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About Plattsmouth weekly herald. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1882-1892 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 1890)
WEEKLY HERALD: PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, NOVEMBER 3 1890. A. STOUT Of aLATEItT OAT. BY MISS II. E. Ell ADDON. rilAPXER XXVI. T twelve o'clock upon the day after that o n on which Gerald cell and hi daughter had bee-n parted by tho pitiless at torney, the slave auctiun o o m menced. The bale was to take placo in a public auction room In New Orleans; an apartment capable of containing upward of a hundred people. At one cad of this room stood the roa- trum of th auctioneer, while iraraodl otely before his dealt was stretched a long table of rough deal, upon which, one by one the slave took their places, while the auctioneer expatiated upon their merits. Itound this table was placed benches, on which the buyers and lookers on lounged during the auction The plantation hands wrethe first to be told, and tho sale had Rated for some hours when Toby, the mulatto, slowly mounted the table, and took his stand before the eager eyes of trie buyers. - The countenance of the slave was sad and careworn; and, as he ascended the table, he looked anxiously round the room as if seeking among all those oager fact's for some one he expected to ee there. But It was evident that he looked In vain, for, after a long and earnest scru tiny of that varied crowd, he sighed heavily, and hit head iuk upon hi.- breast with a gesture of de-pan-Toe bidding hinted for some time, mid the most per.-evei iug bidder v.-as Silas Cralp himself, wlm nuton a bench close to the table, and 11 mused himself by whittling a slick with hi bwie knife. One by one the other pure haters g.ive way, and the mulatto fell to the attor ney. As the hammer of the auctioneer de scended upon his desk, thus proclaiming that the bargain was complete, a singu lar expression Illuminated the face of the slave, Tobv. That expression seemed one of min gled hato and triumph; and, as he de scended from tho platform, the hand of the mulatto mechanically sought for some object hidden In his breast. That object was the knife with which Francilia had stabbed herself the knife which Toby had ottered the day before to Gerald Leslie. ine mulatto slowly withdrew into a corner where some other slaves pur chased by Silas Craig were huddled to gether, awaiting the termination of the sale. For some moments there was a pnu'e Several among the crowd asked what the next lot was to be. The voice of the auctioneer responded from his rostrum, 'The Octoroon girl, Cora !" Again there was a pause. There were few there who did not know the story of Gerald Leslie and his daughter, and every one present seomed to draw a long breath. The Octoroon emerged from a group of s.'aves, behind whom she had been hidden, and slowly ascended the plat form. Neyr in her happiest day never, when surrounded by luxury, when sur feited by adulation and respect, had Cora Leslie looked more lovely than to-day. 'tSr&c face was whiter than marble, hei large dark eyes were shrouded beneath their drooping lids, fringed with lonj) nd hilken lashes ; her rich wealth oJ raven hair had been loosened by tho ru3 hands of an overseer, and fell In heavy masses far below her waist; her slender yet rounded figure was set off by the Soft (olds of her simple cambrlo Ores, which displayed her shoulders and arms la all their statuesque beauty. One murmur of admiration spread through the assembly as the Octoroon took her place at the table. All there had heard of the loveliness of Gerald Leslie's daughter, yet few had expected to see her so lovely. Eyeglasses were raised, spectacles put on. and looksof insolent admiration were fixed upon the unhappy girl. But she saw them not the center of every eye, she wa-s scarcely conscious of how much 6he had to endure. Her whole being was absorbed In one thought. Her father; would ho come, would he rescue her? When for one brief instant she lifted her eyes, the crowd of faces swam before her, as if hidden from her by a veil of mist. The sounds of the many, voices fell a3 confused murmurs upon her ears. She was listening for the voice which Ushould announce to her that help was near- But that longed-for voice did not come, and 6he heard instead tho harsh accents of the auctioneer dwelling upon the charms which were to bo sold to the highest bidder. At thnt moment two men entered tho building from opposite doors. , One of these was Augustus Horton, the other Gilbert Margrave. Gerald Leslie and the engineer nau massed a nhrht of utter wretchedness. AH the ready money mat tne ruinea lanter could command consisted of a j.n .) n :ti r AW tnousanu uoiiars, auu wuubii oiai- . . I J 1- 1 I I Lrrave nau omy tne sum wmcu no uuu Lrought with him for his traveling ex penses. To communicate with England was mpoasible, though the young man had L'mDle resources there ; he had also let- W - ... , , t 1 IT 1 ers Ol credit on a Danaing-nouse in new j I'ork, but he well Knew mat norning out uW mnnev eould save Cora from her aauj j . - a-i famous persecutors. 