The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-10-29
TME BLACK EXCHANGE.
An Attorneys story.
From Chambers Journal.

From Chambers Journal
My first setting up was in Charleston, South
Carolina, where l got profitable practice
among the neighboring planters and became
man of business to Arthur Fosbrook, Esq. He
was, like most Southern gentlemen, a good
shot, a good rider a good billiard player, a
polished man of the world, and bit of bon
njUant. Mrs Fosbrook was known to be a
great deal more straight-laced and serious.
She was great in church-going, uncommOnly
proper, and could talk religion and morality
| by the mile; but, when it suited the lady's
whims or tempers, she was capable of doing
hard or sly things which her husband would
not have thought of. 1t was said she had been
belle in her youth but American belleship
quickly passes-it had gone from Mrs. Eos
brook for many year, and left her faded, but
very genteel what the women call lady-like;
well-informed, too, out of schools and books
but narrow-minded by nature, and strongly
inclined to CONSCIOUSNESS and jealousy.
The daughter, Miss Letitia, was expected to
| fill her mothers place in the world of youth
and fashion and the girl had some beauty.
but no resemblance to either of her parents.
Her complexion was remarkably dark; her
features had full almost coarse cast it would
have been treason to say so, but they slightly
approached the negro mould. She was tall
and well-developed for her years, had fine
black eyes, and hair of the same color; they
said it was rather too wavy, and could never
be dressed in smooth bands. But people liked
Miss Letitia better than her mother, for she
was llvelier and more good-natured than ever
that excellent lady could have been, though
quite as proud of herself, her rank, and her
fashion, and somewhat tinctured with the ma
ternal inclination to jealousy. Miss Letitla
had companion, or rather playfellow, whom
nobody that frequented the house could miss
knowing, she was so constantly with the
young lady and in the family rooms. Her
name was Letitia too; but they called her
Lefty, by way OF proper distinction, for the
blood OF Africa was In her veins, and she was
the daughter of a slave. Letty's mother, I'M
like the rest of Mr. Fosbrook's negroes, was
not native of his estate, but had been pur-
chased, together with her unborn child, at the
sale of a deceased West Indians establish
ment she had been parted from her husband,
it was said, through Mrs. Fosbrool's deter
mination to have the woman but not the man,
in her household. She was not complete
African, but something winter than a mulatto
i think it was Spanish trace she had-and
they called her Elva, probably an abbrevlation
OF Elvira. A thin, wiry, early withered woman
she looked; but there was a piercing intelli-
gence in her keen, black eyes, not common to
the negro race she was more grave and silent,
too, than is their wont-was thought to have
deal of discretion, and known to be great in
needle-work. Her European origin account
ed to most people for this superiority, and it
also helped to account for the surprising beau
ty Of her daughter. Lefty was positively fair,
with fine y-cut features long glossy hair, and
a figure so finely moulded, yet so slender, that
she might have stood for the youngest Of the
graces. To a stranger it was astonishing that
the girl could have come of African blood
but one gets accustomed to any wonder. Ev
erybody knew her to be Elva's daughter, born
on the same day as Miss Letitia, and allowed
to grow up as her playfellow and foster-sis-
ter; for Elva was made nurse to the infant
heiress having either by her wisdom or good
luck, acquired the particular confidence and
cold-blooded liking of Mrs Fosbrook and con-
tinued to be her right-hand woman and fam
lily seamstress till the time my story commen
ces.
The quantity of fine-needIe work she did for
Mrs. Fosbrook was something to be astonish-
ed at. The good lady took sort OF pride in
showing off the collars sleeves and trimmings
worked by the woman she had bought al
most in spite Of Mr.. Fosbrook and saved him
the trouble he should have had with that self
wllled, obstinate looking man, Elva's husband.
The poor creature was so much better with
out him. Did not all her friends see how con-
tentedly she sat i'll her own little room, on the
back verandah, working away from morning
till night? That woman was treasure. -
Elvas daughter was not i'll such favor with
the ''missis," though a gentler, more sweet
tempered girl could not have been found among
black or white. Indeed, there was something
both soft and sad i'll Letty's look and manner,
which made one believe i'll omens when her
after fate was come 1t was perhaps the gen
tleness and sweetness of her disposition. as well
as their early playtimes, which made the Young
heiress cling so fondly to her humble compan-
ion, and took such delight in her society, ev-
EN- when grown-up life, with its duties and
distinctions, came on. They had never been
seen separate, except when her mother want
ed Lefty, and Miss Letitia had to go to les
sons, to which the young lady was not par
tial and when at last, the bringing-out time
came, and she was expected to be admired
and married in due time, Miss Letitia still
protested that Lefty and she should never part,
but live together as mistress and maid, lust
like mama and EIva"
The young lady was in that mind when her
fifteenth birthday arrived Cards of invita-
ton had been issued three weeks before to the
half OF Charleston. had the honor of receiv-
ing one, and can vouch that it was large
and well-dressed gathering but the principal
guest of the evening was Col. Fosbrook. =
Though never on bad terms with the proprie-
tor, he had been seldom at the hall. Some
said its lady was not to his mind, some that
his military duties took him to different quar-
tiers. At all events, he was known by repu
tation rather than by sight TO Mr.. Fosbrook's
friends; but all who saw him that evening
acknowledged that he was more distinguish
ed looking and agreeable man than had ever
entered Carolina ballroom. Mr.. Fosbrook