Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-01-05

umphant laughter that made the roof ring.
"Yon wretch. it is a falseboodl Where
do you expect to go to?" cried Mrs. Fos-
brook
Madam, it is most probably true"
said the Colonel. who had stood silently
listening at the foot Of the bed. like a man
heart-sfricken and admoniShei-"it is
most probably true. Let the dying wo-
man alone; the past can neither be recall
example. in calling our own sins IND sci
fishncss the works of Providence. Come
away"
We all walked back to the drawing
room. and every soul that heard Elvas
confession. felt convinced that il was
true. Of course, in law. the testimony Of
a revengeful slave would connt for moth
ing; but we had oil eyes and memories. and
their evidence was not to be set aside As
regarded poor sold Lefty. and the fair face
which bad been such cause Of jealousy
and despite. Moreover. the revelation
could not he kept a secret--it was too pub
licly made; and many of the servants hal
been within hearing. and nobody doubted
it. though Elva could not be induced to
give any further particulars. Perhaps the
woman had none to give; at any rate she
spoke but little after that wild laugh, bnt
gradually sank. and died. a> the doctor hail
predicted, an hour before sunset
Her tale made no apparent difference to
the Fosbro,ks; all things and all people
remained in their places--the,e were the
senior an the junior couples. the father
and his son-in-law. the mother and her
daughter; but 1t vent abroad. was canvas
sed in every drawing room and on every
plant alton. IN Charleston clubs and coffee
houses. and wherever the Fosbrooks were
known. 1t touched nothing visible, YET
their lives were changed. and the different
effects were curious. MIR. Foshrook's
steady and domestic habits gradually for
) ok him; he took to the clubs. the gaming
tables-it was sail to all manner OF lissi-
/ pathpn--was never at home. and believed
to Ire virtually separated from Mrs. Eos
brook. She continued TO preach; 1 sup
pose nothing could alter the woman; but
she was left very much in the background.
for Fosbronk Hall became a lonely man
sion. shorn ot its splendor aud retinue
between her husbands extravaganza aud a
step to which the Colonel urgeS him
namely. the gradual emancipation of all
his negroes. The fact could be accom-
pli,hed more easily at that time than in
these unhappy days of fermenr and civil
war, 1t was managed by Mr.. FosbTook' =
son in Law, on the estate which he had
married for. How much he regretted the
real heir IS. AMI the misiortunes which had
fallen upon her for his sake. people could
only conjecture; but certain it was, that
from being CAV and careless, he became a
serious man. resigned his commission in
the army. took TO the emancipation husi-
ness--hut prnlently and with forethought;
and when it was fairly accom- she'd, and
the negroes put in ways of getting their
own living. he removed with his wife 10
Pennsylvania. where he entered the society
OF Friends, AMI he continue to the end o.
his davs to be a moderate and rational
aboltionist.
He returned only once TO Sonth Caro-.
lima. anil that was at the time OF Mr.. Eos.
brooks death. which happened ten years
after the ColOnei's marriage. Then he
settled the old laiy in a Grsl-rate boarding
house. and soil the Hall aud plantation
understand it passed through many
hands afterwards. aud got the reputation
OF being unlncky; for the populace. and
especially the negroes. gave the place a
new title. from some memory Of Elva's
confession, a2d called it the Black Tx.
change.