1 iThe entire sum at his command was a ttle oer twenty tnousana aouars. Gilbert Jlargrave was too nrst to Diet. Five thousand dollars 1" SU: thousand I" cried Augustus Hor- !n- A laugh circulated among the assem y. "I guess you begun a bit too low, ranger," said ono of the planters. Seven tnousana. "Ten 1" cried Augustus. Guess we 11 teach you what a stave le is, Britisher, saia anotner man ar Gilbert, cutting a lump of tobacco d thrusting it into his mouth. Gilbert Margrave's cheek grew pale; felt that the man he had to deal with ls not to be beaten. ' Twelve thousand, " " fifteen, " twenty." . ' f?or a moment there was a pause ; : Gil- rt drew his breath. For one brief in Lnt he thought that the planter's ca fes might be: less powerful than his krice. . He knew no that Augustus rton's love lor Cora was full of pas into determination. r'if rted the planter. Gilbert was silent. Throughout this scene the Ootoroon had never onoe lifted her eyes from the ground ; but, at this ominous silence, she slowly raised them, and looked imploringly at her lever. It was a glance of despair which an swered this mute appeal. All hope was over. "Strikes me your pretty well cleaned out, sirree," said one of the men who had spoken before. The bidding continued, the excitement of the soene had become Intense. Thirty, flve-and-thirty, forty thousand dollars were bid; forty-five, fifty thousand. The last bid came from Augustus Hor ton, and the auctioneer's hammer de scended with an ominous sound. Cora was his. Gilbert Margrave sprang forward, as if be would have struck the planter, but a friendly hand was laid upon his shoul der, and he was dragged back by a group of Americans. "Better keep your dander down, stranger," one of the men whispered in his ear, "our folks are not over fond of your countrymen just now, and they wouldn't make much work of taking out their bowie knives. Let him have the gal. Was there ever such a noise about a handsome slave?" Augustu Horton walked up to tho placo where Gilbert was standing, sur rounded by these men. "I've beaten you before to-day, Mr. Margrave," he raid, with a sneer, "and I think I've had the pleasure of giving you a seoond Uoking this afternoon." Again Gilbert would have sprung upon him, but again he was restrained by those about hn. "We've another duel to fight yet, Mr. Horton," said the Englishman, "and in that you may not come oT so easily." "We citizens of New Orleans don't fight about colored gals," answered the planter, turning upon his heel, con temptuously, and walking toward the spot where Cora stood, side by side with ioby aud the other slaves Gilbert Margrave released himself from tho arms of those who held him. "I must follow him," he said, "I mut speak to him. 1 pledge you my honor that I will attempt uo violence, but I tell you I must speak to him. Life auii death hang on this matter. How can I go back to Gerald Leslie and tell the broken. hjirteH fiither that: I wnc; nowerlesK tn t save his only child?" Gilbert found Augustus standing at a little distance from the group of slaves contemplating Cora with tho insolently admiring glance with which the master surveys his property. She was no longer the woman who had scorned and dotted him. She was his slave, his purchased slave, over whom the law- gave him full and Indisputable authority. "Mr. Horton," said Gilbert, iu a voic e rendered hoarse by emotion, "let me speak to you for a few moments?" The planter bowed superciliously. "Well, 6ir? ' he said, as they withdrew to a solitary corner of tiie auction room. "You are aware that had my means enabled mo, I would tiavo outbid you just now in the purchase of Miss Leslie." Augustus Horton laughed aloud. "Miss Leslie !" he repeated scornfully, "wo don't call the slaves Miss and Mr. down south. I guessed you would like to outbid me for this Octoroon girl, Cora, but I'm happy to say you weren't able to do It. Had you bid a hundred thousand dollars, I'd have outbid you. and if you'd doubled that I'd have outbid you still. No man comes cheaply between Augus tus Horton and his will." "Tell me," 6ald Gilbert, "tell me, what do you want with Mr. Leslie's