Connecticut western news., 1885-10-07
BROUGHT TO LIFE.
A STORY OF OLD PLANTATION DAYS
 IN A CREOLE COLONY.


 IN CREOLE COLONY.
 Fifty dollars a month is not much of salary, but had arrived only fortnight before, and had no acquaint- ances in the country; therefore I could not presume to ask for better terms. My two pupils, M. 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 was only re- quired to give five hours day to 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 a 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"
 I accepted the situation.
 Ombreville is situated on the heights of Moka The mule itself walked quite cautiously up the ascents, and as I was careful to keep the ani- mal at a walk on the descents also, I came to the conclusion that I might just as well walk. I got down. Without troubling himself further about my wishes. my black who guid- ed the vehicle soon begun to urge his animal rapidly along the road, which made sharp turn at the bottom of long steep slope. When I reached the turn both vehicle and negro had disap- peared. I was all alone. I reckoned that there was scarcely another league to travel, and as it was not quite sev- en o'clock, I would be able to be in time for breakfast.
 It was in April. A threatening storm had been growing all the day before on the other side of Le 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 ditches to right and left ran 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 a delight to walk. From the bottom of my heart I thanked the intelligent black who had imposed this pleasure upon me, and continued on my way.
 As I walked on began to dream. What future did this new land hold in reserve for meP l had not come to 1t with any idea of making a fortune -(although young man of twenty Eve, l had acquired enough common sense to save me from such allusions but only to earn good living, and lay by enough to enable me, when an old man, to return to France and sleeE at last under the shadow of my owr village spire.
 Meanwhile. after halfan-hour walk I had reached a point at which three different roads forked off from the main one. One of them, knew must lead to Ombreville-but whichp ] 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 mang trees, and, as l feared being late, quickened my step. Under the veran dah, already crowded, I saw peopl rushing back and forward-runnina and no one noticed me as I ascende' the front steps except big fat negres crouching at the entrance, who sobbe and cried with renewed despair at m coming. There was on the sofa a 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 ur on the verandah until little pool ha formed upon the flags. She was whit or than piece of marble; the violet of death were on her compressed lip. her lifeless arms lay rigidly straigt by her side, and M. Rabut, on h knees beside her, was kissing one { her hands.
 Drowned, my dear sir, she g drowned" said good old lady of abot sixty years of age, who came to m holding out her hand in the friendlleJ maaasF imaginable. "Bnt you hA'