Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-12-29
THE REPUBLICAN
fr q From Chambers JournsI.l
n THE BLACK EXCHANGE.
AN ATTORNEYS STORY.


practice among the neighboring planters.
and became man of business to Arthur
Fosbrook. Esq. tie was, like most South
ern gentlemen. good shot. good riler.
a good billiard player. a polished man of
the worll, and bit of a J,n rirant. Mrs.
Fosbrook was known to be great deal
more straight laced and serious. She was
great in church going, uncommonly prop
er, and could talk religion AMI m 1rality
by the mile; but, when it suited the lady's
whlms or temper, she was capable OF do
ing hard OF sly things which her husband
would not have thought of 1t was said
she had been belle in her youth; bat
American belleship quickly passes-it had
gone from Mrs. Fosbrook for many year.
and left her failed. but very genteel. what
the women call lady -like; well informed,
too, out of schools aud books, but narrow
minded by nature, and strongly inclined
to Consciousness and jealousy.
The daughter, Miss Le.itia, was expected
to NIL her mothers place in the world of
youth and fashion; and the girl had SONIC
beauty, but no resemblance to either Of her
parents. Her complexion was remarkably
dark; her feature. had full. almost coarse
cast. 1t would be treason to say so, but
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 as
liyelier and more good natured than ever
that excellent lady could have been, tho
quite as proud of herself, her rank, AMI
her fashion, and somewhat iinctured with
the maternal inclination to JEALOUSY
Miss Letitia had a companion. or rather
playieilow, whom nobody that frequented
the house could miss knowing, she vas so
constantly with the Young lady and in the
family rooms. Her name was Letit;a. too;
but they called her Lefty, by way of prop
er distinction, for the blood of Africa was
IN her veins. and she was the daughter of
slave. Letty's mother, unlike the rest of
Mr. Fosbrook's negroes, was not a native
OF his estate. but had been purchased, to-
gether with her unborn child, at the sale of
a deceased West Indians establishment;
she mad been parted from her husband, it
was said, through Mrs. Fosbrook's deter
mutation to have the woman. but not the
man, in her household. She was not
complete African, but something whittier
than a mulatto-I think it was a Spanish
trace she had--and they called her Elva,
probably an abbreviation Of EIvira. A
thin, why, early-withered woman she
looked; bnt there was a piercing intell-
gence in her keen. black eyes, not uncom-
mon to the negro race; she was more grave
and silent, too, than is their wont--was
thought to have a deal of discretion, and
known to be great in needle-wolk. Her
European origin accounted to most people
for this superiority, and it also helped to
account for the surprising beauty of her
daughter. Lefty was positively fair, with
tinely-cut features. long glossy hair. and
figure 90 finely moulded. yet so slender
that she might have stood for the Youngest
of the graees. To a stranger it was as
tonishing that the girl could have come of
African blood; but one gets accustomed to
any wonder. Everybody knew her to be
Elva's daughter, born on the same dav as
Miss Letitia. and allowed to grow up as her
playfellow and foster-sister: for Elva was
made nurse to the infant heiress. having.
either by her wisdom or good luck. acqur-
ell the particular confidence and Geld
blooded liking of Mrs Fosbrook, and con-
timed to be heri right-hand woman and
family seamstress till the time my story
commences.
The quantity Of fine needle-work she
did for Mrs. Fosbrook was something to
be astonished at. The good lacy took
sort OF pride in showing off the collars,
sleeves and trimmings worked by the 'wo-
man she had bought almost in spite OF Mr..
Fosbrook. and saved him the trouble lie
should have had with that self-Eilled ob-
stinate looking man, Elva's husband
The poor creature was so much better
without him. Did not all her friends see
how contentedly she sat in her own little
room, on the back verandah, working a.
way from morning till night? That NO.
man was treasure" Elva's daughter
was not in such favor with the "missis,"
though a gentler, more sweet tempered
girl could not have been found among
black or white. Indeed, there was some
thing both soft and sad in Letty's look AID
manner, which made one believe 10 omens
when her after-fate was come. 1t was per-
haps the gentleness and sweetness Of her
disposition, as well as their early play
times. which made the young heiress cling
SO fondly to her humble companion, and |
take such delight IN her society. even when
grownup life, with its duties and distinc-
lions come on. They had never been sep
crate except when her mother wanted Let /
ty, and Miss Leiitia had to go to lessons,
to which the Young lady was not partial;
and when. at last. the blinging-o ont time
cams, 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 l
maid, 'just like mama AMI Elva'' =
The young lady was in that mind when
her fifteenth birthday arrived. Cards of
invitation had, been issued three weeks be-
fore to the half of Charleston. / had the
honor oil. receiving enc. and can vonch that
it was large and well-dressed gathering;
but the principal guest of the evening was
Colonel Fosbrook. Though never on bad
terms with the proprietor. he had been sell
dom at the hall. Some said. its lady was