daughter! Whv do you want to become her mas ter?"" Again Augustus laughed, and the hot blood mounted to Gilbert's cheek as h heard the mocking laughter. "If It oomes to that," said the planter, "why do you want her?" Because I love her." "Then one answer will do for both of ns, said Augustus, "l want nr because I love her." No," cried Gilbert, "no, Mr. Horton. Do not aully the pare and holy name of Love by so base a blasphemy. Yours Is tho low passion of the profligate who seeks to destroy that which he proband to love. Mine is the honorable senti ment of the man who seeks to bestow upon her he adores the sacred name of wife." "You Britishers have another way of thin king to what we have in Louitdana," answered Augustus; "we don't marry our slaves. However, I've no wish to quarrel with other folks' opinions ; the girl s mine and I don't mean to part with her, so good day to you, Mr. Margrave." Gilbert laid his hand upon the plant er s shoulder. "One moment," he said. "The sum which I offered just now for Miss Leslie was the extent of the ready money I pos sess; but it was not ono twentieth part of what I can command; comniunicatirm with London, or even with New York, will bring me the funds I reauire. I ask you as a gentleman appealing to a gen tleman, upon a sabje3t that is dearer to him than life I ask you to do a great and generous action. Accept my note of hand for a hundred thousand dollars double tho sum you have just given and let ire restore Cora Leslie to her father?'' Augustus norton shrugged his shoul ders. "I would be very glad to oolige yon, Mr. Margrave," he said; "but as I don't happen to want money just now, and as I've a fancy for keeping the Octoroon, I beg to decline your liberal offer." Gilbert Margrave glanced at him with a scornful smile. "I appealed to you as a gentleman," he6ald. "I was mistaken. You shall hear from me tonight." CHAPTER XXVII. N the night of tho slave sale, Don Juan Moraqultos sat alone in too apartment which h e called his study. , The following day was that ap pointed for the Spaniard's mar riage with Paul ine Corsi, and preparations had made for the celebration or the mony with the splendor worthy of been a wealthy bridegroom. Pauline and Cam ill ia were together in the young girl's apartments. On one of the sofas lay the dresses of white satin and lace, which the brldo and bridemaid were to wear upon the following morning. On a table near stood a box, which contained the wreaths selected by tho Frenchwoman for heraolf and OamUOa. This box had not as yet been ope4. "Come, dearest Carailiia," exclaimed rauline; "have you no wish to so tho aristan flowers which or to adorn that beautiful head tomorrow? Yon oortat&ly are moat devoid of tt fosnlnhM isV Aesa curiosity." I can trust to your tacts, PaallnO . Mfwered Canttllft. - don't care a straw about the matter ; and that you are thinking o nothing but that stupid lover of yours, who Ls, no doubt, thousands and thousands of miles away." Caiuillla sighed. Her foe was ovortod, and she did not aoe tho areh smile which lighted up tho Yrenohwoaaan'a faoe. "However." cob tinned Panllno; "I shall Insist on your approving of my eholoe." She unfastened the eord which was tied about the box ; and, lifting the lid, took out the two wreaths. They were both of the same pattern coroneb-ahaped garlands of orange Cowers and buds, purely white amidst their glistening green leaves; an true to nature as if they had been gathered from a hot-house, and breathing tho delicious perfume of the flower. They were the perfection of rorlaiaa taste and art. "Why, I'auline." exclaimed CamiUia, "they are both bridal wreaths." "Can vou guess why It is 7" "No. "indeed." "Because there will be two brides to morrow. I never break a promise. To morrow, Don Juan Moraquitos will divide his fortuee; one half be will re serve for himself and his wife, the other he will give to his daughter and the hus band of her choice. "But, Pauline, how in Heaven's name will you accomplish this?" "That is my secret. There ls very little time left me for my work. It Is now nine o'clock, 1 must go out imme diately." "Go out, and at this hour?" "It i absolutely neoeewory." "But. dear Pauline, you will have my carriage.you will let me accompany you T ' "Neither; I go on foot and alone." She hurried from the room before Oo mlllia could remonstrate further, and t he Sjxialfih girl, bewildered and amazed, seated herself near the table, looking musingly at the two bridal wreaths. That night Silas Craig eat alone in the oftlce in which was the map of America. The lawyer had triumphed over th ra in who had scorned him. He had seen Gerald Leslie's proud