Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-05-31
CHAPTER XVII.
RRE KING THE SEAsT 9

I must go back (said Mr.. Bostoclx) to
the time of my marriage. The lady
was belle of New Orleans-beautiful,
but not wealthy. | was then, though
young man, the richest planter of
the La Fourche. 1 had rival, Napo-
lean CasteX, who was settled in Cuba,
bat who often came over to enjoy the
social festivities of the mild winters in
New Orleans. Our rivalry was close
and sharp. / 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 uncon-
genial. But we lived on together, max
ing the best of it, and enduring our
irksome bonds.
We had but one child, Conrad. I will
speak of him later. l desire now to
say that, so far as 1 have been able to
see, he resembled neither of his par
ents in anything. He was bad, reclz-
less and profigate, from an age when
boys usually have no knowledge of the
world. / 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
laust have been inwrought in that boy.
l attended one day at the New Or
leans slave-Inart an auction of the peO-
pie of u Cuban plantation, who had
been sent there to obtain better prices.
l learned upon inquiry that their
owneEwa CaSteX, who had become ru-
ined by unfortunate speculation. A lit
tic orphan, thirteen years old, appar-
emily as white as myself, attracted my
notice. I became her owner and took
her home as housc-servant. She was
called Louise Bonfant.
Time passed; the GOODNESS 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.
But she was better than 1; she at
least tried to keep her VOWS Cherish
ing no affection for her l became care
less of those vows. The pretty slave
girl grew up; she was petted and edu-
CdtSus Bio HcI IilS place. VI
For awhile the latter bore it, silent
and indignant. At length her outraged
womanhood spoke out.
sit is better that we part quietly
and without scandal" she said Il
can no longer stay in this house. Make
a suitable provision for me and 1 will
take the boy and join my people, who
| have gone to Paris. Tell what story
| Won r1leaSe abn1It NV 3hSancR. will
| not be contradicted."
l was glad enough to make this ar
rangement. She went abroad and died
there q few years after.
Her parting words still ring in my
ears.
q leave you in sorrow, not in an
| GER she said. 1.-THE holy church, of
which 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 1 remembered them
Emile has been exquisitely avenged!
Conrad accompanied her to New Or
leans, but before the packet sailed he
returned home. received him with
SURPRISE and displeasure, for had felt
UNNECESSARILY relieved when Emile
proposed that he should live with her.
Eve thought the thing all over,
governor said this boy of fifteen,
land / concluded to come back. You
see I've nothing to do with the old
woman's quarrels; and as you've got