The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-01-04
CHAPTER XVII.
BREAKING THE SEALS.

j must go back (said Mr.. Bostock) to
the time of my marriage. The lady
was belle of New Orleans-beautiful
but not wealthy. 1 was then, though
young man, the richest planter of
the La Fourche. had rival, Napo-
leon CasteX, who was settled in Cuba,
but who often came over to enjoy the
social festivities of the mild winters in
New Orleans. Our rivalry was close
and sharp. I was successful, and
gained the mans lasting hatred in con-
sequence.
Why is it that men and women will
deliberately marry, when they are by
nature, habit and education, utterly
untitled to mate together? Such things
always have been and always will be.
Less than three months of welded life
showed us that we were utterly urcon-
i-eni;.!. nut we livea on together max
ing the ) It of it.. and enduring our
irksome bnNds.
We had but one child, Conrad. will
speak of him later. desire now to
say that 80 far as have been able to
see, he r sembled neither of his par
cnts ia anytl ling. He was bal, rccls-
less and profiigate, from an age when
boys usually have no knowledge of the
world. l have somewhere read that
hereditary vices, as well as diseases,
will sometimes skip several genera
tions, and appear in a child of parents
not given to evil 1t must be so; the
accumulated sins of many ancestors
must have been inwrought in that boy.
l attended one day at the New Or
leans slave-mart an auction of the peo-
pie of a Cuban plantation, who had
been sent there to obtain better prices.
l learned upon inquiry that their
owner was Castex, who had become ru-
ined by unfortunate speculation. A lit
tie orphan, thirteen years old, appar-
emily as white as myself, attracted my
notice. / became her owner andstook
her home as house-servant. She was
called Louise Bonfant.
Time passed: the coldness between
my wife and myself increased Let me
not try to apportion the blame; per-
haps there was none. Our mistake
was when we mutually promised to
love, honor and cherish.
Bat she was better than /: she at
least tried to keep her vows. Cherish
| ing no affection for her became care
less of those vows. The pretty slave
girl grew up she was petted and edu-
Gated; she usurped the place of Emile.
For awhile the latter bore it, silent
and indignant. At length her outraged
womanhood spoke out.
''It is better that we part quietly
vrrsfh lo1 In
can no longer stay in this house. Make
suitable provision for me and will
take the boy and join my people, who
have gone to Paris. Tell what story
you please about my absence; it will
| not be contradicted"
| 1 was glad enough to make this ar
| rangement. She went abroad and died
there few years after.
Her parting words still ring in my
| ears.
II leave you in sorrow, not in an
| ger" she said. ''The holy church, of
which l am child, has taught me that
! there is nothing more sacred in Heaven
or earth than the marital vows. You
have broken them; you are laying up
wrath for yourself in days to come. An
offended God will surely call you to
account, and you will remember my
words"
Often have l, remembered them.
Emile has been exquisitely avenged!
Conrad accompanied her to New Or
leans, but before the packet sailed he
returned home. l received him with
surprise and displeasure, for had felt
immeasurably relieved when Emile
proposed that he should live with her.
"rve thought the thing all over,
governor" said this boy of fifteen,
''and concluded to come back. You
see I've nothing to do with the old
woman's quarrels; and as you've got
the money, and Pm getting on where
! shall want lots of it, reckon I'll
stick to you"
/ Within one week from the departure
of my wife you we're born, Cory, your
mother dying in the same hour.
The love that Emile shorid have
was given to your poor mother, child.
/ was nearly distracted at her loss. In
my frenzy itseemed to me the first full.
fillment of Emilie's prediction.
Soon my affections and hopes were
transferred to Louise's child. Then