Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-12-13

are CraiSs negroes, returning to thelr cabins after the days labor. They sing, lash cannot destroy the quiet content of their honest hearts. How easily might 8 good master make them happy"
 Again the voices rise upon the balmy air :-
 Far from home. and child, and wife,
 Day goes by in toll and strife.
 Night brings peace and sleep."
 The voices slowly died away in the the woodland glades, as the negroes passed out of hearing. E. Mortimer Percy still listened-eagerly breathlessly-for that other awful sound which would announce tho commence mont of the combat,
 Nothing yet!'' he exclaimed: eff l turn the corner of yonder group of trees I run the chance of being struck by a random bullet; but come the worse, l must risk it, can endure this suspense no longer"
 He sprang through the forest growth in the same dire ction as that taken by Gilbert Margrave.
 He had not disappeared above three minutes when from the opposlts side of casting long shadows on the moonlit grass.
 The first was man, the second woman. It was the mulatto slave, Toby, who came hither to lead the Octo- room to her mothers grave.
 ''That song which you heard just now, Miss Cora, has been sung many a. I:~ int above your cradle to Hull you to sle"p.'
 My mother sang it?' eSciained Cora.
 ..She did, che did! The sound Of that song. my lady, will bring tears to roby s eyes until the hour when they close in death."
 Faithful friend!
 "You are sad, dear mistress. Snr are uneasy" said the mulatto 1 l" III Oil 6 watchfulness of the slaves ssiIectiui1 --.;- abled him to detect every varying sE:l 6 in Cora's manner. He eaw hat her mad was disturbed by some anxiety.
 II am anxious about Mir. j. d: gi.>t,, Toby" she replied. "he prom!s. d 0 join us ere this.
 '.The English gentleman may have had some difficulty in engaging a boat, dear mistress. You have seen the pCor a::u in which your mother passed tl.e two iat months of her life. It is near this spot she reposes."
 The slave looked about him in the moonlight, and presently paused at the foot of an enormous oak. Pushing a Ge tho wild overgrowth which obscu!ed it he revealed 6 ropgh-hewn wood cross sur mounting humble mound of earth, which had been neatly turfed by the same faithful hand that had erected the simple monument.
 Upon the cross this inscription lad been carved in letters cut deep into the wood:
 ."FRANcIL1A. July 7th, 1S45." Below this name and dats were three words, Those words were: BLOOD FOR BLOOD" '.See, Miss Cora" said the mnlatto, ''this Is a lonely spot, though so near to the plantation. Few ever come here, for wonder dell is said to be haunted by the spirit of an Indian who was cruelty mur- dered there hundred years ago. No hand has disturbed this cross. 1t may be that no human eye has ever seen tho | inscription, but the all-seeing eye of Providence has looked upon these words 1 for fifteen weary years. .'Oh, spirit of my murdered mother ]" l exclaimed the young girl, lifting her clasped hands toward the elfulgent sky. ''Spirit of the unhappy and injured one, l look down upon your daughter! May Heaven forgive the sins of him who caused thy unhappy fate. May Heaven pity and pardon my wretched father. cannot curse him. Here on the grave Of | ms NlcClIn. on Ine grave pl Il Ftctlln 0! wicked and cruel prejudice, l pity and forgive him. for he needs all pity since | he has sinned." At this moment the report of |; gun sounded in the dell near at hand Cora rose suddenly from her knees, pale and terrified. 'Toby." she cried. "Ioby, did you hear?'
 Before the mulatto could reply, Mortl; branches that bordered the dell, and rushed toward where they stood. He re. coiled upon seeing Cora.
 "You here, Miss Leslie?" he ex claimed.
 "Yes. yes. Tell me what was that re port?"
 "Thatl Some some hunter. nc doubt"
 He had scarcely spoken when second gun was fired.
 "Ho, no. MT. Percy!" cried Cora wildly, ''it Is no hunters carbne. ] womans unfailing instinct tells me O. danger to him love. Gilbert Margravt has been fighting a duel with you cousin"
 l Augustus Horton appeared as sh, spoke. walking backward and gazing in tently into the dell.
 II must have surely hit him." he nut tered.
 "See, see!" cried Cora, this antagonis, is safe. It !is he who has fallen. Run l Toby, run to succor him."
 Half fainting with terror and anguish she would have fallen to the ground hat l not Mortimers extended arm caught hel l in time. He carried her prostrate forn l to rocky seat close at hand, on whic
 she rested with her head still lying ol
 his shoulder.
 Augustus Horton advanced towar
 hem, and recognized the Oe;oroon in tn ioonlight.
 .~hc hereT he cried s'Cora!" stT0 ha cOnf,p,,n