Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-12-15

"ALL DE DARKIEs AM wEEPIN'."
class Unlocking fellows, whose ap-
pea.ance led me to believe that they
were armed. 1t occurred to me at once
that the man had come determined to
assert his ownership here with force,
if necessary.
He made no display of his intentions
before the funeral; he sat quietly with
his companions through the sad cere-
monies, and walked with the others to
the grave. Absorbed in supporting
and trying to console poor Coralie, l
took little note of him. When the last
rites had been performed, and we had
returned to the house, was called
from the side of the woman to the par
lor Conrad Bostock was there with
his retainers, and the overseer sat
stiffiy by himself.
81 want you to understand" said
Conrad, in a bullying tone, that my
rights here will be well cared for. I've
got lawyer down at the crossing
that | brought from New Orleans, and
he'll come up as soon as necessary. II
my father left will, one of you ought
to know it. Did hep"
looked at LIE Fevre.
'Tell him." he muttered.
1--WE have reason to believe" / said,
shat the late Mr.. Bostock did not
leave will"
A CLEAN of savage Joy shone in the
mans face. He slapped his knee with
his hand.
Good, by y-l'' he cried. 81 thought
there were peculiar reasons why he
wouldn't wish to do It; but /
couldn't be sure. Well, then, it seems
there amt to be any dispute about my
rights. Both of you understand well
enough that l am my fathers sole
heir; there's nobody to contest it with
me. take possession here now. Mr..
LIE Fevre, word with you! Something
disagreeable occurred in this room not
long ago. | think you were to blame
but don't want to lay up grudges.
want you to remain in charge of the
plantation and the people, for awhile
at least, till can get the hang OF
things, and put one of these gentle
men in the place. don't know what
you've been getting; I'll double it,
while want you. Is it a bargain?"
NO" was the curt answer. u
leave here tomorrow. | want nothing
from you but the balance of two hun
dred and fifty dollars which is due me
from the place"
The new proprietor drew thick
roll of bank notes from his pocket,
counted out the sum named and
handed it to LIE Fevre, saying: 81
want a receipt" The latter took a
blank leather-bound book from hls
breast pocket, wrote the receipt and
handed it over.
Conrad Bostoclx looked inquiringly
at book.
"Have you list of the people on the
place there?"
"Yes."
''I'd like to see it,"
LIE Fevre cut out several leaves with
his knife and gave them to him. lie
read aloud at the top: Field hands
and children in the quarters, seventy
nine; house servants, thirteen"
SIS this all?' he asked.
"Yes. We've never cultivated the
whole plantation in any year; and J
was here some years before Mr.. Bos
took came back"
"H'm, HIM, h'm. Joe-Israel-Jerry
Lucy, Vic. Esther, Prue."
His eye ran rapidly down the list
and he spoke a name here and there
When he came to the end he folded the
leaves, put them in his breast pocket
and lit a cigar His companions FOL
lowed his example, and soon ths parlor
was filed with smoke. lie Fevre
looked at the lounging, loaferish fig
ures and then | saw that his gorge
was rising. He rose and threw open
the windows.
"Do you want anything more of me?"
he asked.
"Yes. want to know how you hap
pened TO omit one name from that in
ventory."
Nothing is omitted. 1t is correct
list of the negroes belonging to the
place"
81 correct you. The name of Coralie
Bonfant, daughter of one Louise Bon
FAINT, who died the slave of my father,
is nowhere on these papers
started up, almost speechless with
passion.
''Coralie was his daughter, you know
that?'
The man merely glanced at me; he