Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-12-31
THE 0cTQR0ON
4 s1 c:I OE NEATEHr D..fS.

the torturcS of self-reproach, the un- happy girl had ample cause for painful reflecs.on and regret.
 She would have made any sacrifice to recall her words of denunciation the mo- ment after their utterance.
 The memory of her old friendship for Cora Leslie stung her to the heart, and the mildly reproachful gaze of the Octo- room haunted her perPetually.
 Mrs. Moutre5or had done her best to console her niece; but Adelaide's gayety and light-heartedness had entirely de- serted her.
 She was no longer the same high spirited girl who had arrived two months before in New Orleans.
 The ladies looked up from their work as Augustus and the lawyer approached them. Adelaide perceived her brothers ill-concealed agitation, and asked the cause of it.
 He related his adventure on the quay.
 "Then Cora and Gilbert Margrave have left for St. Louis?'
 "They have," answered Augustus with an oath, ..but they shall not long escape me. Listen to me, Adelaide; you may wonder at the passion l feel upon this subject, but my pride has been humili- ated by the cool insoence of the Octo- room, and whatever motive l may have had for my conduct at the slave-sale yes- terday, have now no purpose but that of bringing Cora Leslie's naughty spirit to tho dust. 1 will have her found and brought back to New Orleans, and will give her to you as your lady's-maid. l you, and that 1 could not easily inflict greater humiliation upon my fine lady"
 And you will give her to me?' ex- claimed Adelaide with evident delight.
 "Yes. thought you'd like the idea.
 "You will give me Cora Leslie?'
 II will. The girl cost me fifty thou sand dollars. but I care for nothing now maid-bring her nose to the grind-stone let her feel what it is to be tho slave of woman who hates her"
 II will gladly accept your gift, Angus tus.' said Adelaide, eagerly; but fear that you will change your mind"
 "No, indeed!'
 "Then suppose you write q memoraE- dunn of your gift and sign it in the pres- ence of Mir. Craig and my aunt"
 "Willingly," replied Augustus, and seating himself at the table scrawicd a few lines, transferring the Octoroon to his sister, and after signing the docu- ment, pushed it across to Siias Craig
 "Witncss that, Craig" he said, "since my sister Is so much afraid of my break ing my word."
 Adelaide took up the pal per, glanced at its contents, and placed it in the pocket of her dress.
 II cannot tell you, my dear Augustus. how grateful I am to you for this gift, she said, exchanging a look of peculiar significance with her aunt, Mrs. Montre- SOr.
 Five minutes afterward Myra, the Quadroon slave, announced MT. Leslie and MT. Percy.
 The planter received his visitors wit h cold politeness, but the rat-like eyes of the attorney glanced with look of hatred at Gerald Leslie. Mir. Leslie was not alone; Toby, the mulatto. followed him into the garden. Silas Craig started from his seat with an angry oath. "What brings you here, he cried, "Toby?'
 Do not blame him, MT. Craig" an- swered Gerald Leslie, quietly, ''it is who have brought Toby here.' "Oh, it was you, was it? and by what right do you order my slaves about, pray, MT. Loslie?'
 You will learn that in due time; have reason to think that Toby's pres ence will be needed
 The attorney quailed beneath the steady gaze of Gerald Leslie. He felt | that some hidden danger was threatened by this visit.
 "Pray, Mir. Leslie." said Augustus | Horton, ''may l venture to ask the ' cousin to house in which you can l hardly expect to De very welcome? You will very soon know that. MT. l Horton,' answered Gerald. "Our visit l to-day is to MT. Craig. rather than to yourself; and our motive in coming to l this house is that you may learn the true l character of the man whom you have l chosen as your associate. l II require no such teaching, MT. Les l lie," said Augustus. haughtily. ''Silas | Craig, why do you sit thCAe like a stock Why don't you speak, man; and ask l Gerald Leslie what he means by this?' l Shall I answer that question, MT l Horton?" replied Leslie. "Silas Craig does not speak because he dares not because he knows his own guilt, ane knows that the seizure and sale of my l property, which took place yesterday was an illegal one." l "Illegal?'
 ..Yes, illegal; because that seizure was made for a debt which 1 did no owe. The sole claim which that man Silas Craig, had upon me, was debt o ono hundred dollars. That debt wa paid to him year ago by my late part ner. Philip Treverton." Silas Craig laughed aloud; but 1t wa hollow and affected mirth, which coult scarcely have deceived the most shal
 low observer.
 | '1 Ou are olCueI tt AOol OA 1 AAdNl1 esu
 Gerald Leslie," he said. If Phili
 Treverton had paid the money he would
 have had document; who can prov
 the payment of the debt?"
 "i can!' exclaimed William Bower
 emerging from the window of tn
 morning room. "You refused me pal
 try thousand dollars, MT. Silas Craig,
 reckon I've paid you out for your anabb
 conduct. Here's the receipt-the genu
 inc document-in your own handwriting
 signed with your own name, and give
 by you to Philip Treverton."
 He thrust an open paper into the al
 torneys hand. Silas sat gasping at tn
 document, as if he had been rooted
 the spot.
 "Ay, you may starer' said Bower
 "You told me to burn that paper, didn
 you, upon the night of Philip Treve
 ton s death? And you saw me burn 1t q
 you thought, but I knew the slipper
 customer I had to deal with, and
 changed the papers. You thought yo
 heard footsteps outside the door, an
 while you turned round to listen l suI
 stituted a blank sheet of foolscap for tn
 receipt and thrust it into the fire: 10 l t nd satisfied.