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
