New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-29

about az old as Colonel De Charleu, sunk
in the bliss of deep ignorance shrewd, deaf,
and, by repute at least, unMerCiful.
The Colonel and he always conversed in
English. This rare accomplishing MT, which
the former had learned from his Scotch
wife-the latter from up river traders
they found an admirable medium of com
munication, answering, better than French
could, similar purpose to that of the stick
which we fasten to the bit of one horse and
breast-gear of another, whereby each keeps
his distance. Once in a while. too, by way
of jest, English found its way among the
ladies' of Bellies Demoiselles, always signi-
lying that their sire was about to have busl-
ness with old Charlie.
Now long standing wish to buy out
Charlie troubled the Colonel. He had no
desire to GUST him unfairly he " as proud
of being always tair: yet he did long to en-
gross the whole estate under one title. Out
Of his luxurious idleness he had conceived
this desire, and thought little Of 80 slight
an abstacle as being already somewhat in
debt TO old Charlie for money borrowed,
and for which Bellies Demoiselles was, of
course, good, ten times over. Lots, build
ings, rents all. might as well be his. he
thought, to give, keep, or destroy. " Had
he but the OLD mans heritage. An he
might bring that into existence which his
bellies demoise!les had been begging for,
since many years. home, and such home,
in the gay city. Here he should tear
down this row of cottages. and make his
garden wall; there that long rOpe-walk
should give place to vine covered arbors;
the bakery yonder should make way tor a
costly conservatory; that wine warehouse
should come down, and the mansion 60 up.
1t should be the finest in the State. Men
should never pass it but they should say:
the palace of the De Charleus; family Of
grand descent, a people of elegance and
bounty, line as old as France, a fine old
man, and seven daughters as beautiful as
happy; whoever dare attempt to marry
there must leave his own name behind
HIM"
"The house should be Of stones fifty set,
brought down in ships from the land of les
dere, with gilded image tip-tOeing and
shining on it's peak, and from it you should
see, far across the cleaning folds Of the
river the red roof of Bellies Demoiselles,
the country seat. At the big stone gate
there should be pOrter's lodge, and it
should be a privilege even to see the
ground"
Truly they were family fine enough and
fancy free enough to have fine wishes, yet
happy enough where they were, to have
had no wish but to live there always.
To those who by whatever fortune, wan
dered into the garden OF Bellies DemOlselles
some summer afternoon as the sky was red
dening toward evening, it was lovely to see
the family gathered out upon the tiled
pavement at the foot of the broad front
steps, gaily chatting and testing. with that
ripple OF laughter that comes so pleasingly
from bevy of girls. The father would be
found seated in their midst, the centre of
attention and compliment, witness, arbiter,
umpire, critic, by his beautiful children's
unanimous appointment, by the single vas
sal, too, of seven absolute sOvereigns.
Now they would draw their chairs near
together in eager discussion of some new
step in the dance, or the Sadj ustment of
some rich adornment. Now they would
start about him with excited comments to
see the eldest fix a bunch of violets in his
buttOnhOle. Now the twins would move
down q walk after some unusual flower,
and be greeted on their return with the
high pitched notes of delighted feminine
surprise.
As evening came on they would draw
more quietly about their paternal centre.
Often their chairs were fOrsaken. and they
grouped themselves on the lower steps, one
above another, and surrendered themselves
to the tender influences of the approaching
night. At such an hour the passer on the
river, already attracted by the dark figures
of the broad rooted mansion, and its woody
garden standing against the glowing sunset,
would hear the voices of the hidden group
rise from the spot in the soft harmOnies Of
an evening song; swelling clearer and
clearer as as tho thrill of the music warmed
them into feeling, and presently joined by
the deeper tones of the fathers voice; then,
as the daylight passed quite away, all
would be still, and he would know that the
beautiful homo had gathered its nestlings
under its wings
And yet, for mere vagary, it pleased them
not to be pleased.
"Artin' called one sister to another in the
broad hall, one mornin-mock amazement
in her distended eyes-''something is gOin'
to toOke place"
"Comn,-e ,-t"'-longdrawn perplexity.
"Papa is gon' to town.
The news passed up stairs
'Inno,'-one TO another meeting in
ioorway-"sOmething is goin' to took
place."
"Qu'estce-guc ccst!'-vain attempt at
yrutfness.
Papa is goin' to town.
The unusual tidings were true. 1t was
afternoon Of the same day that the Colonel
tossed his horses bride to his groom, and
stepped up to old Charlie, who was sitting
bn his bench under china tree, his head,
as was his fashion, bound In Madras hand
kerchief. The '0ld man" was plainly under
the effect of spirits. and smiled a deferen
tial salutation without trusting himself to
his feet.
"En, well Charlie.r-the Colonel raised
his voice to suit his kinsmans deafness
how is thos6 times with my friend Char
leu
Eff said Charlie, distractedly.
us that gOin' well with my friend Char
ie?r
I'm the house-call her'-making a pre-
5ense of rising.
Non, NOM ! don't want'-the speaker
paused to breathe-"ow is collection
cor said Charlie, ''every day he make me
more poorer!"
what do you hask for III" asked the
planter ndifferently designating the house
oy a waive of his whip.
Ask for watt" said Injin Charlie.
''De house! What you ask for it,
81 don't believe" said Charlie.
What would you take for it!' cried the
planter.
.Wait for wat9'
"What you would take for the whole
Dlock9"
Il don't want TO sell him.
"I'li give you ten thousand dolldh for it."
Ten t'ousand dollah for dis hOuse9 o,
10, that is no price. He is blame good
I'D house-that old house" (Old Charlie
and the Colonel never swore in presence
If each other) Forty years that old
house didn't had to be paint! l easy can
get fifty t'Ousand dollah for that old
louse"
Fifty thousand picayunes, yes" said
he Colonel.
''Shes a good house. Can make plenty
money" pursued the deaf man.
That's wnat make you so rich, eh,
Chariel"
"Non, don't make nothing. Too blame
,lever, me, OATS de troub'. She's a good
money like a acknowledgements