New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-24
AN ACCOUNT SETTLED.
A NEw-oRLEANs "REMINISCENCES.


mean the uptown andadIes, persons of pure white
blood and narrowing rects OF better days. who try to
feed you on their ancestors and whose misorunes you
are required with awful severity to respect refer to
these who have occupied Rampant, Cont, Royal aud
Bourbon ss, who rarely OF pure Caucasian strain
though 1t would often puzzle stranger to tell whether
they were or not They belong to that singular class
grouped roughly under the of OctorOons" bat
matter OF fact they represent all grades and sub
divisions OF "oOns" from the tawny Or6s up to the
blonde in whom the Congo admixture Il versihod by
nothing but tradition. Theso either the
relets-D!dece-Of wel-to-dO white citizen long
since laid to Fest in the family tomb and euogzed by bis
sOrrowing land egtnate) relatives they the de-
scendans OF such reets In either event they are the
most accomplished hOstesses the continent Cirem-
have graduated them In the of making
comfortable In times past their happiness their tenure,
depended ON their excellence and that the social
revolution has been accomplished and the Old instltu-
lions are ono by shrveng up before the nrOads of
the new, these lessons stand them in good need.
But 1t was quite another aspect OF the octoroon
andady that wished To speak-of her fund OF remns
cenco, OF the curious memories OF bygOne days she
recall. The tale al out 10 unfold Is true one.
heard 1t one drowsy afternoon last week while resting
after the abOrs OF the Exposition Remote from the
hustle of the uptown world and azIy watching per
spscye Of roofs and gables might have belonged to
SOME old and hallorgoten chapter Of French history
had induced the venerable nette chat with the
shaded gallery running along the side OF the house. Had
I ever met POlyte Roblehauxl MOI Hal There was
fine man" but spoll-ob yeS,-qnite spoil; eiectualy,
ruin" And then, at first in broken instruments, but
warming her work. she told ne the storytold 1t
with ehie and n favor which would give much to re-
produce Poyte Robichaux belonged to Tnctte's class
He had enjoyed great advantages, to be sure. His
father. substantial old Frenebman, made fortune, and
went back 10 France taking PoYte with him. There the
boy educated. rather finished" for no had been
fuat aud In Hxualt farm NJ
unquestioned equality with his fathers associates aud
10 tho enjoyment OF unlimited means Bright, quick.
eager, versatile, he acquired both the solid and the
graceful things in unbounded profson He spoke three
languages perfectly. IIe musician Of genuine
merit aud Aang light curlOusy sweet baritone,
with discriminating taste. In word no had almost
every social adornmont and greatly sought in many
Of salons Psr1s where and women Of wit and
part accustomed 70 meet. But old RobichauN, Ike
other people, had his Hd,rats quart dheure, aud
when he found that hs fortune the fabric OF long and
busy and possibly not too scrupuous, fe had tmbled
into hopeless ruins sbont his ears, like thoroughly
polite and cons lerate old Frenchsan hodloL Poyte
dutifuly mourncd his nectonate IL irregular parent,
and then took trial balance the situation. The
figures were Encouraging Nothing remained excerta
few plecca Of real estate In SewOrleans OF no great
value. France the sweep had been clean one. The
end Inc yitable Polyte turned his beck upon Paris
ana set out for New,Orleans, where. he thought, he
might Dy economy conrive to extort decent
II meagre living from the remnant Of the Robchaux
estate.
Ills awakening sudden and complete OF course
there mistake about the property. lie found that
intact And certainly. by good management IL might be
made to yield livelihood. For.the rest-s blank. He
had Left Eew-Oreans too young to understand the gnli
separating him from his moral and Intellectual equals
He came back man twenty seven with every faculty
sharpened by the experiences Of his Partisan life,
doubly exquis.tey alive TO the cOldness the avoidance,
the forblding distance Of those TO whom he naturally
gravitated for eompanionship and sympathy by slow
and sure degrees he sucoumbed to the cruel pressure
Gradually he felt the social horizon close IN about him,
shutug out everything he cared accustomed
To- uut ne felt orlorn OF creaturesa stranger
and an exile Ia his own home. The tension tod sauy
upon him his old .unty brightness grew eyni-
cal and malignant learned % hate and scorn the things
be had once yned TO soof AZ aud doras tue Ideas
ne had all his tanght to honor In short time
he hal degenerated into reckless erblttered greedy
b,rd Of prey hiding pay OF long and rank
ling with sosiety
When Polyto first returned and while yet no was
Ignorant OF the fato awaiting him. lie sought out girl
with whom nj the time OF hs departure, he had been
passionatey in lore. She. too was OF the aceursed
oas but ho had not thought OF that before he scarcely
realized u now so he stroled down Toulouse-st to the
remembered house where Melane's dark eyes had
so often she'd light upon the quiet sitting room for him.
Eight years had passed. but he pictured Meane hanging
OF the orange trees Win her ncantu race sgVW JUST ~
I'm the oden time. He found Melane. But Instead OF
before him a tat ieadsu footed housekeeper. His heart
sank within him without interest he followed tue
recital OF her since he had last her. IL the
old story. She had gone the way OF her Kind Young
fair, accomplished. she had become tho wiie-on the
time honored pqeee panof rrosI erous English cotton
buyer. She had an elegant homo, number OF lovely
children faithful and devoted protector ad ehloyed
the highest confederation among tho octoroon colony
Polyte crushed. lie know nothing o. al THIS lie
turned away from the wreck OF his bOyish fancy bitter
and rpaeu n
He loathed New Orleans society ...,,,.,.
the situation Poyte had opened On office IN Exchange
alley not far from ST. Louis ST. The location was con
yenent TO Ricboeus aud Antoine's, where he acted as
conf lentia adviser TO tho leading men OF his class such
people as Arstide Mary +. Y. Dumas, the pubucets
age he managed Increase the small store OF worldly
goods left hm by hIs father until 1t assumed Very
once when Melanie burst into the room-a flushed and
nabby Sppanton which he regarded win aaaaeI9 lem
eyes were dshy Her FORM which IN times gone py ne
mad Gas Of sRSn s Si'R Es pfcPy
her with the things he hated aud he watched her move
sPoyto, you loved me once.-I loved YOU, :,
Perhaps. II Is so long ago But what Is 1t
The D tears lowed airesh Polyte wondered IN hiS
wicked heart If she were trying 70 revive tho Oh ieons
What is that to INC Z" he said r,-,u,r,ord
TD h nj, 10 o mg rs or nearly ten years.
Those children are his lie always Intended 70 i9ave
them his money He has said so TO ms irenst1 @
will know IT,"
POiyto became Interested
How did he die g.
Suddenly. How do know Y
No. perfectly wen and strong. when took the coffee
10 his room "a o'clock" -,
SO one knew that anything allied him =
No Que dreamed or IT," ,,,,
And nobody nows he Is dead now STAY be careful
She patsed a moment, vanly endeavorng 20 follow Tue
drift Of his questions. Then, NO, NOT SOUL oaiho
straight to you. To you, Polyte. who - . -,
Yes. yes that was right Never nina tne TEST 81 l
am your friend. But tell me- can you follow my utpd
tons viii you dry your eyes, stop this weeping ana DO
rs I say T.
Yes, anything" , ?
go home. Let no one now what has happened
will the rest" ,,,t.
ed Ter tear. and went hpu lie sat FOR half an hour
In Ie then mt ID