Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-12-27

walls of the villa residence of Augustus Horton. The house and plantation of HOrtOnvtlle were some miles from the | wood in which the duel between Augustus and Gilbert had taken place. The scenery which surrounded the villa was exquisitely beautiful, and the build ing itself, seen beneath the light of the moon, with it's lamp-lit windows gleam- ing like pale gems in the glory of the summers night, had the appearance of some fairy palace rather than any earthly habitation.
 You might almost have expected to see those white walls melt into thin air and fade away from your gaze. 1t was nearly midnight, and the planters small household n,-E retired to rest.
 There were only two watchers in that luxurious habitation. The first of these was Augustus Hor- ton; the second was Cora, the Octoroon.
 The unhappy girl had been brought from the auction room to Hortonvllle in Augustus's phaeton, the thoroughbred horses of which made brief work of the journey from New Orleans Adelaide Horton and her aunt, Mrs. Montresor, were still at their city resi- dence.
 Cora scarce dared to hink why Augus- tus had chosen to take her to Horton
 
 The answer to that question was too terrible.
 Could there be any doubt as to his motive in choosing this lonely villa for the retreat of the Octoroon? Was it not that the wretched girl might be more fully in his power? The chamber to which Cora had been conducted was even more luxuriOusly furnished than her own tastefully decor ated apartment in the pavilion on the borders of Lake Pontchartrain, but the Octoroon looked at the splendors around | her with shudder. She knew it was not thus that slaves were ordinarily treated, and she knew the sinister meaning of this seem- ing kindness.
 The young mulattress who led Cora to her apartment informed her that she had been appointed to wait upon Miss Leslie.
 Cora smiled bitterly. | "Who told you to call me Miss Leslie?" che asked
 "My master, Mir. Horton" | "Aias, my poor girl answered Cora, | ssI am no longer Miss Leslie. I am a slave like yourself, with no name save 1 that which my master chooses to give me. He has bought me; bought me at the auction yonder. Name, fame, hap pness, honor, ay, and even soul-as he | thinks-are his."
 In the bitterness of her despair she buried her face in her hands and sobbed cloud.
 The mulattress was touched to the heart by this burst of grief.
 "My dear mistress, pray do not weep thus," She said. You will be no slave here, know; for our master had these beautiful rooms prepared on purpose for you, and you are to be treated as queen.
 "A queen!" said Cora, hysterically. ''Yes, the empress of profiigate's hour of pleasure, to be trampled beneath his feet when the whim has passed. Co., my good girl; why should I distress you with my griefs- You can never under stand my misery"
 It was impossible, indeed, for this poor ignorant slave to comprehend the feelings of the highly educated and refined woman, torn from a father she adored, and from | him who was to have rescued her from slavery and made her happy English wife.
 Cora dried her tears; and, affecting a calmness which she dtd not feel, dis missed the mulattre s.
 Tho girl had lighted shaded l"1p upon an elegant little inlaid t;aJle, and had brought a tray loaded with delicacies for Cora's refresh ment, but the Octorocn turned with sickened heart from the rich food set before her. She had eaten nothing that day, and her lips and throat were parched and burning with inward fever She poured out glass of iced water and drained the cool liquid to the last drop. | Then, throwing open the wide Venetian shutters, she looked out into the calm night.
 "What if there wese yet hope! What | If she could escape?
 A thrill vibrated through her 1nmost soul as she asked herself those questions
 She fell on her knees, and lifting her clasped hands, exclaimed in an outburst of enthusiasm: