Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-01-06


said. THAT dreadful mans mother
was not my mother; | am very glad of
that. But who was my mother?''
Louise lie Bonfant. beautiful
Creole. whom bought OF Napoleon
Castcx. bought her. girl-do you I'M
derstand? She died in giving you
birth. and the shame and sorrow of
this bitter. hour are spared her. The
blood of the best French families of
Louisiana for generations back was in
her veins: she was beautiful. ed:-
Gated. accomplished. int as YOU are;
no man could have dreamed that a
drop of bascr blood was hers. What
of that? For hundred years her
mothers had been slaves: by the cruel.
monstrous law OF this state. that con-
ditiOn is yours. may free YOU: may
give you by will all that have: but
that you were born in bondage and
lived thus. in law. can never be de-
MED And tell you this. |. your IA
ther, for whose gricvous sin you are
punished, as it is written in the Scrip
lures"
She understood the shocking truth at
last. With a low CIR she sank down,
her arms thrown across an ottoman,
her face hidden upon them.
was instantly by her side.
Look up. Coralic!" cried. Moth
ing shall separate us: be of good
cheer"
She raised her eyes: hope family
shone in them.
You will despisc me. Dorr."
For what? | have heard nothing
that can change my purpose or weaken
my love"
But the people who have known
me"
They shall know you now as my
honored wife. If there isarything for
you to live down. let me help you do
it."
She rose. treasured, smiling through
her tears. She took my hand and led
me to her fathers chair.
You hear what he has just said"
were her words. lie loves me, spite
of everything. | have nothing to give:
Lecause-l am your slave. II is for you
to say May love him?'
The archness, the mock humility
with which she turned from the dis
tress and reproach in which her fa-
theirs words had left her. to this serio-
comic aspect of the situation. are not
to he described. Mr. Bostock was COM
pletely won He rose from his chair.
he clasped us both in one embrace.
tears wet his furrowed face
AT last" he said. With sigh of in
finite relief. that dreadful burden is
rolled from my soul. TO keep that
secret have shed blood, ] have spent
abundant gold. have become prema-
turcly aged. and suffered in mini a
men rarely suffer. Let me right the
wrong that | did this dear child. SO far
as can. when my passions gave her
life: let me make my peace with IN
offended God, If that he possible: let
me see you two happy to;cthcr-and
then let me depart. Cory. forgive
your erring. miserable father | have
sinned, as other men sin; but have
suffered as they have not.
She answered him with kiss.
I'm the morning." he continued. lie
Fevrc shall ride over to Thibodeaux.
nd bring Mr.. Coteau. the lawyer. The
decd that have never dared tn do. be-
cause then the people would know your
s,ory. Corry-I will exesute will de-
clare your manumission. in writing,
signed, sealed and acknowledged; it
shall be placed among the public rec
ords-and then. child, You will be as
free in law as You ever have been in
fact. In the next hour my will shall
be made. Everything shall be yours"
We sat upon the ottomans at his
feet-we two-and in the seclusion of
that room we heard from his lips the
story of his errors and suffcrings. The
overseer raped at the door, and called
out that he must see Mr.. Bostock, but
was answered that he could not be dis
turbed. The servant who came to call
us to the table was sent away. The
hour was given to the past.
We listened attentively, Coralie and
/. for we were both concerned in the
strange story, and ! especially was
eager to hear the things explained that |
had puzzled me; vet. ever and anon. as |