Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-01-11
her hand ana listening 70 Mr.. BostoGlrs
confession.
CHAPTER XVII.
BREAKING THE SEALS

the La Fourche. ] had rival, Napo-
leon Castex, who was settled in Cuba,
but who often came over 20 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 II that men and women will
deliberately marry, when they are by
nature, habit and education, utterly
untitled 20 mate tbgether2 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, maxi
ing the best of II, and enduring our
rksome 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 rescmbled neither Of his par
ents in anything lie was bad. recls-
less and pronigate, 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 child Of parents
not given to evil. II 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 "A Cuban plantation, who had
been sent there TO obtain better prices.
] 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 and took
her home as a housc-scrvant 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 I; 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 pctted and edu-
Gated; she usurped the place of Emile.
For awhile the latter bore II, silent
and indignant. At length her outraged
womanhood spoke out.
at Is better that we part quietly
and without scandal" she said. II
can no longer stay In this house. Make
n 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; IL 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.
~ leave you in sorrow, not In an
ger" she sale "The holy church, OF
which am n child, has taught me that
there Is nothing more sacredi In Heaven
or earth than the marital vows. You
have broken them; you are laying nv
wrath for yourself in days 10 come. An
offended God will surely call you ia
account, and you will remember my
words"
Often have remembered them
Emile has been eXquisitely avenged!
Conrad accompanied her to New Or
| leans, but before the packet sailed h'
returned home received him Will
surprise and displcasure, for had fell
] immcasurably relieved when Emil,
| proposed that he should live with her
"l've thought the thing all over
governor" said this boy of fifteen
] al 4 81 l..lf 80.
see I've nothing to do with the ole
womnn's quurrels, and as you've go
the money, and I'm getting on wher,
shall want lots of it, | reckon III
stick to you"
Within one week from the departur
of my wife you were born, Cory, you
mother dying I'm the same hour.
The love that Emile should hav
was given to your poor mother, child
| was nearly distracted at her loss. Il
my frenzy It seemed 10 me the first ful
hllmcnt Of Emilio's prediction.
Soon my affections and hopes wer
transferred to Louise's child. The
the crushing thought came that thi
child was slave, born of n slav
mother, and that to manumit her woul
be to publish the fact to the world.
could not bear the alternative. T
save II, | resolved on a course whic
good Judgment should have warne
me against. would break up m
home here, lease the plantation, 8
four hundred miles up the river, anC
in a locality where no stories woul
be likely TO come from La Fourche,
would bring up this child of my affe'
ton. No one there should know
the faint in her origin; no one shout
r ever guess that she was born in bon,
age.
This plan put i'm execution immed
ately. 1t promised to succeed. VI
fortunately, had not taken into a
count the prccocity and wiclSedness
: that boy. lie instantly OWNED Il
truth, and began to hold the know
edge Of II over me like a rod. For fl
years he kept me in constant terro
? not SO much by his evil courses rs
. the constant threat of betraying Il
secret, The amount OF money that
have paid him for his silence wou
represent fortune. At last, In !
twenty-hrst year, he agreed to lea
j. home and never return, and to Ike
I his knowledge to himself. | was
= pay him n large quarterly allowanC
5 which has, in fact, been almost dc
n bled. have relied on his love
J. money to keep him from betrayii
me, and my purse alone has closed
: mouth. Where the great sums that
u have given him have gone, the ga
@ blers of the river can tell.