Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-12-02
true. yet needing but one spark from the torch of beauty to cause confiasrn-


 tinued Augustus Horton; ..there is, per haps, secret: there is, it may be. Q fatality which overShadOws your young lifc. Be mine, and none shall ever taunt you with that fatal secret; be mine. and you shall be the proudest beauty in Louisiana, the queen of New Orleans, the idol of your lovers devoted heart; be mine. and the debt owed mo by your father shall be cancelled be mine, and I will tear into hundred fragments the bill which I hold for fifty thousand dol lars. and which it will half ruin Gerald Leslie to pay
 Her eyes flashing, her bosom heaving with offended modessy, Cora Leslie rose from her chair.
 "Toby," she called, without even re- plying by so much as look to the planters appeal.
 "Cora Leslie, what would you do9" ex- claimed the Creole, rising.
 "Toby Y repeated Cora.
 "Beware, young lady!'
 The mulatto appeared in answer to the summons of his young mistress.
 "Toby, you will conduct this gentle man to tho gates of my fathers grounds, and remember that if he ever again dares to present himself here, it will be your duty to refuse him adnittance. You hear?'
 "Yes, mistress"
 "Go, sir" said Cora, looking at Angus tus for the first time since she had risen from her seat; Il am but stranger in New Orleans, ard you have done much to enlighten me as to the character of it's inhabitants, You have done we'll to choose the hour of a fathers absence to insult his only daughter. Go!' II obey you. Miss Leslie." answered | Augustus, white with rage, and trem- bling in every limb with suppressed pas sion. Believe me, shall not forget our | interview of today, and shall take an cp- | pertunity to remind you of it on some future occasion. For the present I am | your debtor; but trust me. the hour of | settlement will come between us, when you shall pay dearly for this insolence. In the meantime" he added, turning to | the mulatto, ''in order to teach your young mistress her proper position, be l good enough to relate to her the story of Francilia.
 1 With one savage glance at the indiG- nant girl, he hurried down the terrace steps. sprang into the saddle, put spurs to his horse, and rode off at a gailop.
 'Francilia!' exclaimed Cora; Fran 1 cilia! what could he mean? Speak. Toby, toll me, who was this Francilia.'
 The mulaJto hung his head and was l silent.
 Speak, say" repeated Cera.
 "Francilia-was-a slave belonging to MT. Leslie, Miss Cora"
 Well, then, what could she have in common with me- Why did that man cast her name ill my face as an insult?
 Toby made no reply.
 You do not answer mo. Good Hcav- ens a terrible light flashes upon me. Speak. speak!' cried the excited girl, grasping the arm of the slave in her slender hand. 'Toby, speak! !' The mulatto fell on his knees at the feet of his young mistress, and cried inn ploringly.
 Miss Cora, in the name Of mercy. do not look at me thus
 ''Toby, tell me" murmureu Cora, in d voice hoarse with emotion; "who was my mother?'
 Mistress, dear mistress, for pi'y's sake do not ask me. 1 have prom:scd not to revcal--'
 You said just now that you loved mo" answered Cora; ''if You spoke tho truth. provo your affection; tell me who was my mother.' :.
 "Your mother--" faltercd the slave mo, no, cannot, 1 dare not.
 But command you-nay, 1implore.'
 Your mother-was scalleu-Franciiia. '
 ''Oh, merciful Heaven, have pity upor me !' cried Cora. hiding her face i'll hel hands; then, after long pause--shc said sorrowfully-
 And l did not even know the nnme of my mother. Francilia slave this then is the secret of my life. Alas she is dead; Is she not?"
 ''She is.
 "Dead, far from her child who was no
 even permitted to weep for her' .'Thank Heaven you do not curse he
 memory" murmured Toby. rising.
 "Curso her !' exclaimed Cora; would
 that 1 could embrace her as 1 do you,
 she added, throwing her arms about tn, old mans neck.
 "Mc, Miss Cora! me, a mulatto!' !' re . monstrated Toby, gently rcpulsing her , 1 "What of that? does not the Sam | blood flow in our veins? are we not 0 the same down-trodden race? An, speak speak, Toby, you knew my mother; tel mo of her; you see l am calm, cal
 listen"
 She drew the mulatto to one of tn , 1 garden chairs, and forcing him to si down, placed herself at his feet; he hand in his her eyes raised to his face .'Francilia was but fifteen years C age," Toby began, ''when slave mel
 chant brought her to MT. Leslie sh , was a Quadroon, beautiful as you arc I though her skin was not so white. Sh g had long black hair, and large dark eye:
 whose sweet and gentle glance 1 can se again in yours. She was at first employe t in the service of Mrs. Leslie. Oh, Heaven
 poor child, how happy and light-hearte T she then was, her joyous voice warbIin q the soft melodies of her nation; he merry laugh ringing through the corr I dors of the house. l saw her, and l dared to love her! That time was tn
 happiest of my life, for she too loved m
 Fools that we were. What right has tf |, slave to love? The slave who belongs { E another. One day, Francilia left fe Il St. Louis, with her master and mi = tress. They were to be absent som
 weeks. l was to remain behind.
 bidding me farewell she left me this si :, yer ring, which l wear on my finger. would give it you, dear mistress, but
 have sworn to keep it till my deat
 When a-returned-she-" The slave paused, overcome with em 4 tion.
 't "Speak, speak, Toby!' said Cora.
 "Oh, for pity's sake do not accuse he T You know not what it is to be slav # bound to obey. body and soul. tho cor Ia mands of a master. Is not even resi- ~ tance crime? When Francilia return, o she had become your fathers mistrcs D, She confessed all to mo, with tears, a, n heart-rending grief! terrible Ia. ., possessed me. 1 was like drunk, r man! If in that moment MT. Leslie h' . | aDDeared before me- l know that