephone Jio. 21.
JTTORNEY
A. N.
SULLIVAN.
Attorney at-Law.
Will tiv prompt attention
to all i-usinens entrusted to linn. Office it
Union block. East Mde. Plattemouth, Neb.
TTOKXEY AT LAW.
WINDHAM & DAVIES.
B. WINDHAM. JOHN A. DAVIES.
Office over Rank of Cans County. '
Plattsmouth - Nebrasnavnl
AW OFFICE
i
Wm. l. brown.
Personal attention to all business entrusted. .
to my care
Titles examined. Abstracts compiled. Intnr
ance written, real estate old.
Better facilities for making Farm I-oan thanua'T7
ANY OTHER AGENCY
PLATTSMOUTH JSEBKASXAwS