Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-09-16
CORA, The OCTOROON
BY MISS NJ. z. BRADDON.

Because Paul LiSimon. the man
whose boyhOod has been spent beneath
this roof, whose education has been
shared with you, who has ever been
treated as son, rather than as de-
pendent, that man is thief"
Had Camilla been unprepared for
this accusation, the blow might for a
moment, have paralyZed her. But she
had heard all from Paul's own lips, and
she was prepared for tn worst.
"He is no thief" she exclaimed
proudly: "were he that, he would not
have come hither to seek for sympathy
from Camilla Moraquitos."
"Deluded girl. he has been discovered
In al act Of daring robbery robbery
which is most contemplate. being al
lied to treachery Of the baseSt nature.
lie was trusted, and he betrayed his
trust"
Tie lip Of the Spatish girl curled
with unutterable sc1In.
"Trustcd." She exclaimed, trusted,
did You say. Father. ask you by ali
your knowledge Of mankind. by your
faith III Nature surcSt index, the hu-
man cOuntcnance- Is hd- the man to
trust any living creature.
She pointed to oilas Craig rs she
spoke aild tine lawyer qIaIIed beneath
her flashing glance. For 4 moment ne
shraDk back abashcd and poWcTlcs5 to
reply to the Spanish girls diSdanfuI
words, then recovering himself with an
effort he said with All assumed air Of
mcekHeas.
Donna Camilla is pleased to be
severe. We lawyers are certainly not
oyertrHeting III ctr fcIloWmcn-We are
too often dc"ciY"l: but thought |
might safely trust tie protrgc Of Don
Juan MoraquitDs. / did not think to
find him a thief"
Liar" cried Paul Lisimon. "Das-
tardl Y0u know that | am no thief
IOu know the base plot which has been
planned BY you--trom what motive |
know not for ny destruction. Now
that all is past, can see the base
schrue from Tie very first. Your pre-
tended conf, "ncc: your desire that
should rrn:uI alone III your office to re-
ccive stn nt money which You might
have as We'll received yourself; your
trust ng me Wita tie key-Of which,
You suu. you hay" no duplicate: your
simulated friendship. and your affected
surprise .J'@ mD"IiIt< upon lllSSIng the
caskct containing TIE money; al these
are SO many lin! S in the chain of infa-
my which you have woven around me;
but through I'LL defy YOU. The money
was never taken from 1ltr office by a
common robber; it WAS removed either
by YOU, OF by an agent i'll your en-
ploy."
The inner Office has but one door"
answered SilaS Craig. you possessed
the only ley Of that door-nay. more,
the muatto boy, Marcus, slept III the
clerk s Office, and must have5 card any
body, who attempted to enter the inner
chamber Heaven knows" calculated
Sllas simultaneously, chow much
grief / feel at the discovery of such
baapnesS in the adopted son of my most
respected client; but such guilt as yours
must not, for the benefit of society, go
unpnnlsled."
PAU Lismon turned from him with
a gesture OF lOathing, and addressed
himself to Don Juan.
y on hear this man" he said, you
near him, yet you surely do not believe
one word he utterS. Look in his face,
OIL which liar is branded in unmis-
taxable characters, by the hand of
Heaven; and then believe him if you
can. My patron, my benefactOr. friend
and protector of my otherwise friend
less youth, has any one action of my
life, since | have shared the shelter OF
your roof, and eaten your bread-has
ans ole action of my life given you rea-
wretch this man would have you think
me- Speak, implore you.
The young Mexican waited with
clasped hands for Don Juan's reply.
The Spaniard coldly ayerted his face
1t seemed as if he, too, shrank from
meeting that noble countenance.
circumstances speak too plainly,
Mr.. Iisimon," he said; facts are IN
rtible-tlIey are stronger than
words, and they force me to believe"
They force You to believe that the
man, who has been reared beneath
your own protection, has been guilty Of
an act worthy of one OF the swell-mobS-
men. OF experienced burglars Of New
Orleans One word more, Don Juan
Moraqultos-it is the last with which |
shall trouble YOU"
Il listen,' replied the Spaniard.
Il appeal to you by the memory of
the deadly the memory of him who
was more than father to me-by the
memory OF the last hour of Don Toma-
So CriNelli."
1t seemed as if the sound Of this
name struck upon the most sensitive
chord in the nature of the naughty
Spaniard. He started as if he had been
shot. and dropping into 4 chair that
stood near him buried his face i'll his
hands. SilaS Craig lifted his eyeS With
a glance Of pionS horror.
: Fn;s is HORRIBLE" he exclaimed: the
guilty wretch dareS to call upon the
name of the dead. dareS to wound his
noble henefactor sensitive heart Why
delay amy longer to reason with this
hNpoerite? the officers of Justice are
without, let them at once do their
d..
S..,2s Craig opened the door Of the
Z
to three men who We're waiting on the
staircase.
The police"exclaimed Paul.
8. they have warrant for Your
arrest replied Silas Craig "You
have carried it With very high hand,
Nj. Paul Llsinon, but you Will sleep
III lail tonight"
The young Mexican did rot conde-
Sccad IL answer this speech, but, turn
inc to Don Juan, he said With quiet
dignity
Since this man S accusation appears
to y0a stronger than my declaration 81
innocence. | cannot blame Won. Sir IN
heneNMg MN. l freely OWN that tHe
chain OF evidence forged against me Is
a damning one. but. sooner or later,
the day Will come when [ will shattel
that chain, link by link, and prove
yoneier wretch the basest OF his kind
In the meantime. | would ask but one
favor OF You. | have papers and let
tiers III my own room, which are OF
priceless value to me. suffer me tt
gather those together before they con
veN me To prison."
Don juan had not once lifted hi.
head since the mention OF his brother
in-laN name. lie replied to Paul:
request. in a broken voice
Let him take the papers he speak: