Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-08-26
TIE DAUGuTER's ACCUSATION.

Neither Cora nor Toby was aware
that there had been a listener during
the latter part Of their conversation;
but it was hot Tie less fact. Gerald
Leslie had returned unobserved by
either Of the excited speakers, and, ar
rested by the passionate gesture OF tie
muiatto slave, had fingered in the
background, anxious to discover the
cause Of his agitation.
His anger was terrible when he found
that the fatal secret, which it had been
the business Of his life to conceal from
Cora, W;ts now revealed. But he still
fingered, anxious 10 hear all.
Toby" mgrmured Cora, rising from
her knees; tell me where did they
bury my motncr?"
"Iier grave is half-hidden in the
thickcst depths Of a wood Of magnOlias
upon the borders Of Silas Craig'S plan
tati0n / carved 4 rustic cross and
placed it at the head"
'YOu viii conduct me to the spot,
Toby" asked Cora.
At this moment Gerald Leslie rushed
forward, and, sprnging toward Toby,
lifted his rldingWhip as if about to
strike the muluttO, when Cora flung
herself between them.
Strike Inc rather than him!" she ex-
said q;ietIy. $50, Toby! / swear to
you that while | live none shall harm
50 much as a hair Of your head"
The mlilatto fingered for a moment,
looking impIoringly ut Gerald Leslie.
"Forgiye me, master, il | have Spok-
en-" he murmured pleadingly.
Il will not nave you excuse yourself"
said Cora; you have only done your
duty. Col"
Toby bent his head and Slowly re-
tired. Cora stood mOtioneSS, with her
arms folded, her eyes fixed upon Ger
aid Leslie.
"Wen," she said, "why do you not
strike me? Who am | that your hand
has not already chastised my insolence?
Your daughter? No! Tie child of
lrancllia, quadroon, a slava Prove
to me, sir, tnat am before my master;
for if | aim indeed your daughter. | de
mand Of yoH an account OF your CON
duct TO my mother"
You accuse me! You, Coral" ex-
claimed Gerald Leslie.
Il an ,ngrateflll, am [ not? Yes, an
othcr father would have allowed this
child to grow up to slavery; While YOU,
ashamed OF your paternal love, as il it
had been crime, you tore me from my
mother arms, Ill order that | might
forget her, III order to withdraw NE
from the curse which rested upon me:
to etlare, ii possible. the last trace of
this fatal stalni"
"What could have done more than
this, Cora?"
"You could have refrained from Civ
ing me life! You sent me to England;
YOU caused me to he educated like a
what thnu
taught me in that free country? They
taught me that the honor of every man,
the love OF every mother, are alike
sacred"
1T is then, with my affection that
You would reproach me-" replied Ger
aid Leslie mourntuly. Il would have
saved You. and you accuse me, as if
that wish had been crime! | Snatched
you from the abyss that yaWned before
your infant feet, and i'll return You
curse me! Oh, remember, Cora, re-
member the cares which | layiShed up
on You! Remember my patient sub
mission to Your childish capriceS; the
happiness felt i'll all your baby joys;
my pride when your little arms We're
tWinea about my neck. and your rosy
lips responded to my kisses"
No. mol" exclaimed Cora; do not
remind me of these things. | would
not remember them, for every embrace
| bestowed upon You was theft from
my unhappy mother"
y our mother. Hold, girl! do not
speak to me Of her. for though | feel
that she WAS innocent OF the hazard Of
her birth, | could almost hate her for
having transmitted to You one drop of
the accursed blood which flowed in her
veins"
Nour hatred was satisfied" replied
Cora bitterly. You sold her. The
purchase money which YOU received
for her perhaps served to pay for the
on me! The diamonds which have
glittered upon my neck and arms were
bought with the price of my mother S
blood"
Have a care, Cora. Beware how you
goad me to desperation. | have tried
to forget-nay. | have forgotten that
that blood was your ownl DO not force
me to remember"
"\nd what if | do remind YOU! what
would You do with me-" asked Cora.
Would YOU send me to Your plantation
to labor beneath the burning sun, and
die before my time. worn out with SUI
on may thus repair your ruined for
tunes. Are YOU aware that one of your
creditors. Augustus Horton. offered,
not an hour ago, the fifty thousand dol
lars that YOU owe him as the price OF
your daughters honor"
oh. Heayen." exclaimed Gerald Les
lie; al this is too TERRIBLE" and fling
ing himself upon his knees at Cora )
feet. he clasped her hands passionately
in his own. Cora. Cora, have pity up
on me! What would you ask OF me?
What would you have me 70 do? My
crime is the crime of all. Is the punish
ment to fail upon me alone? Am
alone to suffer? /. who have sacrihced
my honor-Ses. Cora, my honor us a
colonist-to the claim of paternal love?
Do you know that every citizen in New
Orleans would blame and ridicule me
for my devotion to you? Do you know
that l am even amenahle 20 the laws Of
Louisiana for having dared TO educate
your mind and enlightened your under
standing? See. l am on my knees at
your feet. /, your father. humiliare
myself to the very dust! Do not accuse
rae: in mercy. 10 not accuse me-"
Ccras beautiful face WIS pale lis
ashes. her large dark eyes distended,
hit fearless.