Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-08-19

Will be your duty TO refuse him admit
lance. You hear|
Yes. mistress"
go, sir" said Cora, looking at Au-
gustus for the first time since she had
risen from her seat; Il am but Stran-
ger in New Orleans, and you have done
much to enlighten me as to the char
acter of its inhabitants. You have
done well to choose the hour of a
fathers absence to insult his only
daughter. Col"
Il obey you. Miss Leslie" answered
Augustus, white with rage, and tremb-
ling in every limb with suppressed pas
sion. Believe me, ! shall not forget
our interview of to-day, and shall take
an opportunity to remind you Of it on
some future occasion. For the present
hour of settlement will come between
us. when you shall pay dearly for this
insolence. In the meantime" he adj
ded, turning to the mulatto. "in order
to teach your young mistress her pro-
per position. be good enough to relate
to her the story of Francilia."
With one savage glance at the indig-
naut girl, he hurried down the terrace
steps. sprang into the saddle, put spurs
to his horse, and then rode off at gal
loa.
'Francilia!" exclaimed Cora; Fran
ella. what could he mean? Speak,
The mulatto hung his head, ana was
silent.
speak, say" repeated Cora.
"Francilia-was--a slave, belonging
to Mr.. Leslie, Miss Cora"
We'll, then, what could she have in
common with me? Why did that man
cast her name in my face as an INSULT"
Toby made no reply.
You do not answer me. Good llea-
Speak, speak," cried the excited girl,
grasping the arm of the slave i'll her
slender hand, Toby, speak"
The mulattO fell on his knees at the
feet OF his young mistress, and cried
imploringly.
Miss Cora, in the name of mercy do
not look at me thus"
"Tohy. tell me-" murmured Cora, in
a voice hoarse with emotion; who was
my MOTHER"
Mistress, dear mistress, for PHYS
sake do not ask me. | have promised
E@t 10 reveal"
you said Just now that you loved
ne" answered Cora; "if you spoke the
truth, prove your affection; tell me who
was my mother"
Your mother" faltered the slave;
mo, no, | cannot, l dare not"
But | command you-nay, l inn
plore."
Your mother-was called-Franci-
liza"
ooh, merciful Heaven, have pity on
mel" cried Cora, hiding her face III her
hands; then, after long pause-she
said sorroWfully-
And did not even know the name
Of my mother. Franciial slavel
this then is the secret of my life. Alas!
she is dead: is she not"
she is"
dead, far from her child, who was
not even permitted TO weep for her"
"ThanktlieaVen that YOU do not curse
her memory" murmured Toby, rising.
Curse hcr!" exclaimed Cora; would
that | could embrace her, us do you"
she added, throwing her arms about
the Old mans neck.
Me, Miss Cora! me, q mulatto!" re-
monstrated Toby, gently repuSing her.
What OF that? Does not the same
blood low in our veins? are we not of
the same doWn-trodden race? All,
speak, speak, Toby, you knew my
m1'ther: cd ten ,g mn Of her YOU see am
garden-chairS, and forcing him to sit
down, placed herself at his feet; her
hands in his; her eyes raised TO his
face,
'Francilia was but fifteen years of
age" Toby began, "whcn slave mer-
chant brought her to Mr.. Leslie: she
Was u QuadrOOn, beautiful as YOU are,
though her skin was Tot so white. She
had long black hair, and large dark
eyes, whose sweet and gentle glance [
can see i'll yours. She was at first en-
ployed in the service of Mrs. Leslie.
Oh, Heaven! poor child, how happy
and light-hearted she was then; her
joyous voice warbIing the soft melodies
of her nation; her merry laugh ringing
through the corridors Of the house I
saw her, and dared to love her! That
time was the happieSt of my life, for
What right has the slave to love? The
slave who belongs to another. One day,
Francllia left for Saint Louis, with her
master and mistress. They were to be
absent some weeks. | was to remain
behind. In bidding me farewell she
lett me this silver ring, which | wear
on my finger. | would give it you, dear
mistress, but l have sworn to keep it
till my death. When Francilia-re-
tnrned-she-"
The slave paused, overcome by emo
ton.
speak, speak, Tobyl" said Cora.
oh, for pity sake, do not accuse
her! You know not what it is to be Il
slave, bound to obey, body and soul,
the commands Of u master Is not even
returned she had become your fathers
mistress. She confessed ali to me. with
tears, and heart-rending grief A ter
rlble rage Possessed me! was like q
drunken man. II, III that moment, Mr..
Leslie had appeared before me, know
that should have become murderer.
But the habit Of suffering teaches re-
slgnatlOn TO the slave. This lir5L fury
past, L felt my energy abandon me,
and L could only weep with FrancIlia
over our vanished happiness. Alas,
poor child, she no longer laughed, she
no longer Sangw
Poor girl! poor grill"
1T was only when you came into the
world" continued Toby, that she
seemed to re-attach herself to life, and
l, beStoWlng on you all the deep deyo-
ton that [ had felt for her-forgive
me, Miss Cora, | loved you as if you
had been my own child"
Dear Toby"
"out siDs-oh, how she loved you.
With more than mothers love; with
the love ot the slave, who knows that
even her child is not her own. but is a
Slave like herself-and who dares not
Slumber beside the cradle of her infant,
fer they take away the children while
the mother sleeps, ana she awakes, per-
haps, to find the cradle empty"
"Oh, cruel. cruel"
"Bat this was not the fate with