Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-12-09
CORA The OCTOROON
BY MISS N. z. BRAEDoE.

Pauline Corsi had forbidden him to
Leave his apartments until summoned
20 that interview.
He took up book, but was unable
20 concentrate his attention upon the
pages.
* low couch stood near the window,
and Paul threw himself upon the cush-
fon. and abandoned himself to refiec-
ton.
He did not mean to sleep, but the
morning was hot and sultry; and ex-
hausted by excitement and by long
nights of fatigue, his eyes closed and
he fell into Slumber.
While he lay in that strange state OF
semi-cOnSciOuSnes5, which IS neither
sleeping nor waking, ne fancled that
he saw a dark figure glide softly in at
the door Of the chamber and conceal
itself behind the ample folds OF the
window curtains.
This figure entered the room with SO
noiseless tread, and disappeared so
quickly, that Paul, whose eyes had
been half closed all the time, thought
the appartiOn formed part OF his
dream.
lie fell into deep slumber, from
which he was suddenly aroused by The
shutting Of the door of his apartment.
This door had been closed - quietly,
that the sound would lave Eeel IN
heard by All ordinary Sleeper; but the
overstrained state Of the young mans
nerves was snch that whisper would
have awakened him.
TIE room was darkened by the closed
Venetian shutters, which excluded the
Burning Sun, and left the apartment IN
shadow.
Paul sprang to his feet and looked
about him. The chamber was empty.
He tore aside the window curtains,
but there was 10 one lurking behind
their voluminOus drapcries.
His next impulse was to look to the
safety of the portmanteau- 1t was
gonel
lie had placed it on a chair near the
couch, on which he lay, but the chair
was empty.
lie searched the apartment, bts in
vain; the portmanteau had disappeared.
He rushed from the r. M and TO the
hall below the first person he met was
Pepita. He inquired Of her, If she bad
met any one carrying a portmanteau.
"A little leather box, NASSAU"
yes, yes"
christian jes carry one out of de
house den, maSSa; Peplta see him" all
swered the mulattresS.
(which way did he go" exclaimed
Paul, breatEless with agitation.
"Out o door Massa Paul; to de wood
house, Pepita tink."
Paul waited to hear no more, but
rushed to the back premises, amongst
which the WOOd-houSe was situated.
The WoOd-hOuse was a rudely-cOn-
structed building, i'll which timber was
kept for the stoves. AS Paul ap-
preached the door, he perceived
wreathS of pale blue smoke issuing
from the crGviceS in the wood work.
This smoke indicated the burning of
timber in the hut. Paul tried to open
the door, but it was bolted from the i'll
side. He flung himself with all his
force against it, but it resisted his eff
forts.
lie felt that the slave Tristan had
taken the portmanteau into the hut for
some evil design.
''Iristan!" he cried, "Tristan open
the door, or | will shoot you through
creVlce III the wood"
The negro only answered with
knocking laugh. Meanwhile the smoke,
increasing every moment in volume
almost snlfocated the young man with
its sitting fumes.
Suddenly Paul re mbered that on
the other side ct the wood-houSe there
was n small window which admitted
hight into the building.
He ran round to this window
The shutters were nailed together,
but the wood was rotten and the hing
es Worn and rusty
Paul Nrenched them aSundcr with
the rapldity of lightning, dashed his
hand through the dingy glass Of the
window, flung it open and sprany into
the hut.
A lar t;,n ,roS hl.,jp., =, 4I,n ,o,+or
OF the building, and Tristan, the negro,
knelt over the flames with the port
manteau III his hand.
Paul sprng upon him and tore the
leather case from his grasp, but the
negro was the stronger of the two.
lie regalned possession of the port
manteau and made toward the door of
the hut.
Again Paul flung himself upon him,
and this time the struggle between the
two NEIL WAS terrible i'll its intensity.
The face OF Paul was white with CON
centrated rage, while the dilated eyes
OF the negro glared like those of q
6end
tristan superior strength had near
ly mastered his opponent, when, with
. desperate effort, Paul grasped the
portmanteau, and with one Well-plant-
ed blow, brought the negro to the
ground.
lie lay where he had fallen, stunned
and motionIeSs.
Paul returned to the house carrying
the precious burden with him. The
two hours had nearly expired. and the
time approached for his interview with
Don Juan.
He carried the portmanteau to his
apartment, unlocked it. took out the
documents aud placed them once more
III his bosom, determined to carry them
on his person III amy risk.
They must Kill me before they Oh
tam them, he muttered.
lie looked ut his watch. The two
hours had fully expired. The interview
was TO take place at one O'Clock The
hands upon the dial pointed to the
hour.
He left his room in order to proceed
20 Don Juan apartment; but upon
the iandlng-ptace his steps were arrest
ed by strange and appalling sound.
That sound was the report of pistol
which reyerberated through the hall
below
Paul was not the only person who
nearu lne omlnous souna. As he
paused for a moment motionless with
horror and alarm. the door of the
apartment opposite to him was opened
and Pauline COrSi stood upon the
Threshold
She was not alone; close behind her
appeared the pale face of Camilla Mo-
raquitoS.
Both the women were terribly agi-
tated.
The Spanish girl endeavored to rush