Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-08-12
CORA, THE CTORO0ON
BY MISS NJ. z. BRADDON.

1880. -.7z--sse5---r
Well might the ladies start with an
exclamation of amaZement at the ap-
partition that stood before them. Tie
new conner was a tall. ldnky. raw
boned looking man. with long hair,
which Streamed III rough locks from I'M
der his fur cap. lie wore Il bear-skin
Jacket, very much the worse for usage
loose knickerbOcker trousers. leather
CATERS, and great nailed boots: his red
striped shirt was torn and ragged and
tattered cloak hung loosely over his
shoulder. When we further aid that
he carried a mushet under his arm. the
reader will be able ID understand the
establishment OF Mrs. Moutrc3or and
her niece at beholding such an intruder
In their elegant apartment.
If a ghost risen from the grave had
stood before him, Siias Craig could
scarcely have appeared more terrified
than he did at the sight Of this man.
so I've found you ut last. my worthy
Craig, have II" cried the stranger.
1--WE been over every inch Of ground
IN New Orleans, | think, looking for
YOU At last somebody told inc IGu
were ut Mr.. Horizons. Very well
then, says | here goes for Mr.. liOr-
toms, and here ] am; but how is my
dear Mr. Craig You don't seem glad
to see me-"
oils dear Craig Vulgar rufIian,"
muttered Sila3 IN an undcrtOne: and
then. with an effort to overcome his
embarrassment. nc said, why. as for
being glad to see you, my dear Bill, OF
course, IN glad; but you sce-y0u see
the truth was | thought you were III
California"
"Yc3, where yon sent me to dig for
gold and keep out Of your way. No,
the climate didn't agree with me, and
i didn't find any gold. though ! spent
all | took with me. 50. knowing | had
powerful friends in New Orleans, !
thought the best thing could do World
be to come back and throw myself once
more On their generosity"
SiIas Craig bit his thick under lip till
the blood started beneath his teeth.
But ! say, Craig" said the stranger,
looking 1T the two astOniShcd women,
where your manners? Amt you go
ing to Introduce me to the ladieS1"
"Oh, To be sure" replied Silas. with
increasing embarrassment. My dear
Mrs. MOntrcsor, my dear Miss Horton,
allow me 10 introduce you TO Mr.. Bill
Bowen, formerly captain Of q SLAYER"
captain Of a SlaVcrp exclaimed AIDE
laidc
Don't be frightened, miss, your
brother was one Of my best customers.
I've done many q bit Of business III the
nig"cr trade with him"
Tie young girl Shuddercd as she
turned away from the speaker.
Il know my dress amt quite the
thing for Il drawing he said
looking down at his ragged Shirt
sleeves and clay-stained clothes, but
We'll soon set that all to rights. Ny
friend Craig Will recommend me to his
tailor and lend me the money to pay
his bill, if it comes to that, won't you
Craig?"
"Oh, certainly, as far as that goes, in
consideration for past services"
Eyes. i'll consideration for past SER
vices" repeated Bill Bowen, rather
Significantly II tell You what, Mr..
Craig, as you seem doing the civil to-
ward these ladies' here, and as you
don't seem over much to relish my
company, Ill slope now, and drop in
and take = bit Of dinner with you at
your own house by-and-by. What's
your hour"
six o'clock" muttered Craig, with
ill-concealed veNation.
six O'Clock. | shall be sure to be
punctual," said Bill Bowen, "for I've
got pretty sharp appetite. Good
morning ma am. Good morning, miss"
he added, noddlng Familiarity to the
two ladies, as he strobe out of the
room.
"What a horrible creature" excIaim-
Sd Mrs. Montrcsor. "IloW can you toll
crate him. Mr.. Crag?"
Why the truth is" replied SilaS,
"the man has been OF use to me in some
tritling matters of business. lie has
served me for a long time one way or
the other, and I've got used to his
queer ways. Hes an eccentric sort of
animal, and he works all the better for
being hHmorcd, 50 | over look his I'M
cultivated manner"
! would not advise you to encourage
him in running after you into peoples
draWing-roomS, said Mrs MontreSor.
pointing To the clay left by Bill Bowen S
boot upon the rich col0rS OF the Persian
carpet.
SilaS redeemed and an angry froWn
contracted his sandy eyebrows.
Ill not forgive him if he ever PLAYS
me this trick again" he muttercd "IOu
are quite right Mrs. MontreSor. Mr..
William Bowen requires to be taught a
lesson, aud think Silas Craig is the
man to teach it him. Pray excuse the
Inconvenience You have been subjected
to, and permit me to wish you good
morning.
i cannot tell YOU how dislike that
mani" exclaimed Adelaide, When her
aunt and She were alone; lie inspires
me With disgust for which | can
scarcely account And then, again,
how cruelty he spoke Of Cora. Poor
girl. poor girl! \ Slaye-a slave like
Myra, Daisy or Rose, or any of our
servants. The friendship between us
is broken forever, and henceforth /
dare not look upon her as my equal"
The iron hand of prejudice had so
strangled every warmer emotion of the
soul, that the girl, whose heart was
naturally good and generous, was pre-
pared To abandon forever the friend
and companion of her youth. because
the faint OF African blood was in her
veins, the brand OF society was stamp
ell against her name-becauSe she was
slaVei
CHAPTER vi.
PAUL IISIIOS.
Twenty years before the period of
which Weare writing, certain wealthy