nature abased to the very dust, and the darling child of a doating lather sold to her most deadly enemy; for the slave has no greater enemy than the hardened protligato, whose guilty passions her charms have awakened. Silas Craig was a winner in the game of life what cared he for the dark secrets upon the cards he had played? He was rich, and he could defy man kind. He had dined sumptuously after the fatigue of the slave sale, and the table before him was spread with glittering decanters of the choicest wines. This man reveled in tho luxuries of a palace; but he bad risen from the gut ter; and his low and groveling soul still wore the degradation or the foul haunts in which he had boon reared. He lounged in his eay-chair, sipping wine, which sparkled like molted jewels in the light of the shaded lamp. He was disturbed from his reverie by the entrance of tho slave who waited upon him. "A ladv, inas.sa," ?aid the man. "A lady? a lady at this time of night? phsaw ; why you must be dreaming. "No, massn, me wide awake. A lady. a very beautiful lady, with white hands and rings, nh, golly ! dey shine like stars." "Did she tell you her name?" "No, massa, but she gib me dis." The negro handed Silas a card. This card bore the name of Mile. Pral ine Corsi. Beneath the curd was written this warning : "There ore secrets which Silas Craig may wish to preserve ; if so. he will do well to see Mile. Corsi." Like all base creatures, bilas was a eow&rd. The card dropped from hid trembling hand, and hi bloated foot grew ahy pale. "Admit the lady," he said. The a'ave left the room, and In a few minutes returned with Pauline Corsi. During those few brief momenta. Silos Craig had recovered from his first im pulse of terror. What could this woman know of his ecr eta? Who was she bat tho paid dependent or ion J nan Moraqultos? He had noth ing to fear, therefore. All tho native Insolence of his natux returned, and when the governess en tered the room, he neither rose from his seat nor offered her a chair. The impertinence did not escape Paul ine Corsi. With a smile of provoking as surance, she seated herself opposite to the lawyer, and threw back the dark veil that had shaded her face. "We shall understand one another bet ter, by-and-by, Mr. Craig," she said, quietly. "May I ask the motive of this rather untimely visit?" "We will come to that in good time, my dear sir," replied Pauline, laughing; "Perhaps there ere several motives. Suppose then, that we begin with motive number one." The lawyer writhed beneath her calm assurance. "I must tell you, mademoiselle," he said, "that these ain't my business hours, and that if you've anything particular to 6ay to me, you'd bettor call another time. Though I should think," he added inso lently, "that the governess of Don Juan Moraquitos can't have much business with lawyers." "But the wife of Don Juan Moraquitos mav, Mr. Craig." "The wife." "Yes, I see your client does not give you his entire confidence. I am to be come Pauline Moraquitos before twelve o'clock tomorrow." The lawyer's cheek once more grew ashy pale. Again a sudden terror seized him. Sie felt that there was some mystery shrouded beneath this business, 'of which he now heard for the first time. "I know the question which very natur ally rises to your lips," 6aid Pauline, with quiet deliberation. "You would aiV what motive ran have induced Don JO&n movaqtiiiOM rt liic cui-n i oicp. . reply to that question before it is asked : The motive is a most powerful one." j Silas quailed beneath the look which j accompanied these emohatic words. j Pauline Corsi had not boasted idly of j the power of her will. The guilty lawyer, versed in every art ! of lying and chfeanery, trembled, he i scarce knew why, in the presence of this ! frail girl. "Do you ask the Bature of this mo tive?" said Pauline. "I do," he faltered, pouring out a glass of wine. His hand 6hook eo violently that the ce-k ot the decanter rattled against the rim of the gloss, and ho spilled half the costly liquid oo no raised it to his quivering lip. - He had no reaaon to fear this French woman out tho strength of her Indomit able will had a magnetic power over hloo, afed his bratal nature bowed boaoath Itt f roo. .. : . 