New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-20

place for sparkling. You've been down 20
Oak Grove with that student feller.'
"Wal. an what eff hev ~ retorted Luce,
who inferred at once that che had been
watched. and that it would be useless 10
deny the meeting.
You've been thar every day for this long
time.' continued the father. remembering
afternoon absences which had hitherto ex-
cited no suspicion.
II know it, I've been thar to see him. l
love him an he loves me-
"Now. l jest want ye to quit these
capers,' he said. drawing cowhide from
his sleeve. "Will ye promise to quit"
q scream of rage and misery and despair.
John Raddle reasoned in the block, with.
out drawing fine distinctions or looking at
both Sides He did not pause to consider
whether 1t was not his fault that his
daughter had grown up foolish hoyden:
he simply made it clear to his mind that
she was one. and that she must be broken
Of it; then he took her in hand and logged
her numerically.
An old bachelor friend Of mine often
pleases himself with declaring that good
cOwhiding will bring any woman to ner
senses.' When the first blow stung through
Lucy's hOmespun ;rock she shouted den
apce. but in a minute more she was on her
knees. holding up her hands and wa;i1ns.
"Oh. don's par:'
win We quit it ;" repeated John Raddse.
his broad face glowing like bonfire with
anger and exercise.
"Oh: YES. yes.' sobbed Lucy. willing 20
say anything that would keep that upliised
scOurge from descending.
Then she was led. whispering and with.
ing and crouchipg. to her room, her shout.
ders in a flame of stings, and her heart. as
it seemed to her, broken. 10 make sure
that she she should not escape she was
| forced to 20 to bed. her shoes were taken
away, and the door was fastened OF the
outside. Her fathers las: words were.
''Git yer nose pinted to start tor Uncle
| Jim's in the moCnin'.'
| This was the elimination of calamity: this
was worse than Ter ferces: throbbings.
Uncle Jim Jetiris lived thirtyfve miles or
! SO up Saiudy." and before she could return
! to Solnerville Ter hero would be gone. Lucy
cried. twisted. rubbed her :ingiiLg arms.
| tried to see their discoioratiOns. muttered
threats OF vengeance. cOncocted plans Of
escape. and then wen. On with her crying
| all that evening. They brought her no
supper. and she was furious at that. for she
had meant to break the plate and upset tie
jug of milk. But amid all pain and grief
| and wrath she remembered Frederick May.
| field with q pluckiness of affection which
disposes a man to lift his hat to her memory.
Hungry. sore and shoeless, she was resolved
| to see him once more. Throughout the
! evening she watched for a chance to escape
| from the house: and it seemed to her as if
| the hated world had never sat up so tate
before. Finally there came All hour when
! doors ceased slamming, and no more clumsy
| feet clustered along the creaking passages,
and no more laughter or whistling OF be.
lated ;die1s resounded fro IL he's'1ee:.
! After trying vainly to force her lock she
had recourse to the window. KnOtting the
| ND Eaf a
ladder long enough to take her to earth and
Sc: of for the clerical residence. Stones.
sticks and surs wounded her bare fee: in
| the darkness, but she only cringed and
never uttered cry or slackened her speed.
She threaded the pine grove. ran swiftly by
d door yard or two in fear OF dogs. crept
under cover Of a fence up short alley and
was beneath the eata!pas which uncovered
| the parsonage.
| The little wooden 'ilalf house was az
| p;tiiessiy quiet as a tomb. Had Frederick
| Maytield actually been asleep and never
! known OF the shivering cir! who was Dlub.
| bering her passionate grief under his VIM
dow because she should see his face no
more, it would have been a ferocity OF des.
| tiny which even an austere. minded man
! might be tempted to grumble at. Things
! happened better than that. and worse. Lucy
| detected glInmer behind the boys cur.
! tain: she tossed a pebble or two against
| window pane: in another minute ne was
beside her. She clung to him. told her
| wctul story. made him touch the welts on
he. arms, and cried over the approaching
separation, hoping that lie would somehow
prevent it.
Low down girls. take warning. !: IN.
] wisdom is not its own reward. il has none.
The suitor who can not worship, can not
love. Although Maytield was sorry for
Luce, although he was indignant at the
savage punishment which she had received.
although he knew himself to be mainly
responsible for her sciefs. he still wished
.ha. he had never seen her. and he longed
to ge: rid Of her. OF course he petted her;
OF course he tried to quiet her tiresome cry.
ing: but. OF course. too. he urged her to re.
turn home. They were whispering part.
ing when they heard a whistle, followed by
stealthy. menacing rush Of approaching
footsteps.
\ discovery which transforms this story
from doletul comedy into q downright
tragedy mad been made by John Haddle.
After whipping Luce. his blood up and his
hand in. he sought a new victim. This VIC
tim was Lnce's cOnEdante. and this con.
tdante was a negro girl OF fifteen. John
Raddle's purchased property. Holding her
in some way responsible TOR his daughters
hoydenisms,. he piled her GO tercely with
tel made woful revelation.
Tho born Landowner. the illegal trader
with negroes. the coarse. ignorant drunkard
and rufian had crept co far up toward re.
speciality that when he heard the tale Of
his child's misconduct he felt injured and
Gishonored. He dropped his cowhide and
drew his revolver; he reeled about the
room. threatening the life of the negress,
stamping and swearing. At last he rushed
out. called for his horse, and rode at full
galop to Old Zeke Jefr;s.
The Jettrises, although plain and Hitter.
ate people. had for mary years been WELL
TODD farmers, and were net classed in the
district as Crackers. Conscious that his
marriage into the family had been his long.
eat stride toward social consideration, John
RaddIe was proud of his wife's relatives.
sensitive to their criticisms, and subservient
to their counsel. A sob or two Of shame
mingled with his Oaths a. he now told them
what he had to tell. and asked them what
should be done. They, too odd Zeke, his
wife, and his two grown grandsons. Scott
and Harris), were sullenly, il not acutely.
conscious Of injury and insult.
IL s'posc he thinks. cause he's a great
gensleman's son. he can do what he likes"
growied Scott Jetfrs, the eldest Of the
grapdsons. II say let's git after him. an if
he won't do what's right. kill him. BY,
that's what ! say.
The grandfather. who had not hitherto
spoken. now iurched toward the mantel-
piece. took down his always loaded rife
and led the way to the stable, followed in |
silence by the Others. In ten minutes four |
armed men were riding through the six |!
miles Of dim starlight which lay between !
the farE: house ard Somervi!!e. Reaching
the tavern. they drank largely of whisky; |
then they repaired to Luce's room to obtain |!
a confirmation of the negro girls story.
H., %lo> H.,