Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-10-09
BROUGHT TO LIFE.
A STORY OF OLD PLANTATION DAYS.
IN A CREOLE COLONY.

A STORY OF OLD PLANTATION DAYS
IN A CREOLE COLONY.
Fifty dollars a month is not much
Of a 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 | 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 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"
apoaptgJ rho siftFotiDn
Ombreyile is situated on the
heights of Moka. The mule itself
walked quite cautiously up the ascents,
and as was careful to keep the AMI
mal at a walk on the descents also, |
came to the conclusion that | might
Just as well walk. l got dow.
Without troubling himself furtlsA
about my wishes, my black who guid
ed the vehicle soon begun to urge hi
animal rapidly along the road, whicl
made a sharp turn at the bottom of
long steep slope When reached tn
turn both vehicle and negro had disap
peared. | was all alone. l reckone,
that there was scarcely another leagu
to travel, and as it was not quite sev
en- o'clock, | would be able to be il
time for breakfast.
1t was in April \ threatening
storm had been growing all the da,
before on the other side of LIE Ponc
summit; ON either side of the road th
trees drenched in torrential rain, shool
down showers of water from the leave
with every breath of wind the water
of the bitches to right and left raj
with a loud murmur under the SHADOW
of the high grass; the air was fresl
and all impregnated with sweet smells
the sun still hung at the edge of tn,
forest curtain; it was delight t
walk. From the bottom of my hear
| thanked the intelligent black wh'
had imposed this pleasure upon me
AS l walked on | began to dream
What future did this new land hole
IN reserve for nc? | had not come t
it with any idea of making a fortune
Il although young man of twenty
five, | had acquired enough common
sense to save me from such allusions
but only to earn a good living, an(
lay by enough to enable me, when al
old man, to return to France and sleeI
at last under the shadow of my owl
village spire.
Meanwhile. after half-an hour walk
had reached point at which thre'
different roads forked off from the
main one One of them, l knew mus
lead to Ombreyille-but which?
invoked the Triple Hecate, sat dowI
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 | feared being late,
quickened my step. Under the veran
dab, already crowded, l saw peopl
rushing back a Id forward running
and no one noticed me as | ascendeC
The front steps except big fat negres
crouching at the entrance, who sobbe'
an cried with renewed despair at m.
coming. There was on the sofa a
full length. lay a young girl-amost
child ! Her long, bright hair, al
streaming with water, fell over tn
back Of the sofa. and had dripped up
Oh the verand~h until a little pool ha'
formed upon the flags. Sic was whit
eT than piece of marble; the violet
Of death were on her compressed lips
her lifel"ss AIMS lay rigidly straigh
by her side, tnd NJ. Rabut, on hi
knees beside hor, was kissing one o
her hands
Drowned. my dear sir, she go
drows.ed,' ss& good cid lady of abou
sixty years Of ~ve. who came to me
helding ous arr hand in the friendlies
manaas n Ag9nahle. "But you hay