'jr-Sz V .' "I .'will Ull yoa, fllaa Gralg, rrvod raallno, "fees? lM'0oiao Known, givo to too MTlett thorn m xoartnl ted wnom ifn-y ccucma. mv-ic-.s vrh m discovered when least the urlmiuabi fear detection ; words that are overbmird and cherished for years by the person who overhears them ; words wblch have power to drag tho guilty to tho seoffold ; woods ahateaokih. Do you understand mar" "No." He spoke doggedly, but sat with hta hands clasped upon the arm eof his easy ehalr, his rat-like eyes almost starting from his head as be cared at Panline. "Think again. Silas Craig." said the Frenchwoman ; "surely I have spoken plainly? Can you not understand me?" "No." he repeated with a terrible oath. "I mast speak more plainly still then, it appears. Silas Craig, thirteen years ago it was my good fortune to become acquainted with such a secret a this I" The lawyer raled one of his trembling hands and wiped the perspiration from his icy forehead. "Thirteen years," he muttered. "Yes; I see you remember the date. I was a penniless girl of seventeen wlton I discovered this secret. I am now thirty ; I have kept it long aid patiently, have I not?" He did not answer her. I have waited my time. I knew that this txjc-ret would bring me wealth and power whenever It was told. It concerns two men. Those two men are my slaves I At a word from me, they stand before the tilbunaU of this city branded with crime loathed by their follow citizens. A word from me, and they go from homes of luxury to the gloom of a prison, from which but a few steps will lead them to the gallows. Shall I tell you who those two men are, Silas Craig?" "If you please." He tried to speak with his accustomed Indolent and mocking tmiie, but the white lips refused to do his will, and his words came in a hollow whisper. "The first is Don Juan Moraquitos, the second is you I" The words seemed to whistle from her lips like the bullet -of a pistol. The law yer fell back in his chair as if he had re ceived a blow. "The secret concerns the night upon which Tomaso Crivelli died, and the will which on that night was forged by you, after the real will had been made away with. The secret also concerns the young man called Paul Lisimon. The man whom you dared to accuse of theft." "How how did you discover this?" "No matter how. Enough that I did make the aiscovery. stiu.it l ten you now the price I ask for my secret?" "Yes." All attempts at insolence or defiance upon the part of the lawyer was now abandoned. Silas Craig cowered before the French woman as humbly as the criminal who awaits the sentence of his judgo. "Don Juan Moraquitos will make me his wife and will t-hare with me his own fortune. From him I ask no more than this. We shall leave America for Paris, and in the delight of my native city I shall endeavor to forget the sorrows o! my youth. But although I am ambitious, I am not utterly sellish, and In my tri umph I wish to secure the happineo3 ol others. Those others are CamiUia Mora quitos and the young man it has pleased Don Juan to call Paul Lisimon." "How do they concern me?" asked Silas. "You shall hear. By a foul and infa mous plot, the details of which I do not know, but which is doubtless worthy o! the person who has concocted it, you have contrived to brand the name of Paul Lisimon with infamy. You will re veal that plot. You will withdraw that shameful accusation; and you will In sert an advertisement in every papet printed in New Orleans declaring the young man's innocence. You may call your plot a practical joke If yon please. You are so universally beloved and respected that you will of course ba believed. That Is my first condition. Do you comply with It?" Silas Craig bent his head. He had scarcely power to speak. "blj second demand is that you pro duce the real will, signed by Dom To maso Crivelli, in whieh he leaves the whole of his estate to his only and legiti mate son, Paul Crivelli, known in this city as Paul Lisimon." Again the lawyer bent his head. "In conjunction with Don Juan Mora quitos, you will restore to this young man the wealth of his father, which you divided into equal portions soon after Don Tomaso's death. You will find no difficulty with Juan Moraquitos, . Pirate and adventurer as he has been, he is not so fortunate as you. He ha3 still a con science." "Is that all?" gasped the lawyer. 'It is. I think we understand each other a little better cow than we did half an hour ago. Good night." She left the room before he could re ply, and before he could summon the ne gro to usher her from the house. It was nearly eleven o'clock when Pau line Corsi left the lawyer's office, but the stroets were lighted brilliantly by the full moon which exiled high in the heavens. The Frenchwoman arew her veil closely over her face. She was dressed in dark garments, which shielded her from observation, and she hurried rapidly through the Jonely streets. About naii-way towara ner aesimaiion she met two men walking side by side, smoking cigars. Suddenly she stopped, and, clasping her hand upon her heart, looked eagerly at the younger of these two men. It cannot be, sne murmurea; "it cannot be. It is the moonlight which de ceives me." At this moment they drew near a tav ern, the aoor or wnicn was Druiiantiy lighted. The lamp-lightlell upon tne lace oi tne younger man. The two men entered the tavern, ana Pauline Corsi remained a few paces from the threshold, looking after them. "Can I be mistaken?" she said, "and yet it seems like some bewildering dream. might a'lr thirteen weary years ana tonight !" CHAPTER XXVIII. HE same moon light which illu- j m 1 n a t e d the j meeting of Paul- . ine Corsi and the j strangers in the streets of N e w Orleans, shone on j the smooth; f lT .... bosom of the Mississippi, and on the white walls of the villa residence of Augustus Horton. The house and plantation of Hortonville were 6ome miles from the wood In which the d uel between A ugastus and Gilbet-t had taken place. The sceserv which surrounded the villa was exquisitely beautiful, and the build ing Itself, seen beneath the light of tho moon, with Its lamp-lit windows gleam ing like pale gems in the glory toe lanaxc'i night, had the appearance of 'some fairy palace rather than any earthly habitation. Tou might almost have expected to see those white walla molt into thin air and fade away from your gsae. Jt was aoarlj 5.1J mm i a r.tc. . rest. There were only two watchers in that luxurious habitation. The ttrot of these was Augustus Hor ton ; the oooood was Cora, the Ootoroon. The unhappy girl had beea brought from the auction room to Hortonville ih Auguatua'e phaeton, the thoroughbred horoea of which made brief work of the journey from New Orleaua. Adelaide Morton and her aunt, Mrs. Momtresor, were still at their city resi dence. Cora acarce dared to 'hiiik why Augus tus bad i hiNM-u to take her to Ilortou ville. rather than to his town housu. The answer to that question m too terrible. ? Could there be any doubt as to his motive in choosing this louely villa for the retreat of the Octoroon? Was it not that tho wretched girl might be more fully in his power? The chamber to which Cora had been conducted was even more luxuriously furniAhed than her own tastefully decor ated apartment in the pavlliou on the borders ol' Lake l'ontchartruiu, but the Octoro looked at tho splendor around her wltn a shudder. She knew it was not thus that slaves were ordinarily treated, and she knew the sinister meaning of thU seem ing kindness. The young mulattrers who led Cora to her apartment Informed her that she had been appointed to wait upon MUs Leslie. Cora smiled bitterly. "Who told you to call me Miss Leslie?' she asked. "My master, Mr. Horton. " "Ala3, my poor girl," answered Cora, "I am no longer Miss Leslie. I am a slave like yourself, with no name save that which my master chooses to liive me. lie has bought mo ; bought me at the auction yonder. Name, fame, hap piness, honor, ay, and even soul as he thinks are his." In the bitterness of her despair she buried her luce in her hands ami sobbed aloud. The mulattress was touched to the heart by this burst of grief. 'My deur mistress, ptay do not weer thus." sho said. "You will be no slave here, I know; for our master hud the beautiful rooms prepared on purpose for you, and you are to he treated as a queen. "A queen !" said Cora, hysterically "Yes. the empress or a prontgate 3 hout j of" ple.loitr--. to bo trample.! Iji-nath hia I feet when the whim has passed. Go, my good girl; why should I distress you with mv griefs. You can never undar- stand mv misery." It was impossible, indeed, for this poot ignorant slave to comprehend the feelings of the higtily educated and rehncd woman torh from a father she adored, and from him who was to have rescued her from slavery and made her a happy English wife. Cora dried her tears ; and, affectin ealmnes3 which 6he did not feel, dis missed the mulattre?9. The girl had lighted a shaded lamp upon an c' gant little inlaid table, and had brought a tray loaded with delicacies for Cora's refresh ment, but the Octoroon turned with a sickened heart from the rich foot) set beforo her. She had eatn nothing that day, and her lips anu t.c-oat wer parched, and burttir -rt' " - fever. She poured out a r and drained the cool Uqrr rop Then, throwing oo . tiun smt CCers. one lou&cti ocrt rtoi r ciro unn nliiht. "What if there were yet hope ! What if she could escape?" thrill vibrated through her inmost soul as she asked he&self those questions, Sho fell on her knees, and lifting net clasped hands, exclaimed in an outburst of enthusiasm : Oh, Merciful and Beneficent Creator! I cannot believe that Thou wouldst ut terly abandon the meanest of thy crea tures. Even here, on the brink