Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-08-05

4 IL
reading the New Orleans paper, while
Adelaide Horton reclines in 2 ham
mock near the open window. Morti-
| mer Percy with his hands in the DOck-
cts of his light trousers. and a cigar in
his mouth, leans against the window
talking to his cousin.
"Say what you will, Mortimer. it is
most extraordinary that Cora should
not have called here since our return"
exclaims Adelaide.
But do not tell you, my dear cou-
| SIN" answered the young man." that
| Mr.. Leslie has taken his daughter to
his country-seat upon the plantations"
what of that?" replied Adelaide.
aMr. Leslie's villa is but half an hours
| drive from New Orleans Nothing
could have been easier than for him
| to have brought Cora here"
At this moment a female slave en-
tered, announcing Mr.. Craig.
Show him in" said Augustus, with
out raising his eyes from the newspa-
! per he was reading.
"Sllas Craig" exclaimed Mortimer.
with shudder Of disgust. what in
Heavens name induces you to encour-
| age the acquaintance of that man, Au-
guStus"
"Pshaw, Mortimer, l have none of
your romantic notions. Mr.. Craig is a
very respectable member of society"
Respectable! Yes; the man who
| makes money is respectable, no matter
by what shameful means he makes it.
| usurer, oppressOr OF the helpless, traf-
ticker in human fiesh-What matters
by what hideous trade the gold is got?
The yellow guineaS will not sparkle
less--the hollow world will not be less
ready to bow to the respectable member
of society,""
Fool" cried Augustus. angrily;
aCraig is here. Do YOU wish him to
know your opinion of him.
Mortimer shrugged his shoulders and
resumed ms conversation with his cou-
sin Adelaide. Silas Craig saluted the
ladies with ceremonious politeness.
and, after the first greetings exclaimed
with face expressive of sanctimon-
lous grief and piOts horror
"Of course, ladies, you have heard
the neWs?"
"The news! What news?" cried Ade-
lalde and her aunt simultaneously.
What. is it possible that you have
not heard Of Mr.. Gerald Leslie's con-
duet? All New Orleans is ringing with
the scandal"
what scandalY
"Ah, ladies, you may indeed we'll ask
what scandal; for who could believe
that Mr.. Leslie, one of the principal
planters of Louisiana, should have been
guilty OF such treason against the in
terest of society at large!"
Treason! Mr.. Leslie. What do YOU
mean, Mr. Cgaig?" exclaimed Augustus
Horton.
Il mean that Gerald Leslie has been
discovered, within these last few DAYS.
to have educated in England the child
OF one OF his slaves, q Quadroon called
Francllla; whom he sold to me some
fourteen years ago. The girl has been
brought up in England, where she has
received the education of princess,
and it is only through her unexpected
return to New Orleans that the secret
has been discovered"
"Merciful HeayenS!" cried Adelaide.
hiding her face i'll her hands; Cora a
slaye~
There was one spark of feeling at
least" muttered Mortimer, as he
watched his cousins emotion.
Now" pursued the pitileSs usurer,
according to the Louisian law, it is
criminal to teach slave to read.
What, then, must be the offense Of MI
Leslie, III sending this girl to a first
class English boarding school, and hav-
lady Of the highest BIRTH"
"a terrible otfense indeed, Mr.. Craig"
said Mortimer, bitterly; "but this girl
is Gerald Leslie's own daughter, is she
not?"
''She is; but what of that? Born of a
slave mother, she is not the less his
slave"
q understand AS a worthy member
of society, then, as a Christian and a
gentleman-in the sense III which we
regard these things-he may send his
daughter to toll sixteen hours a day on
his plantation; he may hand her over
to his ovcrseer to be logged, if she is
too weak Tor too lazy. as it will most
likely be called) to work; he may sell
her if he will, no matter to what de-
gradation-no matter to what infamy;
but let him dare to loue her-let him
dare to look upon her with one thrill
of fatherly affection-let him attempt
to elevate her mind by education, to
teach her that there is a free heav en-
above her, where slavery cannot be
let him do this, and he has committed
a crime against society and the laws OF
louisiana"
Exactly So" replied Craig, rubbing
the law of the land, Mr.. Percy. No
man. he has wasted a princely income
on the education of this girl-thlS
slave"
poor Coram exclaimed Adelaide.
What, Miss Horton, did you know
herr" asked Craig.
Il did, indeed" replied Adelaide:
eve were educated at the same school
we were bosom friends"
"Merciful Heavens, exclaimed Craig
SIMULTANEOUSLY; ito what pollution
are our daughters exposed, when the
children of slaves are foisted upon So
ciety in this manner!"
NO, Mr.. Craig" cried Mortimer,
with a bitter laugh; "the pollution is III
a fathers first duty to society is to
trample on the laws of humanity-the
ties OF flesh and blood"
Hold your tongue, Mortimer" said
Augustus Horton, you know nothing
of these things; Gerald Leslie has act
ed disgracefully. and this girl must pay
the penalty of her fathers folly"
That is Louisiana justice"
Excuse me for two or three minutes.
Mr.. Craig" said Augustus, rising: L
have a few words to say to my cousin.
| will rejoin you almost immediately;
in the meantime the ladies Will amuSe
you. Come. Mortimer"
The young man followed his cousin.
after bowling coldly to Craig. The
truth of the matter was that Augustus
Horton wished to get his imprudent
partner out of the way, as he felt that
Silas Craig would take care to spread
the report of Mortimer Percy's revolu-
tionary principles among the outraged
SouthernerS.
Left alone with the two ladies, Silas
I,rain felt himself very much at loss for