Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-10-07
CORA, THE OCTOROON
BY MISS M. e. BRADDON


You are sad, dear mistress, you are
uneasy" said the mulatto. The intense
watchtulness of the slaves affection
enabled him to detect every varying
shade III Cora's manner. He saw that
her mind was disturbed by some anx-
ietv.
: am anxious about Mr.. Margrave,
Toby" she replied; 'he promised to re-
join us ere this"
THE English gentleman may have
had some difficulty in engaging a boat,
dear mistress. You have seen the poor
'abln III which your mother passed the
two last months OF her life. 1t Is near
this spot she reposes."
The slave looked about him in the
moonlight, and presently paused at the
foot OF sn enormous oak. Pushing aside
the wild OvergrOWth which obscured it.
he revealed a rough-hewn wooden cross
surrounding q humble mound of earth.
which had been neatly turfed by the
same faithful hand that had erected
this simple monument.
Upon the cross this inscription had
been carved i'll letters cut deep into the
wood
"FRANCILIA. July 7th, 1915"
Below this name and date were three
words. Those words were
BLOOD FOR BLOOD
"See Miss Cora" said the mulatto,
"thiS is a lonely spot, though so near to
the plantation. Few ever come here
for yonder dell is said to be haunted by
the spirit OF an Indian who was cruelty
murdered there hundred years ago
No hand has disturbed this cross. 1t
may be that no human eye has ever
seen the Inscription, but the all-seeing
eye Of Providence, has looked upon
these words for fifteen weary years"
oh. spirit of my murdered mOther."
exclaimed the young girl, lifting her
cIasped hands toward the etfulgent
sky. Spirit of the unhappy and in
lured one, look down upon your daugh-
ter, May heaven forgive the sins Of
him who caused thy unhappy fate.
May heaven pity and pardon my
Wretched father. | cannot curse Linn.
Here on the grave Of his victim, on the
grave OF a victim Of Il wicked and cruel
prejudice, pity and forgive him, for
he needs all pity, since he has sinned."
At this moment the report of Il gun
sounded III the dell near at hand. Cora
rose suddenly from her knees, pale and
terrified. Toby" she cried, toby,
did YOU hear"
Before the mulatto could reply, Nor
timer Percy sprang through the parted
branches that bordered the dell, and
rusMed toward where they stood. He
recoiled upon seeing Cora.
y on here, Miss IeSlie?" he eXclaim-
Ell.
Yes, yes. Tell me what was that
"That, Some : some hunter, no
doubt"
He had scarcely spoken when a sec
ond gun was fired.
NO, no, Mr. Percy" cried Cora,
wildly, 1T is no hunters carbine. A
womIn's unfailing instinct tells me of
danger to HIM | love. Gilbert Mar
grave has been fighting a duel with
your cousin"
Augustus Horton appeared as he
spoke, walking backward and gazing
intently into the dell.
Il must have surely hit him" he NUT
tered.
see, see" cried Cora, "his antago-
mist is safe. 1t is he who has fallen.
Run. Toby, run to SuccOr him."
Half fainting with terror and an
guish, she would have fallen to the
ground had not MOrtimer's extended
arm caught her i'll time. He carried
her PROSTATE form to a rocky seat close
at hand, on which she rested with her
head still lying on his shoulder.
Augustus Horton advanced toward
them, and recognized the Octoroon i'll
the moonlight
She here.," he cried. Coral"
The passionate love of his guilty
heart returned as he gaZed upon the
unconscious girl. and thrill Of jealousy
yiDrated through the dark recesSes of
his soul as he beheld the lovely head of
the Oct0rOon resting upon Mortimer $
shoulder.
Il am not surprised. Percy, at your
sympathy for Gerald Leslie,S daugh-
ter" he said, with sheer; she is, OF
course. one of your friends. for she
m SSing me from her presence as If she
had been a queen"
You" exclaimed Percy.
Eyes" replied his cousin, because |
had the impertinence to pay her few
idle compliments.
augustus Horton" said Mortimer
gravely, you remember clause i'll our
contract of partnership. which provides
for the agreement being cancelled at
pleasure, by either Of the two part
ners?'
Il do
Chen I am the first to cancel that
bond. From this night | cease to be
your partner"
so be it, replied Augustus. eft is
not for me To object to such proposal
but have Il care, Mortimer, and remem-
Der that by such you lose half your es-
tate
st cb,u l,o-,o o,o,rL Ior+ +o o,o|fa
me to live far from country which /
henceforth renOunCe. AS to your sis
ter YOU can tell her that [ restore her
her liberty"
That is needless" answered Angus
tus. haughtily, ''for she herself has de-
clared her intention of breaking with
you for ever"
How"
'She has presumed to fall in love
with Nh Gilbert Margrave. the gentle
man who prefers an Oct0roon to the
heiress of one of the proudest families
III louisiana"
1T was jealousy, then, that prompt
ed her denunciation of Cora Leslie
said Mortimer.
1T was"
so much the better for her. That. at
least. is some excuse for her conduct
Hush. here they come"
Bill Bowen and the mulatto appear
ed, as Percy spoke, carrying between
them the PROSTATE form of Gilbert
Margraye. The young man was quite
unconscious, the breast Of his shirt DYED
crimson by the blood which Welled
from his wound. Toby and Bowen
placed him upon the rock seat which
had beer occupied by Cora.
he ball has struck him IN the SIDE
said Bowen. Il guess its about all over
with the Brltisher."
At the sound of these words of evil
irannrt Car.a 7 eSlia nnened her eEes