The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-01-01

me your wife in the sight of heaven, tina
is all I ask"
|. "Oh! Justine darling, you know no
what you ask. You cannot now realiz,
the infamy, the degradation, you vii
bring upon yourself, should accept th.
sacrifice you would make Alas! m,
noble, miselfish darling I know it onl,
too vel. = this wretched endurance 8
existence which is all the poor slave rsr
know of Life. Have I not felt the iron il
my soul all these years ? Oh! my Justine
you cannot form any conception of the
life I endure. Not only does this terrible
bondage chin me to earth = nay in the
very dust o. degradation physically, but
cr1lshes every hope. it blasts every aspira-
ton and ambition in life. If for one briei
moment I Joryet, and draw curtain for
one instant between me and the terrible
reality, som relentless hand is sure to
crush me bak-back, to the only position,
custom permits my race to fill, that of sla,e
to white MN. Oh I! love, you cannot m-
derstand hov you tempt me to forgetful-
ness OF the yrwning gulf between us. And
yet my darln, I must not, dare not drag
you down to he vile existence I endure |!
l cannot plunge your proud spirit into
the seething ouldron of misery, and de-
gradation, in which every high and noble
attribute OF m own heart is being rap
! idly consumed until soon, nothing will
remain, but sub traits and characteris-
ties as are betting Inc - a slave. No!
no! my Darlington must leave me, while
have still sufficient nobility to refuse
your sacrifice. io-darling-as vet the
$'ere has only polluted your ears, with
words OF love-our ips-nay your hands
even, are untarished by his touch. Go,
So-I am hunln, 1 can bear no more,
marry some ons Of your step-brother's
race, and leavene to forget in my slave
life l ever stood bside Justine Deyereaux
her equal
Before We proceed further, you doubt
less wish to kneY reader, who the par
ties are, whom e have SO abruptly in
troduced to you notice.
Justine Devereux was the step-sister.
and ward Of PauDevereaux, one of the
wealthiest plante, of the slower coast :"
in the State O. Louisiana. Justine's
motltr had diedvhile Justine was yet
in her nurses ars, and her father had
followed to the grve the wife-he SO dear
ly loved-long beire their little daugh-
ter had completed,er fourth year. NJ. De-
vereauxs death Wa 80 very sudden and
unexpected, that l did not have time
to make his will nus was the little JUS
tine left to the kder mercies of her
step-brother. Preous to his death,
while he was eve graphing, with the
grim monster, MDevereaux had told
his son, secret conected with the histo-
ry of the little Justie, and implored Paul
to give him, solnn pledge, that he
would guard and rotect Justine, and
that she should bequl heir with him
SELF, to the immens estate of the Deve-
A.,
reaux. And whilsthe light of a villain
GUS purpose shOnel his eyes, and with
his hands clasped that of his dying
fathers, Paul Devaaux swore to fulfill
his fathers dying payer, and with that
oath upon his Ipa- even then - Paul
Devercaux's heart Us planning how he
could dispose OF baby-girl, as if she
had been poor, bken toy, he could
cast aside at will
Immediately aftN his fathers death,
Paul had placed htine in q convent
school, so he might I've little time in
which to develope 1.ns, for her future.
As the girl was out 4 sight, she was in
some measure, out nsind, therefore, the I
years sped on, and slstine was sixteen q
years of age, and lpraduate of one of {
our famous convent ools Of Louisiana. c
The year previous leaving school, |
Justine, in the entr liasm and fanat (
cism of faith, had imlt ltfed Paurs consent L
to her joining the or of sisters. Paul 4
could not consent to tines request q
No, "he said to sself, 1 cannot y
consent, for if shoul then would half y
the Devereau1 estate claimed to Ell