The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-01-13

kept only for the purpose Of tracing fugitive
slaves. They were harmless so far rs biting
was concerned 4 South Carolina man, who
formerly owned thousand negroes, declares
that no genuine bloodhound was ever seen In
that state.
As the famous "Esmeralda." by Mrs. Fran
cis Burnett, authorizes Of "The Lass o. Low
rie's," Louisiana" &c, is to be given here
on Jan. 18th, the following sketch Of the plot
may be interesting; Gilbert Rogers, an hon.
est old North Carolins farmer, lived with bis
wife 'Liddy Ann,' and his daughter Esmer.
AIDA on poor farm in one OF the western
counties OF the state. The young girl was in
love with Dave Hardy, noble specimen of a
southern yeomsn. Dave had secretly built
him little house for Esmeralda, and when
the play opeus he is just about telling Els
meraldas mother Of his love tor her daugh.
ter and his prospects in life. Mrs. Rogers, a.
shrewd, scheming mother, has reluctantly
given consent 10 their marriage, when nor
thern speculator appears upon the scene aud
proposes TO buy the farm, all the while con.
cealing the fact that 1t contains valuable
VEN Of iron ore. Mrs. Rogers, who runs
things generally is about to dispose OF the
barren property ct any price, when Davel
Hardy who has seen the Spectator and his
friend viewing the land and examining speci-
| mems, suddenly suspects that they are after
the property for Its mineral deposits. Hell
snatches the deed from Mrs. Rogers, who lei
about to deliver it, and exposes the scheme
Of the sleculator. Mrs. Rogers then makes
"a new bargain, whereby the farm makes
them millonaires. Her trst act is TO discard
naya hn unilll do for the inahaut Ot
her rich daughter. Esmeralda clings toI
Dave, who finally leaves her 80 as not tOl
stand in the way OF her education and ad
vancement In the second act we find theI
Rogers in Paris. where they have formed the
acquaintance OF young American painter
and his sisters residing there. The Rogers
family are living In luxury, and the mother
is planning the marriage OF Esmeralda to a
French Marquis. The faithful girl clings
fondly to her love for Dave, who has secretly
followed her TO Paris, and Is living there In
poverty. He comes to the studio to sit as
model and there meets friend OF the specu-
lator, who tells him that the vein OF ore on
the Rogers land suddenly gave out and turn
ed up on the farm where Dave had built his
little house for Esmcralda thus making him
very rich man. In the next act kind. heart.
ed old Mr.. Rogers tries to get the Marquis to
give I'D his claim to Esmeralda, because abe |
is breaking her heart for Dave. The French
man refuses. When Esmoralda discovers
that Dave Is in Paris, poor and hungry, she
rejects the Marquis with scorn, defles her
mother, and falls faintng In her fathers
arms, going back TO North Carolina In spite
Of them all In the last act old Mr.. Rogers,
who has always given up to his wife, makes
stand and resolves to bring Esmerada and
Dave together, which he does. Mrs. Rogers
now frat finds out that her money was long
since exhausted, and that Dave had been se.
cretly furnishing the family with funds, and
finally releuts, and the curtain rings down
with the sun shining on the little house.
where Dave and Esmeralda go TO pass their
honeymoon"