Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-01-06
CHAPTER XVII.
BREAKING THE Scala

but not wealthy. 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. 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
irasome bonds.
We had but one child. Conrad will
speak of him later. | desire now to
say that so far as have been able to
see, he resembled neither Of his par
cnts in anything. lie was bad. recls-
less and proiiigate, from an age when
boys usually have no knowledge of the
world. ! have somewhere read that
hereditary vices. as well as diseases.
viii sometimes skip several genera
TORS. and appear in child of parents
not given To evil. 1t must be SO: the
accumulated sins of many ancestors
must have been inwrought in that boy.
attended one day at the New Or
leans slave-mart an auction of the peo-
pie of n Cuban plantation. who had
bean sent there to obtain better prices.
learned upon inquiry that their
owner was CasteX. who had become rr-
ined by unfortunate speculation. A lit
tie orphan. thirteen years old. appar-
emily as white as myself. attracted my
notice. became her owner and tool,
her home as house-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 |: 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 WIS pctted and edu- !
Gated: she usurped the place of Emile.
For awhile the latter bore it. silent
and indignant. At lcngth her outraged
womanhood spoke ont.
lit is better that we part quietly
and without scandal" she said. Il
can no longer stay in this house. Make
suitable provision for me ard ! 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.
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 am n child. has taught me that
there is nothing more sacred in Heaven
or earth than the marital VOWS. You
have broken sthCm:' You arc laying up
wrath for yourself in days to come. An
offended God will surely calr you to
account. and you will remember my
words"
Ostcn have remembered them.
Emile has been evquisitely avenged.
Conrad accompanied her IL New Or-
leans. but before the packet sailed he
returned home | received him with
surprise and displcasnrc. FOR had felt
immcasurably relieved when Emile
that he should live with her.
I've thought the thing all over.
governor, said this boy of fifteen.
land concluded to come back. Nou
see I've nothing to do with the old
quarrels: and rs you've got
the money. and I'm getting on where
shall want lot, of it. | reckon III
stick To you.
Within one week from the departure
of my wife you were born. Cory. your
mother dying in the same hour.
The love that Emile should have
was given to your poor mother. child.
was nearly distracted AT her loss. In
my frenzy itseemed to me the FIRST full
6llment of Enilie's prediction
Soon my affections and hopes were
to Lonise's child. Then
the crushing thought came that this
child was slave. born of slave
mother. and that to manumit her would