of terrors more hideous than the most cruel death. I sfcUl hope. I still believe that Thou wilt show me a way of deliverance V The Ootoroon arose from her knees, a new creature after the utterance of this heart-felt prayer. Her very countenance seemed as if transfigured by the sublime emotions of the moment. A holy light shone from her tearless eyes; a faint flush of crimson relieved the pallor of her cheek. "My father abandons me to my fate. Even he who was to be my husband can do no more to save me. It is to Heaven, then, that I turn, and to One above who Is stronger than all earthly friends." The apartment to which Cora had been conducted was on the upper floor of the villa; but the ceilings of the lower cham bers were far from lofty, and the window from which the Octoroon looked was scarcely eleven feet from the ground. Under this window ran a rustic colonnade with slender pilasters, round which hung the leaves and blossoms of the luxuriant creeping-plants familiar to the South. The roof of this colonnade formed a bal cony bei'orc Cora's window. For some moments the Octoroon stood at the open casement, gazing on the scene beneath her, lost in thought. "If I remain in this house," she mur mured, "I am utterly in the power of th.3t base man. Another moment, and he may enter this chamber: again I may hear those words which are poison to my soul; and this time he may force me to listen to his infamous proposals. All those beneath this roof are the slaves of his will it were hopeless, then, to look for help from them ; but beneath that purple vault I might surely be safer; j and at the worst tho river is near at hand." She shuddered as she spoke. To this girl, religiously educated, there was something horrible in the idea of suicide. It seemed a doubt of Providence even to think of this worst and last resource. Hut on one thing she had determined, and that was to escape from the house to the gardens below ; once there, she might find her way to some adjoining planta tion, where she might meet with some benevolent creature who would interfere to shield her from her bated master. It was not slavery she feared, it was dishonor. The rope with which he had been bound stiil hung to one of her wrists. This rope might be the means of saving her. She examined the door of hor chamber and found that it was locked on the out side. "So much the better," she thought; "he believes his prisoner to be safe. He thinks that I would not dare a leap of a few feet even to escape from him. How little he knows of a woman's power in the moment of desperation !" She hurried to the balcony, and at tached the cord, which was about five feet long, to the iron rolling, then with the help of this cord she dropped lightly to the ground. !?he lighted unhurt upon the soft earth of a flower-bod, but the slender ropea broke with her weight, and the best part of It remained in her hand. She was free ! Free did she think, when still within a few paces of her master? Swift as the wind sho flew from tho TUla In the direction of the rtvar-oMo, her eagereoAs to escape. Hr footsteps made ao souad upon tho dewy turf, and she did not hear a other footstep hurrying close behind her. A broad lawn stretched before her, a ad . bevond that a thick plantation. fler anxiety was U reach this frlendly l filter, for the moonlight night wo bright and clear a day, and she tremblel lest she should be porceived from tho windows of the villa. She v as ncaring the plantation whn on Iron hand wus laid upon her shoulder, and turning round with a -cream of min gled uuKuish and terror, sh. u fronted, Augustus llottoti burc-hcuJcd in th moon light. lie had watched her e .cape from tho window of his own apart rn.-nt. and had lingered long eiiough loallnw her to Im agine hT.-e!f fiin lnfie ho h id left tho houne in pursuit of her. So, Com," be t,uir!, "this is the way you repay m for mv foolish indulgene. This Is how you show your gratitude for being received at Hortonville like o priuc,an! 1 you know how wo treat runaway slaves m th south?" "No," answered Cora, with a look of rleliunce. "Oh! you .lou"t; I'm ufruid they neglected your education 'in Knirland. But why, why, Cora, do you compel ine to use this language.' It is not the right of a master that 1 would exercise, but that of a lover." "You forget," replied Cora, with loy coldness, "that I love, and am beloved by an honorable man. who. would make mo his wife." "It is you who must forgwt that, ra.' answered Augustus, tiereely. "Hence forth, Gilbert Margruvo and you ore strangers. You are mine. I have kept itiy promise ; I have given the lifty thou sand dollars oed iu by your fullier a the price of this moment. But it Is not as u master that 1 address you. Tho rigors of slavery are not for jou. He wind m- devotion with one smile, one word of encouragement, and a life of luxury hliall be yours ; but. If you value your own happiness, do not force ma to remember "That I um your sluve. Pardon me, Mr. Horton, iUs thut which I would not forgot; but, us my education has left not very ignorant, 1 mut lcg you to teach me the duties of a slave." ' "i'lioe duties are told :n one word, Cora," replied tho planter, "and that word is submission! absolute and un questioning subii.i.