Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-30
BROUGHT TO LIFE.
STORY OF OLD PLANTATION DAYS
IN A CREOLE COLONY.

IN A CREOLE COLONY.
Fifty dollars a month is not much
of salary, but l had arrived only a
fortnight before, and had no acquaint-
ances in the country; therefore could
not presume to ask for better terms.
My two pupils, NJ. Rabut assured me,
were very well-behaved children; the
girl was just fifteen, already young
lady, and the ten-year boy was equally
APT at study. After all 1 was only re-
quired to give five hours a day tc
teaching; the rest of my time was al,
together my own, to be devoted either
to work or sleep, as pleased.
"And remember" he said "your pa.
vilion is at such distance from the
family residence that you can feel per
fectly at home there and perfectly
quiet. OF course everybody will treat
you with the consideration due to
your position in the household. You
will observe that my poor old mothers
head is a little weak, but she is the
kindest of souls"
accepted the situation.
Ombreville is situated on the
heights of Moka. The mule itsel
walked quite cautiously up the ascents
and as l was careful to keep the ami
NAL at walk on the descents also,
came to the conclusion that | might
just as well walk. | got down.
without troubling himself further
about my wishes, my black who guild
ed the vehicle soon begun to urge hi:
animal rapidly along the road, which
made a sharp turn at the bottom of d
long steep slope. When reached the
turn both vehicle and negro had disap
peared. / was all alone. | reckonet
that there was scarcely another league
to travel, and as it was not quite sew
en- o'clock, would be able to be in
time for breakfast.
1t was in April. A, threatening
storm had been growing all the day
before on the other side of lie Ponce
summit; on either side of the road the
trees drenched in torrential rain, SHOOK
down showers of water from the leaves
with every breath of wind; the water
of the bitches to right and left rar
with loud murmur under the shadow
of the high grass; the air was fresh
and all impregnated with sweet smells
the sun still hung at the edge of the
forest curtain; it was delight tc
walk. From the bottom of my hear
I thanked the intelligent black who
had imposed this pleasure upon me-
and continued on my way.
AS | walked on l began to dream
What future did this new land hole
In reserve for me? had not come tC
it with any idea of making fortune
y -(although a young man of twenty.
five, l had acquired enough common
sense to save me from such illusions
but only to earn good living, ant
lay by enough to enable me, when ar
old man, to return to France and sleeE
at last under the shadow of my OWL
village spire.
Meanwhile. after half-an-hOur walk
had reached point at which three
different roads forked off from the
main one. One Of them, | knew must
lead to Ombreville-but which?
invoked the Triple Hecate, sat dowr
upon rock, and waited.
A negro passing on the run, pointed
out to me which road to take. Soon
caught sight of the lofty chimney o.
the sugar mill-then the house itself
buried in a thick grove of mango
trees, and, as l feared being late,
quickened my step. Under the veran.
dab, already crowded, l saw peopl,
rushing back and orward-running
aud no one noticed me as | ascendet
the front steps except a big fat negres'
crouching at the entrance, who sobbet
and cried with renewed despair at my
coming. There was on the sofa al
full length, lay young girl-almost ;
child ! Her long. bright hair, al
streaming with water, fell over tn,
back Of the sofa, and had dripped up
on the verandah until a little pool ha(
Termed upon the flags. She was whit
or than piece Of marble; the vioet
Of death were on her compressed lips
her lifeless arms lay rigidly straigh
by her side. and M. Rabut, on hi
Knees beside her, was kissing one o
her hands
'Drowned. my dear sir, she 60
drowned," said good old lady of abou
sixty years Of age who came to me
holding out her hand in the friendlies