Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-09-02

aD0ur 10, ny sz.5@cs5 rr growing COT
ton was adding enormously to my
wealth. All this was rudely troubled
by the appearance Of Napoleon Castex.
had heard little of this man since
my successful rivalry for the hand of
Emilie male him my enemy. After
my purchase OF Louise learned incl
dentally that he had once visited New
Orleans, and IL was told me that no
made particular inquiries about me.
There were none but unpleasant recol-
lections connected with him, and
hoped that should never meet him
again.
Suddenly, twelve years after my re-
moval from La Fourche, he presented
himself to me. had no previous
knowledge that he was in the neigh
borhood, and the sight of him discon-
certed me. It was at a gentlemsn's
dinner party at my own house, and he
came with one OF the guests, whom he
was visiting. I knew that the man
was revengeful and good hater, and
began 20 tremble for the consequences
of such visit 1 conjectured that If
he had not learned the true cause of
Emilie's alienation from me, he would
see you, Cory; for you were then about
the age of your mother when he last
saw her, and very closely resembled
her. And what he should discover
knew that his hatred of me would
neighborhood.
Before I could form. any plan to
check such catastrophe, dinner was
i W. 10,
you, Cory, came to the door and
looked in, prompted, l suppose, by
childish curiosity. Castex saw you,
recognized your face, and asked me in
Fren II If that was my daughter 1 re-
piled that she was; aud then
The man is dead; must soon follow
him. 1 would like to speak to him now
without bitterness or passion; yet |
should not speak the whole truth if
did not say that his face was shining
with savage JOY as he gave me the
brutal reioinder in French that as
sured me that his discovery would be
published far and near. He said:
"Ah, monsieur Five or six years
hence, when the charming daughter OF
Louise Bonfant shall come TO the same
, auction block in New Orleans where
you purchased the mother, then think
the spirit of your wronged wife will
, feel avenged"
I saw that he had deliberately
, planned to force a quarrel on me-
knew that there could be no safety foI
my secret while he lived A duel fol
. lowed, and killed him The wound
that ] received at the same time from
his hand laid me up for weeks, anC
nearly brought me to the grave
My misery dates from that hour. /
is not comfortable reflection to carr,
. around with you night and day tina
a you have slain n fellow creature
though a bad one, and the thought ha
troubled me; but much more torment
: ing than this was the fear that Caste,
had in some way left his discovery :
!, be revealed after his death. ] gre,
: suspicious Of everybody; abandone
old friends; while they never suspect
y ed the reason, I was continually fear
u full that the truth would be known an
made public. Then the thought oc
CURED to me that all this tormen
might be ended by returning to L
Fourche. came back to this place a
suddenly as / had left it. We had bee
absent fifteen years, and there Ia
been many changes; Coralie was ever,
:. where presented as my daughter, an
:. / gave out that Emile, her mother, la
died at my plantation far up the rive
y Thus, in fear and falsehood, have
y preserved your good name, my chill
and concealed the story of your brit
That concealment has always been
> the mercy of accidents, and hay
lived in the same state of torment SIM
u the duel Perhaps it is all part of n
punishment; Entities words were pr
y phetic. You saw the agitation and Il
nc excitement into which the visit of tn
III reprobate son threw me. For the sal
At of both of you, this falsehood can
&c told no longer The truth is painf'
T. it is humiliating; but that way Ii
r. safety for you. Thank God, the br
n den is gone, at lastl In the mornil
on Mr. Coteau shall come and make {
iu writings
re CHAPTER XVIII