-:sioii to every wi.-h of the master. Blind obedience to every word, to e;icti command, however re volting to the will of tho slave. Body and soul, Cora, you are mine. Shriek, and jour voice will echo through the plantation, but will awake no answer; for those who alone could hear it are slaves like yourself, and powerless to help you. Cv!ir this mud folly-, then, ami thus let ine " Ho advanced us if to encircle her in his arms, but the Octoroon stepped back a few paces, and raising the cord which she held in her right hand, addressed him thus : "One step further, and it is I who will iutlict upon you the chastisement of a slave, by striking you across the face." As Cora uttered these words, a whistle reeounded through the plantation, near the spot upon which she and tke planter stood, and in another moment two dark figures emerged from the fchade of the trees. 1 Before Augustus could interpose, Cora ran, and carried into the plantation, wtille the other grasped the shoulder ot t be planter with a hand of Iron. , The moonlight on this man's face fo vea led his identity to Augustus. "Gilbert Margrave !" he exclaimed. "Ay, Gilbert Margrave, the afllancd fcusband of the woman you would havo- destroyed. You refused today to accede to the appeal made by one gentleman to another. You gave me the answer of a ruffian; tonight it Is I who use tbe ruf fian's argument, force I" "The law shall make you pay dearly for this, "cried Augustns.hoarse with rage "Be it 'so. I am willing to suffer the worst penalty the laws of Louisiana can Inflict upon me, rather than sacrifice the honor of my affianced wife." The man who had seized Cora, dis appeared beneath tbe shade of the trees. Gilbert tried to follow him, but Augustus Horton sprang toward him, with an open bowie knife in hand. "I am armed," cried Gilbert, "and wrong has made me desperate, follow me at your peril." He bounded through the brushwood. and readied the bank of the river, by the side of wiiic!i was moored a boat, with throe nifii. who he! 1 their oars. ready to strike the water at. tho first signal. The man carrying Cora had already taken his place at tho btern of the boat; Gillort fjiang in after them, the oars dipped into tho water, and before Augus tus Horton reached the brink of the river, tho boat haa shot out toward the center of the stream. Upon his own estate, and within a few hundred yards of a regiment of slaves, tho p!;intr h.id been dehod and defeated In his hour of triumph. Jin; Octoroon had fainted from the excitement of tiie moment, but the cool breeze from tiie river quickly restored her to consciousness. When she re-opened her eyes, she found herself reclining on the shoulder of the man who had seized her. That man was her father, Gerald Leslie. CHAPTER XXIX. . t r t.- men r; -j3 wiiorn 1 uuiina iorsi met. on iter way from the house of Silos , ' Craig to the VUln Moraquitos, ant not entirely strangers to us. We saw them Xi last in the soli tude ef California, living a life of labor, far from all civilized society. They only reached New Orleans upon the evening after the slave auction, and when Pauline Corsi met them, they wera in search of a hotel where they could spend the night. In outward appearance, they were vcro much altered from the day when wo last beheld them. Their rough garments were exchasgeT for the fashionable attire of gentlemen,, and their bearintr harmonlzec well with the change in their costume. Let us etum to the moment whom Pauline Corsi met these two gold-digger They entered the hotel, aad were tnv mediately conductd to a handsomoiy furnished, and brilliantly lighted apart ment upon the first floor. The elder of the two men. the ono who had called himself Smith, flung him self Into au easy chair, after dismissing', tho waiter with on order for a couple C bottles of claret aad seltzer water, aad. looked complacently round tbe room. The younger maa walked to the opom. window, from which ho watched tho to coding form of Paulino CorsL who. aXteo observing tho two men enter the note... hrred oward toward the end ot tfcfctt