Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-14


daughter Coralio
She was about fifteen when / last
saw her; she must be In the vicinity Of
eighteen now.
My young friend, you'll agree that I
am rather too old n man TO go into any
rapturcs about female beauty. You
saw my wife and daughters; they are
good enough for me; they are my mod
els among women. Yet / must say
that Coralic liOstock, when last saw
her was the finest girl that ever laid
eyes on and ! suppose that she Is to-
day the most beautiful one at the south.
There are not many pure native
blondes among us; she is one. But her
hair, her eyes, her eyebrows and long
lashcs are dark as midnight.
She was slender, but not petite, in
figure; her smile would captivate you;
her laugh was more musical than the
song Of the hooking bird. Her man
ncrs were winning and gracious, even
from little girl
She seemed the very apple OF her
fathers eye. At one time he tool, her
down To New Orleans, and left her
with the Sisters OF the Sacred Heart TO
bc educated. But he could not do
without her. In less than month he
had brought her home, and from that
time lac had her teachers here in the
house half the year. She learned
quickly; music and the languages
seemed TO come 20 her like second
nature. And never did child more
warmly rcciprocatc n parents lavish
affection than did Coralic that of her
father.
Time passed on, and that fatal April
OF 1858 came round.
l!ostocl, had issued invitations for u
gcntlCmuus dinner party. | was in
vitcd, Of course. Alphonsc Basnct,
Frcuchman owning the plantation
adjoining the one then occupied,
called ON mo in the morning, and
asked me II should attend BostoclIs
party.
told him that should.
"Wcll," he said, II want your ad.
vice. am asked, too. A countryman
OF mine, CnstcN by name, who has
lived in Louisiana, and more lately In
Arba, arrived ut my place yesterday.
Whom | told him of my invitation
he became greatly interested and asked
INC 80 take him along"
Take him, then, That, | believe,
Is one Of the usngcs OF society the
world over"
Eyes, 10 DO sure; but Castcx leads
me to think that he has known our
host before. lie has asked me fifty
questions about him. lie seems much
more interested than he naturally
would be, growing out of any ordinary
acquaintance In past years. | must
take him, of course What want you
to advise me about Is; Shall 20 over
and speak to MIR. liostoclS this morning
about him?'
was ON the point Of advising Al
phonse TO do so, 10y all means, as ccr-
tainly should have done had Cnstcy
been my visitor have often thought,
that, had obcycd my impulse, the
bloody combat that has been described
to you might have been avoided Thea
came the reluctance to interfere In
matter of other mems social RESPONSE
bilitics, and declined to advise him
Alphonse returned home, and his guest
accompanied him TO the dinner-party
unheraldcd.
II so happened that these two arrived
last. With them there were thirteen
in the parlors, the host making the
fourteenth. All who had been invited
were present save one; and | rcmcm-
Der that as Mr. CastcX was presented
to the company, there was much re-
mark and jest about our good luck in
having him there, so as to avoid tho
awkward thirteen nt the table.
Whom lac was introduced 10 the host,
a different scene occurred. Mr.. Bos-
tocli started, changed color withdrew
his proifered hand and made slight
bow instead. CasteX smiled, bowed,
aud turned away IN my eyes he had
a most disagrccablc face, aud the smile
was very nearly snccr,
II was an awkward incident, and
threw II chill over the party a. The
start; for everybody observed It. Still,
there was no outbrcul, just then. Din
ucr wns soon announced, and Mr., lios-
tock led the way to the hall,
The host was NJ the head OF the
table, 81 course; | happened to be at
the foot Next ON the right of the
hcnd was doctor; next sat Basnet, his
friend beside him.
The soup had but just bean served
when Coralic, then but twelve ycars
old, came to an open door and stood an
instant, She evidently desired tospouli
20 her father, but, seeing that he and
his guests were seated, she went away.
CustcX saw her and stared nj her.
Directing the attention Of Eostocl, to
her, he put question to him in French.
II was answered in the affirmative
Basnct says that the question was;
us that your child, monsiour?'
Then, upon RECEIVING the reply. Cas-.
tex leaned over tho angle Of the table
and made a rapid rejonder also In
French. Easuet distinguished the
words' "Wife," "avcuged' and "Ncw
Orleans" More than these nobody I'M
dcrstood
Nobody but the host The remark,
whatever II was, was for his cars, aud
he heard every word Of IT, lie looked
NJ CGsteN horror, Indignation, hate,
were In the look. The attention of
the whole table was fastened upon the
scene
Gentlemen" said BostoclS, "somc.
thing very disagrccuble has occurred
I could pardon much In man sitting
al my table aud eating my salt; but
,0y now TINT either Napoleon CaateN
or ! must leave this table. Well know.
ing that his presence in my house aud
nj my beard would he idincy, he has